Honda-Motorcycle White Tricoat (NH-B53P) Touch Up Paint

The Look

This finish is a masterclass in depth. While some white paints look like a household appliance, your 2018 Honda features a color that feels alive. Since this was a signature choice across the entire lineup that year, you are dealing with a finish that changes personality based on the sun. In the garage, it looks like a clean, crisp solid. Once you pull it out into the daylight, the pearl mid-coat wakes up and gives the bike a liquid, high-end glow. It is a brilliant way to show off the sharp lines of a fairing, but it is also a magnet for road grime and chain fling, so you probably find yourself cleaning it after every ride to keep that luster from looking dull.

Technical Details

The challenge with this color is its DNA as a pearl finish. Because it is a tricoat, the final appearance depends entirely on how light passes through the top layers and bounces off the base. This is the most difficult type of paint to repair because you are not just matching a color; you are matching a depth. If you apply the paint too thick, the spot will look darker or more yellow than the rest of the bodywork. If you go too thin, you lose the pearl effect entirely. It requires a patient, layer-by-layer approach to make sure the light reflects the same way across the repair as it does on the factory panel.

Best Practices

Before you spray or dab Honda-Motorcycle White Tricoat (check for code NH-B53P on the frame rail under the seat or inside the fuel door), you must shake the container for a full sixty seconds. The pearl particles are heavy and sink to the bottom, so mixing is the only way to get a true match. Always test the color on the included card before touching the bike to see how the layers build up. When you begin, keep the container moving to ensure the flow stays even and prevents puddling. Work in a cool shade rather than the sun to give the paint plenty of drying time, which prevents the finish from becoming rough or textured.