2020 BMW-Motorcycles Touch Up Paint (4 OEM Colors)

The 2020 BMW-Motorcycles Vibe

2020 was a year of extremes for the Bavarian fleet. On one side of the showroom, you had the S 1000 RR, a bike that looked like it was moving at 200 mph while standing still. On the other, the R 1250 GS was convincing everyone to go "socially distance" themselves in a muddy forest. The color palette that year was all about tactical elegance-gone were the loud, glittery metallics of the past, replaced by sophisticated, flat-ish tones that made these bikes look like expensive tools. We've focused on the survivors of this fleet, specifically the ones that define the era: the stealthy Kalamata Metallic Matte, the "wet concrete" aesthetic of Ice Grey, and the high-visibility punch of Racing Red.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Thin Paint Era. By 2020, BMW had perfected "Robot Efficiency." These machines spray with surgical precision, which is a nice way of saying they apply the bare minimum amount of paint required to cover the primer. While it looks incredible on the showroom floor, this factory enamel is notoriously brittle. If you spend any time tailgating semi-trucks on the autobahn (or the I-95), your front beak and fairings are likely "peppered" with tiny pinhole chips. Because the coating is so thin, there's no "meat" to the paint to absorb impacts-once a pebble hits, it goes straight to the basement.

Restoration Tip

When you're dealing with paint this thin, your biggest enemy is a heavy hand. Do not-I repeat, do not-try to fill a chip with one big glob of paint. On a 2020 finish, a heavy blob will stand out like a pimple because the surrounding factory paint is so flat and shallow. The secret is to build your layers slowly. Dab a tiny amount in the center of the chip, let it shrink as it dries, and repeat until it's level. If you're working on the Kalamata Metallic Matte, remember: matte finishes are a one-way street. You can't buff out a mistake without turning that spot into a permanent shiny patch, so take your time and keep it clean.