Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners

I removed the rivets on the support bracket to get ready to blast the fender. To my surprise it didn’t look like it had ever been painted. If you look at the pin strips, it looks like the strips were done before the bracket. I know that makes no sense because you would think the entire fender would be painted black then the white stripes. But if that’s was the case why is there no paint underneath the bracket?

I think they are all like this.

Looks like there isn't any paint either. I found the same thing when I restored my '55 R50, I had to remove the brace in order to make the front fender correct for the early Earles fork bikes. I think from the factory the sheet metal was painted with the bracket in place and the rear fend likewise. I've done a few /2 restorations and have never removed the fender braces, reinstalling them after the paint is done can be a significant challenge that I am not willing to take on.

Thanks for your replies, I’ve been thinking of the same thing. Think I’m going to epoxy prime everything then reassemble then do the final paint.