Is an excact match for Futura colors impossible?

[Corkus]

I expect it is not possible to get an exact match for a Futura color. Aprilia doesn't give out paint codes? Of all the trade secrets in the world I don't get that one.

I found these two paint codes here. I would be happy to be wrong but I expect these are codes some guy came up with to match the factory paint.

Futura Silver
01 & UP
APR-2JCXB

Flame Red
02 & UP
APR-2VHBB

So all the factory paint is fading now and there's no way to accurately repaint? Except to have someone eyeball the paint color?

And maybe it isn't possible to re-create the factory paint anyway? It says here "Both Flame Red and Stream Silver are made up of four coats of different colours."

[bikpaintr]

Not all of it is fading. The Ash Black on my 02 still looks like new. One advantage of starting with a satin finish color.

[shannon]

Being as Aprilia doesn't release paint codes I would call him and ask how he came up with the numbers. I'm not saying they aren't close or even a perfect match I would just want to know how he came about matching the paint before I spent any money with him.

[threeviews48]

Ask your local paint distributor if he has a spectrometer, if so they will be able to get an exact match

[photoRotor]

Ask your local paint distributor if he has a spectrometer, if so they will be able to get an exact match

This is only partially accurate as the spectrometer averages out a small area of what's sampled, and the real issue is fading - rendering an area average (for example the top of the front fender) somewhat useless. My '01 Stream Silver is about 5 slightly different shades. The fading seems to vary quite a bit based on the underlying substrate and where it is on the bike in relation to the fading effects of light. I think that the original paint quality may have been shit to start with, but that's just my worthless opinion.

I repainted both panniers as the left one had a little garage rash from the original owner, and found a damn close match in Deltron (a PPG paint). I'll post some pics this evening, as well as the paint code for whomever...

[flying fox]

Waiting....

...and what is Deltron?

[shannon]

Waiting....

...and what is Deltron?

A brand of paint.

[photoRotor]

Waiting....

...and what is Deltron?

Work is holding me hostage...

[photoRotor]

This photo makes the differences in fading look far worse than they really are, but there are differences in the shades in the highlighted areas.

The 2 pics showing the panniers are to depict their likeness to the seat surround trim - I painted the panniers to fix some garage rash on the left one,

The paint I used is Deltron DBC 2000, Color code 925906 called Glacier Blue

While it's not identical, it's damn close and I'll probably paint the whole bike with it this winter anyway

Oh, ignore the spots on the panniers - those aren't paint flaws. They're the little bodies of bugs who committed triple-digit suicide on Thursdays' ride.

[flying fox]

That's close,alright!I only need the panniers doing - do they do rattle cans?

[photoRotor]

Not that I'm aware of, and it ain't cheap but it's good stuff.

[RAS]

My Stream Silver came from the factory with 3 different colors. The tank is very silver. The rest of the fairing is a bit bluer. And there was one lower panel that was really a shade greener and did not match at all. Mine's been garage kept it's entire life. Not sure that it's really faded at all.

[DrFutura]

When mine was repaired after a drop in 2010 the colour on the left has come back different, and the finish is not the same. Its flame red. The best you can do maybe is find a sprayer with an "eye" for the colour who will mix his own. Some of the older paint sprayers seem to be able to do this having gained experience over many years. Unless you are doing a whole panel I would not bother trying to blend in with the original.

[meanstrk]

Ask your local paint distributor if he has a spectrometer, if so they will be able to get an exact match

I wish. They can only do basic colors at most stores and when it comes to candies, forget it.

I have a piece I am going to be sending into the Kustom Shop, who offers a matching service. If they get it right, I will let you know.

The biggest issue with this color is that it's a candy over a base, but that candy is not just red. As well know, it has an orange tint to it as well, which is why it is so difficult to match up. Coupled with the fact that th efactory color is so prone to fase, forget matching a panel. A total repaint is going to be required for it all to match. I have been playing with some candies trying to get close, but so far, nothing is what I would consider satisfactory.

[RAS]

I thought someone a while ago figured out what the base and candy coats were for the red.