1978 Suzuki-Motorcycle Touch Up Paint (3 OEM Colors)

The 1978 Suzuki-Motorcycle Vibe

1978 was the year Suzuki stopped playing second fiddle and dropped the hammer with the GS series. While the two-stroke screams of the GT750 "Water Buffalo" were fading into legend, the GS1000 was busy proving that a Japanese liter-bike could actually handle a corner without trying to eject its rider. The aesthetic shifted from the loud, trippy flares of the early '70s to a more "industrial-speed" look. We've focused our collection on the survivors of this transition-the colors that made those tanks look like precision machinery. Whether it's the understated Oort Grey Metallic, the deep Shadow Black, or the classic Sonic Silver, these were the tones of a brand finally claiming the throne.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Single Stage Era. Back in '78, Suzuki wasn't messing around with fancy clear coats that peel like a bad sunburn; they sprayed it thick, and they sprayed it once. But here's the rub: those single-stage enamels are essentially "living" finishes. If your GS has been sitting in a garage since the Carter administration, that Shadow Black probably looks more like a dusty chalkboard right now. This is called Oxidation. The sun eats the top layer of pigment, turning your glossy metallic into a dull, chalky mess. It's not dead-it's just buried under a layer of "dead skin" that's been baking for forty-odd years.

Restoration Tip

If you're touching up a 1978 tank, you can't just slap paint over the old surface and call it a day. You have to "exfoliate" first. Use a fine polishing compound to rub away that chalky oxidation until the original color starts "bleeding" onto your cloth-that's how you know you've reached the healthy paint underneath. Once you've applied your touch-up, remember the golden rule of 1970s enamel: It needs wax or it dies. Without a high-quality carnauba or sealant to act as a sacrificial barrier, the air and UV rays will start the oxidation process all over again. Buff it until it glows, then seal it like your life depends on it.