skrapiron -FSO wrote on 01/28/08 at 04:50:27:Just an observation...
Last time I checked, the engine was air cooled. The matte finish on the cooling fins is annodized.
Wouldn't painting the heat sink (cooling fins) , sealing it from proper air circulation, potentially cause thermal management issues???? (over heating?)
I'd be very reluctant to add any kind of paint or coating to the factory anodized finish on the cooling fins.
Many air cooled bikes came with black paint on the fins from the factory, but that coating was always very thin and the manufacturer factored it into the way the bike was built. I've played around with Z900/Z1000s and you'll certainly be more limited on bore size for overheating if the barrels are painted.
So-called heat-dissipating
matt black paint loses heat because it's black, and black surfces release/absorb infra red at a much better rate than other colours. However, while a black painted surface will cool a whole lot better than white, it's still insulation compared to bare matt metal.
That paint looks to be on pretty thick compared with traditionally used motorcycle black barrel paint, and with the clear enamel on top as well you're going to have insulation from the thickness of the two coats, and reduced cooling from the surface being shiny. That would be fine for painting an engine block when most of your cooling comes from a water system, but really could cause problems.
Best to be careful on hot days, especially in slow traffic.