PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade
QUIZZES All Quizzes Hot Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Trivia Quizzes Taylor Swift Quizzes
EXPLORE Tech Help ProAbout UsRandom ArticleQuizzes Request a New ArticleCommunity DashboardTrendingForums Arts and EntertainmentArtworkBooksMoviesComputers and ElectronicsComputersPhone SkillsTechnology HacksHealthMen's HealthMental HealthWomen's HealthRelationshipsDatingLoveRelationship Issues Hobbies and CraftsCraftsDrawingGamesEducation & CommunicationCommunication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentStudyingPersonal Care and StyleFashionHair CarePersonal Hygiene Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games Arts and EntertainmentFinance and BusinessHome and GardenRelationship Quizzes Cars & Other VehiclesFood and EntertainingPersonal Care and StyleSports and Fitness Computers and ElectronicsHealthPets and AnimalsTravel Education & CommunicationHobbies and CraftsPhilosophy and ReligionWork World Family LifeHolidays and TraditionsRelationshipsYouth
LOG IN
Log in
Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. FacebookGooglewikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account
RANDOM
Home
Random
Browse Articles
TrendingNew
Quizzes & Games
All QuizzesHot
Love Quizzes
Personality Quizzes
Fun Games
Dating Simulator
Learn Something New
Forums
Courses
Happiness Hub
Explore More
Support wikiHow
About wikiHow
Log in / Sign up
Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow
Categories
Cars & Other Vehicles
Motorcycles
A DIY Guide to Repainting Your Fairings at Home Achieve that custom look with a splash of paint and some spare time Co-authored by Tommy Goldberg
Last Updated: February 18, 2026 References
Cleaning and Sanding the Fairings
|
Priming and Painting the Fairings
|
Expert Interview
|
Q&A
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Tommy Goldberg. Tommy Goldberg is an Automotive Expert and the Director of Product Development at Obsessed Garage based in Lady Lake, Florida. Tommy has been part of the Obsessed Garage team since 2020 and is responsible for the team's product development and testing strategies. He is an expert in car detailing, pressure washers, and proper techniques to maintain cars. Tommy has a degree in Mechanical Engineering. This article has been viewed 145,730 times.
Motorcycle fairings are those plastic shells placed over the frame of the bike to reduce air drag. However, they’re also a great place to add some style and flair to your bike. One of the best ways to do this is to give your fairings an awesome paint job. Fortunately, even if you’ve never painted fairings before, the process is pretty easy! All you need is sandpaper, primer, and spray paint in order to clean, prep, and finally paint your motorcycle fairings.
At a Glance: How to Paint Motorcycle Fairings
Remove the fairings and clean them with hot, soapy water.
Sand the surface of the fairings with 400-grit sandpaper.
Apply a layer of primer to the fairings and then let them dry.
Spray a coat of your base color onto the fairings and let them dry.
Wet the fairings, and then wet-sand them smooth with 1000-grit sandpaper.
Add 3 more layers of paint, wet-sanding in between each coat.
Once the fairings have dried completely, add 2 coats of clear lacquer.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 2:
Cleaning and Sanding the Fairings
1 Remove the fairings from the motorcycle and set them in an open space. Unscrew all the bolts that are attaching the fairings to the motorcycle body in order to remove them. Place them in an open work space in order to prevent the fumes from the spray paint from being too concentrated when you actually paint the fairings.[1]XResearch source
After you remove the fairings, be sure to cover the rest of the motorcycle with a tarp in order to protect it from being exposed to the elements while you’re working.
If you’re working with brand new fairings that haven’t been attached yet, feel free to skip this step.
2 Clean the fairings with soapy water to remove any dirt from the surface. Mix ordinary dish soap and hot water in a bucket, then dip a sponge into the water and use it to clean the fairings. Use a circular scrubbing motion for best results. Once you’re done, be sure to rinse all the soapy water off before proceeding to the next step.[2]XResearch source
If your fairings have been used before, pay particular attention to those parts that have accumulated black engine gunk over time. These areas may require extra attention in order to be completely cleaned.
Tip: If there are any decals or stickers on your fairings, use a hairdryer to apply heat directly to them in order to loosen up the glue and make them easy to peel off!
Advertisement
3 Use 400-grit sandpaper to sand the surface of the fairings. Sand in a circular motion while applying moderate pressure to the surface. Making the surface of the fairings as smooth as possible will make it much easier for the primer and paint to actually adhere to the surface later on.[3]X Expert Source Tommy GoldbergAutomotive ExpertExpert Interview [4]XResearch source
You can buy 400-grit sandpaper at any store that sells home improvement supplies.
4 Rinse off the fairings to remove the dust and allow them to dry. Sanding the surface of the fairings will have caused a lot of dust to accumulate on the fairings, which needs to be removed before you can paint them. Wipe down the fairing with water and a microfiber cloth to make sure all of the dust is removed.[5]XResearch source
The fairings will probably require 1 hour in order to completely dry.
Advertisement Part 2 Part 2 of 2:
Priming and Painting the Fairings
1 Apply a coat of primer to the fairings and allow it to dry. Spray the primer so that the surface is covered in a smooth, consistent layer.[6]X Expert Source Tommy GoldbergAutomotive ExpertExpert Interview Spray it in even strokes without stopping in a particular spot in order to avoid leaving patches. Finally, give the primer about 3-6 hours to completely dry.[7]XResearch source
Be sure to use plastic primer for your fairings.
You can buy aerosol primer at any paint supply store.
2 Spray a thin layer of your base color onto the fairings and let it dry.[8]X Expert Source Tommy GoldbergAutomotive ExpertExpert Interview Cover the entire surface of the fairings with this initial coat, making sure to not leave any spots where the primer is still visible. This thin coat should take about 6 hours to dry.[9]XResearch source
For maximum safety, wear a breathing mask and safety goggles when applying spray paint to the fairings.
Warning: Inhaling the fumes from spray paint can cause a number of unpleasant side effects, such as headache, nose and throat irritation, and nausea.
3 Wet sand the fairings after the base color coat has dried. Squirt some water onto the surface of the fairings in order to make them wet, then use 1000-grit sandpaper to sand them smooth.[10]X Expert Source Tommy GoldbergAutomotive ExpertExpert Interview Go over the fairings with a microfiber cloth once you’re done to remove any grit and to make sure they’re completely dry before adding more paint to them.[11]XResearch source
4 Apply another coat of the base color, then wait 3 hours for it to dry. Be sure to apply the spray paint in even strokes across the surface of the fairings. You can wait longer than 3 hours for the paint to dry if desired, but you need to give it at least 3 hours to ensure that it completely dries.[12]XResearch source
5 Repeat this process 3-4 times to put multiple coats on the fairings. This is a technique known as “grip coats,” in which each coat of paint “grips” the coat that has already been applied. This leads to a thicker, richer look to the paint that makes it look very professional. Be sure to wait at least 6 hours after you apply the final coat to allow the paint to dry.[13]XResearch source
You should ultimately apply 4-5 layers of paint to your fairings to get the best look.
6 Apply 2 coats of lacquer to the fairings once the paint has dried. Spray the first coat of lacquer onto the fairings and use a microfiber cloth to spread it evenly across the surface. Let it dry for about 2 hours, then repeat this process to add a second layer.[14]XResearch source
Adding clear lacquer will help protect the paint from exposure to the elements.
You can buy clear lacquer at any hardware store that sells painting supplies.
7 Leave the fairings to dry for 24 hours, then reattach them to the bike. Use the same bolts that you removed from the fairings at the beginning of this process in order to reattach them to the motorcycle. Once this is done, the bike is ready to ride![15]XResearch source
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search Add New Question
Question Can I do the same procedure for the saddlebags? Wynter Community Answer If your saddlebags are made of the same material as your fairing, then there should be no problem. Or you can always buy leather saddlebags if you don't want to paint the ones you have. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
Question when you say base color do you mean the same paint as your final color or can it be another color? Community Answer Depending on the type of paint and technique used. Often pearl or high gloss paints start with a base coat of different colors to enhance the final color. If your color is a primary color, then having a base coat of a matching color is fine. If starting with a fresh project on plastic parts, it can help to get a primer base coat that matches your final color but metals often require proper primer, lots of sanding, then the base coat, more sanding and blocking and eventually getting to the final color. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 7
Question Can I paint my fairings even on a cloudy day? Community Answer Anything can be painted but you have to figure in several factors including humidity, exposure to the elements, and temperature. It's best to paint all those plastic parts on the same day if possible. The weather difference between two days can actually change how your paint dries and can affect the end color if painted at different times. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Tips
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Things You’ll Need
Bucket
Soapy water
Sponge
Sandpaper
Microfiber cloths
Plastic primer
Spray paint
Lacquer
You Might Also Like
How to Paint a Motorcycle Step-By-StepHow toDo a Good Base Coat Clear Coat Paint JobHow toPaint a CarBicycle Painting 101: How to Paint Your Own BikeHow toPaint a Car with a Spray CanHow to Paint Car Parts at Home (and Get Professional Results)How toPrepare Plastic for PaintingHow toSpray Paint MetalHow toPaint on PlasticHow toPaint a Motorcycle TankHow toPaint Chrome BumpersHow toPaint FiberglassHow toRepair Minor Rust on a CarHow toPaint the Hood of a Car Advertisement
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about taking care of your car, check out our in-depth interview with Tommy Goldberg.
Co-authored by: Tommy Goldberg Car Detailing Expert This article was co-authored by Tommy Goldberg. Tommy Goldberg is an Automotive Expert and the Director of Product Development at Obsessed Garage based in Lady Lake, Florida. Tommy has been part of the Obsessed Garage team since 2020 and is responsible for the team's product development and testing strategies. He is an expert in car detailing, pressure washers, and proper techniques to maintain cars. Tommy has a degree in Mechanical Engineering. This article has been viewed 145,730 times. 6 votes - 100% Co-authors: 4Updated: February 18, 2026 Views: 145,730 Categories: Motorcycles
Print
Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 145,730 times.
Reader Success Stories
Wandile Mgcini Thebe
Jul 4, 2019
"This made painting easy and fun. Thanks."
Share your story
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Tommy Goldberg Car Detailing Expert Co-authors: 4Updated: February 18, 2026 Views: 145,730100% of readers found this article helpful. 6 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote
Wandile Mgcini Thebe
Jul 4, 2019
"This made painting easy and fun. Thanks." Share yours!
Quizzes & Games
What Makeup Should I Wear QuizTake QuizWhat Skin Type Do I Have QuizTake QuizMakeup Quiz: Discover The Perfect Stye For YouTake QuizWhat’s My Perfect Hair Care Routine?Take Quiz
You Might Also Like
How to Paint a Motorcycle Step-By-StepHow toDo a Good Base Coat Clear Coat Paint JobHow toPaint a CarBicycle Painting 101: How to Paint Your Own Bike
Trending Articles
Do I Have Rizz QuizAm I Emo QuizDo I Have Main Character Energy?Am I Manipulative Quiz
Trending Articles
Which Game of Thrones House Would I Be In?Create & Send Prank Text Messages With Fake Error MessagesHow to Read PalmsShould We Break Up Quiz
Take the Quiz Everyone Is Talking About
Am I Gay QuizWhat Animal Am I QuizWhat Is My Mental Age QuizHow Well Do I Know My Best Friend Quiz
You've Seen These All Over Your Feed
10+ Scary Phone Numbers to Call360 of the Best Borg Names for Your Next Party: Unique, Historical & MoreWhat Every Domain Expansion Hand Sign Means In Jujutsu KaisenThe Ultimate List of Truth or Drink Questions
Featured Videos
How toPlay Dice (2 Dice Gambling Games)How toPersuade a Girl over TextHow toGive Someone the Silent TreatmentHow toMake Hibiscus Tea
Hot Takes 🔥 🔥 🔥
Do You Agree with These Crazy Hot Takes?Do You Agree with These Pop Culture Hot Takes?Do You Agree With These Fashion Hot Takes?Do You Agree With These Board Game Hot Takes?
Your Daily Dose of Fun!
Am I a Bruh Girl?When Will I Get My First Period QuizWhat is My One Piece Race?What Pokémon Is My Pet Most Like?
Categories
Cars & Other Vehicles
Motorcycles
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
Home
About wikiHow
Experts
Jobs
Contact Us
Site Map
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info
Contribute
Follow Us
×
wikiHow Tech Help Pro:
Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve
Advertisement 
Co-authored by: Tommy Goldberg Car Detailing Expert This article was co-authored by Tommy Goldberg. Tommy Goldberg is an Automotive Expert and the Director of Product Development at Obsessed Garage based in Lady Lake, Florida. Tommy has been part of the Obsessed Garage team since 2020 and is responsible for the team's product development and testing strategies. He is an expert in car detailing, pressure washers, and proper techniques to maintain cars. Tommy has a degree in Mechanical Engineering. This article has been viewed 145,730 times. 6 votes - 100% Co-authors: 4 Updated: February 18, 2026 Views: 145,730 Categories: Motorcycles 
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz 
633 
1 Remove the fairings from the motorcycle and set them in an open space. Unscrew all the bolts that are attaching the fairings to the motorcycle body in order to remove them. Place them in an open work space in order to prevent the fumes from the spray paint from being too concentrated when you actually paint the fairings.[1] 
2 Clean the fairings with soapy water to remove any dirt from the surface. Mix ordinary dish soap and hot water in a bucket, then dip a sponge into the water and use it to clean the fairings. Use a circular scrubbing motion for best results. Once you’re done, be sure to rinse all the soapy water off before proceeding to the next step.[2] 
3 Use 400-grit sandpaper to sand the surface of the fairings. Sand in a circular motion while applying moderate pressure to the surface. Making the surface of the fairings as smooth as possible will make it much easier for the primer and paint to actually adhere to the surface later on.[3] [4] 
4 Rinse off the fairings to remove the dust and allow them to dry. Sanding the surface of the fairings will have caused a lot of dust to accumulate on the fairings, which needs to be removed before you can paint them. Wipe down the fairing with water and a microfiber cloth to make sure all of the dust is removed.[5] 
1 Apply a coat of primer to the fairings and allow it to dry. Spray the primer so that the surface is covered in a smooth, consistent layer.[6] Spray it in even strokes without stopping in a particular spot in order to avoid leaving patches. Finally, give the primer about 3-6 hours to completely dry.[7] 
2 Spray a thin layer of your base color onto the fairings and let it dry.[8] Cover the entire surface of the fairings with this initial coat, making sure to not leave any spots where the primer is still visible. This thin coat should take about 6 hours to dry.[9] 
3 Wet sand the fairings after the base color coat has dried. Squirt some water onto the surface of the fairings in order to make them wet, then use 1000-grit sandpaper to sand them smooth.[10] Go over the fairings with a microfiber cloth once you’re done to remove any grit and to make sure they’re completely dry before adding more paint to them.[11] 
4 Apply another coat of the base color, then wait 3 hours for it to dry. Be sure to apply the spray paint in even strokes across the surface of the fairings. You can wait longer than 3 hours for the paint to dry if desired, but you need to give it at least 3 hours to ensure that it completely dries.[12] 
5 Repeat this process 3-4 times to put multiple coats on the fairings. This is a technique known as “grip coats,” in which each coat of paint “grips” the coat that has already been applied. This leads to a thicker, richer look to the paint that makes it look very professional. Be sure to wait at least 6 hours after you apply the final coat to allow the paint to dry.[13] 
6 Apply 2 coats of lacquer to the fairings once the paint has dried. Spray the first coat of lacquer onto the fairings and use a microfiber cloth to spread it evenly across the surface. Let it dry for about 2 hours, then repeat this process to add a second layer.[14] 
7 Leave the fairings to dry for 24 hours, then reattach them to the bike. Use the same bolts that you removed from the fairings at the beginning of this process in order to reattach them to the motorcycle. Once this is done, the bike is ready to ride![15] Advertisement 
Wynter Community Answer If your saddlebags are made of the same material as your fairing, then there should be no problem. Or you can always buy leather saddlebags if you don't want to paint the ones you have. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3 
Community Answer Depending on the type of paint and technique used. Often pearl or high gloss paints start with a base coat of different colors to enhance the final color. If your color is a primary color, then having a base coat of a matching color is fine. If starting with a fresh project on plastic parts, it can help to get a primer base coat that matches your final color but metals often require proper primer, lots of sanding, then the base coat, more sanding and blocking and eventually getting to the final color. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 7 