Going Rawdog!

[robike]

Ok, so the paint on my bike looks like shit. Its got a few big scuff marks and scratches, and maybe I'm just kind of bored of it as well. I've been wondering about stripping it down to the metal and just clearcoating it. I've looked through other threads on the subject, and so I have a pretty good idea about how to go about doing it, but I was wondering about peoples experiences afterwards.
Its an 03 brodie holeshot, so aluminum. If I just go for a cheap spray on clearcoat, will it be durable enough, or will I have to constantly touch it up? Would it just end up oxidizing and look crappy? I really like the look of raw metal, but do not want to compromise strength at all.
tips? thanks

[IFO]

basicly its almost impossible to get CC to stick to raw alloy unless its basicly NEW...

VERY hard to get it to stick under ideal circumstances...u need some kind of etching primer to give the CC something to adhere to..

and most if not all etchs are colored...good luk in your search thou...

not to mention yuor gunan end up with tons of sandign scratchs under the clear from teh striping process that will be "hitlited" NOT hidden by the clear..

im not trying to bring u down, just sheding a little industry lite on the situation before u start is all...

[robike]

thanks IFO, you were the man I was hoping for a response from.

sounds like it might not work out as easy as hoped. would leaving it without clearcoat weaken the frame over time, or just make it ugly?

[*GiMpY_jR*]

why not dip it in paint stripper or somthin?

[robike]

stripping the paint wouldn't be a problem I don't think, I'm just wondering about finishing it afterwards