1973 Honda-Motorcycle Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 1973 Honda-Motorcycle Vibe

1973 was a high-water mark for the "Big Red" machine. Whether you were screaming down the asphalt on a CB750 Four or kicking up dust on a CL350 Scrambler, the look was unmistakable: high-gloss, deep-tinted tanks and enough chrome to blind a low-flying pilot. While the era was famous for psychedelic "Candy" finishes like Bacchus Olive and Sunrise Orange, the survivors that have stood the test of time often sport the most iconic, no-nonsense look in the book. We've focused our attention on the absolute essential: the deep, rich Black that defined the silhouette of these classic machines. It's the color that makes the chrome pop and tells everyone you're riding a legend, not a lawnmower.

Paint Health Check

Back in '73, "Single Stage" was the law of the land. This means your color and your gloss were mixed into one thick, hardworking layer. The good news? It's tough. The bad news? It's prone to "The Chalk"-better known in the trade as oxidation. If your tank looks like it's been dusted with flour or the finish feels like a chalkboard, that's the paint literally drying out from fifty years of UV abuse. Unlike modern finishes that peel like a sunburn, 1970s Honda paint just slowly dies of thirst. If you haven't seen a reflection in your side covers since the Ford administration, you're dealing with a classic case of surface oxidation.

Restoration Tip

Since you're dealing with a single-stage finish, remember this: **It needs wax or it dies.** Before you go hacking away with heavy sandpaper to fix a scratch, try a "Deep Clean" with a dedicated polishing compound first. You'll be amazed how much of that "lost" color is just buried under a layer of dead pigment. Once you've leveled the surface and done your touch-ups, seal it immediately with a high-quality carnauba wax or sealant. These old solvent-based paints are porous; if you don't give them a protective barrier, the air and sun will reach back in and turn your restoration project back to chalk before the next riding season.