I managed to lose my balance pushing my bike into my garage today, from the left side. It's got a few scraps on the side cowel now, and I'm wondering if I should just get the panel repainted, or touch it up. It would probably look semi ****ty if I touched it up, but cost a TON less. Any opinions would be appreciated.

 

Is the scrape damage to the body itself, or is it to the large decal potions? you might only have to replace a few decals if that is the case. Replicals.com if the damage is to the body, your local napa or collison paint shop shouldent cost too much to fix the damage and try to colormatch for you. guessin 60 maybe 100 bucks? considering the damage more or less.

edit message: p.s, I just visited replicals site and they will be closed april 15 and re-opening till April 20th. WoOoOT! 4:20 ! lol.
Anywho, they should be back up and running by then.

 

It is mostly to the decals. What's the best way to take them off? And then re apply the new ones?

 

I used "goo-gone" and a little WD-40 and a heat gun (blow dryer) to remove the decals on my nighthawk and a few of the rear decals on my f4i.
Its requires a bit of time and patience but the goo-gone and WD-40 are pretty good at removing decals without damaging paint.
You want to start at the edge of the decal, heating it a bit till you get a small portion of it lifted, then use either googone or WD to help seperate decal and fairing heating the work area as you go.

I believe the decals from replicals are self-adhering, i know some require maybe a seperate adhesive or the soapy-water type of mixture to apply them, but replicals are the simple slap on self-adhering type. I do suggest you thouroughly wash the are where you will be applying your replacement decals to avoid peel off or bubbles, due to the wd-40 or goo-gone.
a small squigee (or whatever its called lol) and some water will help the appying process. Replicals usually sends directions for easy decal application.

also, i would wait to remove the damaged decals till i had the replacement decals ready to apply, simply beacause its a little easier to place them exactly where the OEM decals were and not slightly askew like my friend did on his R1, lol, it looked a little funny.

 

Yeah, thanks for the advice. I will wait, the scratches aren't that bad, not really noticeable without looking for them. It's really for my sanity, little things like that drive me crazy, so the sooner the better. I'll mask it off with like painters tape or something too, just so I have all the lines. I just hate how the damn thing is so big, and there's not going to be any easy way to do it.

Where's the place to find the color code for the bikes too? I've got some scratches on the painted part, and just want to touch them up.

 

if you must, just touch it up. Battle scars add character!!!!! Not to mention, reminds you not to do the shyt again lol

 

for the body paint scratches you can visit your local wal-mart. They have honda color match paint pens for cars but they are pretty friggin close if not the same as your 01 f4i white and red colors. they are about 4 to 5 bucks each. i recomened the dupli-color scratch fix 2 in 1 kit. it comes with spot filling putty (for the deeper scratches) filler primer, clear coat, contoured sanding disc, ultra finishing compound and some self adhering sanding sheets and instructions.
all you have to buy seperate is the dupli-color colored pen and brush.

yup yup.