1971 Honda-Motorcycle Touch Up Paint (2 OEM Colors)

The 1971 Honda-Motorcycle Vibe

In 1971, Honda wasn't just building motorcycles; they were building jewelry. This was the year the CB750 was cementing its legend and the SL70 was buzzing through every suburban backyard. While the car world was starting to flirt with those muddy browns and avocado greens, Honda stayed loud. Our database focuses on the survivor that defined the era: Candy Ruby Red. This wasn't just paint-it was a deep, translucent magic trick layered over a metallic base that made every fuel tank look like a piece of hard candy. If you were riding one of these in '71, you weren't just commuting; you were showing off.

Paint Health Check

We are firmly in the Single Stage Era here, and that means your biggest enemy isn't peeling-it's disappearing. These early candy finishes are notorious for "chalking." Because the paint is porous and lacks the heavy UV-screening of modern plastics, the sun literally eats the red pigment right out of the tank. If your Candy Ruby Red looks more like "Matte Salmon" or a dusty orange, you're looking at decades of oxidation. The pigment has climbed to the surface and died. Unlike modern paints that stay glossy until they flake off, these 71' finishes just get tired and go pale.

Restoration Tip

Here's the deal: 1971 paint needs a coat of high-quality wax, or it dies. If you've still got original color but it's looking a bit hazy, you can usually bring it back with a very light rubbing compound-but go easy. Since this is a translucent candy, you don't have a lot of "room" to sand before you hit the silver base underneath. Once you get that shine back, you have to seal it. Think of this paint like a living thing that needs a skin. A heavy paste wax is your best friend; it fills the pores of that old enamel and keeps the oxygen from turning your Ruby Red back into a memory.