1981 Suzuki-Motorcycle Touch Up Paint (3 OEM Colors)

The 1981 Suzuki-Motorcycle Vibe

Welcome to 1981, the year Suzuki decided motorcycles shouldn't just look like bicycles with engines, but like something Hans Muth dreamed up after watching *Star Wars*. This was the dawn of the legendary GSX1100S Katana, a bike so sharp it practically came with a whetstone. The color palette reflected that "future-is-now" energy-we're talking high-tech monochromes and cold metallics. We've focused our efforts on the survivors that defined the era: Sonic Silver, Oort Grey Metallic, and Shadow Black. If you're riding one of these today, you're not just on a bike; you're on a piece of Japanese kinetic art.

Paint Health Check

Now, let's get real about what's happening on that fuel tank. We are firmly in the Single Stage Era. Back in '81, Suzuki wasn't messing around with fancy multi-layered clear coats for most of their lineup; they were spraying hard-hitting, solvent-rich paint where the gloss and the pigment lived in the same house. The problem? That house is drafty. Over forty years, oxygen has been moving in and throwing a party. You'll notice your Sonic Silver looking more like "Dirty Sidewalk Grey" or your Shadow Black taking on a chalky, ashy film. That's Oxidation, and it's what happens when the aluminum flakes in your metallic finish start to "rust" in place because they aren't shielded by a modern plastic barrier.

Restoration Tip

The good news is that 1981 paint is honest. Because it's a single-stage finish, you can often "exfoliate" the dead, oxidized layer to reveal the vibrant pigment hiding underneath. Use a light cutting compound to buff away the chalkiness until your microfiber starts picking up the color of the bike-that's how you know you've hit the fresh stuff. But listen close: It needs wax or it dies. Once you've polished it, that paint is "naked" and vulnerable. If you don't seal it with a high-quality carnauba or a proper sealant immediately, the sun will turn your restoration back into a chalkboard before the next season starts. Seal it, or prepare to paint it again.