Honda-Motorcycle Red Tricoat (R-176C (2000)) Touch Up Paint

The Look

If you are looking at your bike and seeing a red that feels like it has a mile of depth, you are dealing with one of the most iconic finishes from the turn of the millennium. This color was a staple across the entire lineup in 2000, appearing on everything from the agile CBR sportbikes to the long-haul Gold Wings. It is a deep, sophisticated red that lacks the orange undertones found in racing reds, opting instead for a rich, liquid appearance that defined the era of premium Honda finishes. Because your bike has likely seen two decades of sun and road, the existing paint has probably shifted slightly, making your repair more about blending into history than matching a factory-fresh panel.

Technical Details

Before you spray or dab Honda-Motorcycle Red Tricoat (check for code R-176C (2000)), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. This is a complex pearl finish, which means the color is not achieved with one single layer. It relies on a translucent mid-coat that acts like a tinted lens over a base layer. This creates a beautiful shimmer, but it presents a challenge: the more layers of the mid-coat you apply, the darker the red becomes. If you are too heavy-handed with the brush or nozzle, the repair will look like a dark bruise on the fairing. If you are too light, it will look pinkish or thin. It is all about finding that middle ground where the depth matches the surrounding area.

Best Practices

To find your confirmation sticker, look under the seat on the rear frame rail or check the underside of the fuel tank area. Since this is a multi-step process, you must be patient with the drying time between layers. Applying the next coat too soon will cause the layers to bleed together and ruin the pearl effect. Whether you are using a pen or a can, keep the container moving to prevent the metallic particles from clustering in one spot. To get the depth right, test the color on the included card first, adding one, two, and then three layers of the mid-coat to see which version matches your bike's current faded state. Work in a cool garage out of the direct sun to ensure the paint settles flat and smooth.