Midnight BLACK paint info

Hi All, reaching out to see if anyone has repainted their early '80s Midnight.

While the tanks on the bike appear to be gloss black upon further inspection they appear to have a hint of sparkle to them in the form of reddish/amber/gold flake. You really have to look for it but I've noted it on my 650, (the 750 before it was stripped) as well as my 850 and Virago bikes. It's best seen in direct sunlight and doesn't show so well in the garage...

I've spoken to Len and his info shows the color simply as black. Not wishing to make an argument over it but these bikes in my garage most definitely have a hint of glitter to them. I spoke with one paint shop in AZ who pulled out some old mc paint samples and we found one that was quite close to the bike I had at their shop but it seems to have maybe a bit too much glitter.

Anyone have some solid paint code or mix info they had applied to a bike that has this?

 

Chacal lists paint and discriptions of what paint is used and where

XJ PARTS CATALOG, SECTION O: EMBLEMS, STRIPES, DECALS, PAINT

 

Yes I know that. And we've discussed the listings there as being "basic black" for lack of another term; the bikes are not however as I've come to find. I'm looking for anyone who's done a restoration using other resources for another reference.

 

he lists all the colors you just have to read it, lists the different coats you have to spray to get factory look .
I know it is a long read because of all the info he gives.
which bike midnight do you want to paint?

 

there are more listed here is a few
Code 33 Competition Yamaha Black was used on:

- All XJ550 models, all XJ650 models (except Turbo), all XJ700 models, XJ750-X models, all XJ750 Seca models, and most XJ900 model frames.
- All XJ700, XJ750-X, and XJ900RK engine mounting brackets.
- 1982-83 XJ550 Maxim, all XJ550 Seca models, 1982 XJ650RJ Seca, and 1981-83 XJ750 Seca swingarms.
- all XJ550 rear wheel chain drive sprockets (this is per the factory parts books; all real-world original versions that we have seen are painted silver).
- All models steering fork lower or "under" bracket.
- 1982-83 550 Seca and XJ750 Seca lower fork tubes.
- XJ650RJ and XJ750 Maxim and Midnight Maxim license plate brackets.
- XJ650 Turbo and XJ750D (Japan) fuel tanks.
- XJ650 Midnight Maxim, XJ650 Turbo, and XJ750 Midnight Maxim rear final drive housing and rear brake drum backing plates.
- most models seat mounting brackets, hinges, etc.

Blacks:

NOTE: Many of the models that are thought of as being painted a solid "gloss black" actually have a colored metal-flake included, so make sure you check your model application carefully!

HCP7909SP Aftermarket X-ACT MATCH BODY PARTS PAINT features the correct Code 6G New Yamaha Black pure high-gloss finish as used on painted metal and plastic body panels, cowlings, fairings, etc. Requires no special surface preparation (besides absolute cleanliness!) and cures without heat or catalysts. Primer is required. This color formula is as close as possible to the original Yamaha color as used originally on 1981 and 1983 XJ550 Maxims, 1983 XJ550 Seca, 1985 FJ600 models, 1980 XJ650 Maxim, 1981 XJ650 Midnight Maxim, 1985 XJ700 non-X Maxim, 1986 XJ700 Maxim-X, 1981 XJ750 Seca, 1982-83 XJ750 Maxim and Midnight Maxims, various years of XJ900 models, and 1982-4 XJ1100 Maxim and Midnight Maxims. Also correct for the 1980 XS1100LG and 1981 XS1100LH model bikes. NOTE: some Canadian XJ1100 models may have used the Code 4J Black Blue metallic paint instead of the non-metallic Code 6G gloss black as is typically noted in factory publications. If your original side covers, tank, etc. show evidence of very small blue metal-flakes in the paint, then you should use the Code 4J metallic Black Blue paint listed further below. Each aerosol can contains 12 ounces. Each can:
$ 34.95

HCP7929SP Aftermarket X-ACT MATCH BODY PARTS PAINT features the correct Yamaha Code 8L Nebular Gold metallic high-gloss finish as used on painted metal and plastic body panels, cowlings, fairings, etc. Requires no special surface preparation (besides absolute cleanliness!) and cures without heat or catalysts. Primer is required. This is the rich, golden metallic color used on the engine cover inserts and lettering, wheel rims, and other small trim pieces and is as close as possible to the original Yamaha color as used originally on all XJ650 Midnight Maxims, XJ750 Midnight Maxims, and XJ1100 Midnight Maxims models. Each aerosol can contains 12 ounces. Each can:
$ 42.95

 

Yes, as I said I'm aware of all of that. We communicated about it via email in fact.

I think you've missed my point: the info there indicates that black is pure gloss black. That's not the case as you look deep into it in the sunlight. No harm no foul to the info provided here, no gripes. But I have a number of bikes here that have metallic in them that are black. Factory black. As in very low miles factory black. Not a number of machines that were repainted- all by coincidence with flakes in that I purchased from around the country.

If you have one with the original paint on it please take a good look at it. I'd post a pic but you just can't make it out that way sorry!


Blacks:

NOTE: Many of the models that are thought of as being painted a solid "gloss black" actually have a colored metal-flake included, so make sure you check your model application carefully!


The confusion is that the Midnight per that info would suggest that it does not. When it appears that it does in fact. Very little...but it's clearly there.

 

There is the very real possibility that some got metal-flecked paint, while others did not, simply as a matter of production needs or by accident. This is a very interesting question.

@hogfiddles; what's on your X frame?

 

My vote is for production needs. Yamaha would've never let that kinda accident leave the factory. Too much was riding on it (remember Honda). This is one of those "if we could go back and be there to see what really happened..."

Gary H.

 

I believe the 650 Midnights were a factory "rush job", and cost minimization was a high priority. For instance, they have sewn seat covers, rather than heat-pressed pleats (like almost all other scheduled production bikes of that era had). It may be that some had a different tint/effects paint (and different shade of gold plating, too), as that would be the nature of "specialty production" vehicles (as opposed to the greater level of standardization on planned mass-production bikes).

 

I will double-check, but I believe all my X frames are plain black, no sparkle. All other frames are similar.

The '83 650 maxim that is in my showcase was factory black with hint of blue sparkle. I have also seen some black that had a hint of red sparkle instead.

 

My Seca frame is black with just a hint of rust. I don't think it left the factory that way...

 

HCP7910SP Aftermarket X-ACT MATCH BODY PARTS PAINT features the correct Yamaha Code 4J Black Blue high-gloss finish as used on painted metal and plastic body panels, cowlings, fairings, etc. Requires no special surface preparation (besides absolute cleanliness!) and cures without heat or catalysts. Primer is required. This color formula is as close as possible to the original Yamaha color as used originally on 1982 XJ550 Maxim and 1982-83 XJ650 Maxim models and features the low-density, large size blue metal-flake as original (flakes are slightly smaller than the original size, but you'd never notice unless we told you about it!). Also appears on the 1980 XS1100SH models. NOTE: some Canadian XJ1100 models may have used this color instead of the non-metallic Code 6G gloss black as is typically noted in factory publications.

HCP7913SP Aftermarket X-ACT MATCH BODY PARTS PAINT features the correct Yamaha Code 2J Black Red high-gloss finish as used on painted metal and plastic body panels, cowlings, fairings, etc. Requires no special surface preparation (besides absolute cleanliness!) and cures without heat or catalysts. Primer is required. This color formula is as close as possible to the original Yamaha color as used originally only on the 1981 XJ650 Maxim models and features the low-density, large size red metal-flake as original (flakes are slightly smaller than the original size, but you'd never notice unless we told you about it!). Also used on the 1980 XS1100SG models.[/color]

 

That was a Suzuki factory option.

 

Bikes do get repainted occasionally. I could see someone wanting to save a bit of money and using bodywork paint on the frame (especially the factory).

 

Awwwww, MAN?!?!? Now I got coffee coming out my nose and its sprayed everywhere...!!!!!