I'm getting my tank repainted on my 48 & can't decide flat black, flat OD Green or original gloss black. So if you have a flat black or flat OD Green bike please post some pic's in this thread. Thanks.

 

Few pics from a DIY tutorial on coi/ignition/wire tuck I posted:

 

I see your tank. Is it clear coated @ all? Looks nicely done!

 

Its the HD "Denim" paint.

Essentially there is an eggshell matte clear (think, clear with a flattening agent, and then a light coat of eggshell clear over that). The paint is designed to "wear" like denim and develop its own character.

If you look at the second to last picture I posted, you see that spot over the rear jug that is darker? That is where my knee rubs on the tank from time to time, which is part of that "denim" effect that this paint has.

If I wanted, I could take a detailer's clay bar to the tank and remove all of that denim layer, and what is left would be a normal flat black just like any other black tank that has been cleared with a flattening agent.

You can ask ANY really good paint shop to use a flattening agent in their clear coat, it will give you all the good protection of a normal glossy clear, but give you that matte look. That flattening agent will add maybe 10-20% to the cost of the paint job usually.

In fact, you can take a glossy tank, wetsand it, and spray a layer of clear with a flattening agent over it and turn it into a flat finish, without stripping and repainting the entire tank.

 

Probably not much help, as "denim black" is already posted.

 

HD at one time offered and olive green Nightster. Still one of my favorite Nightster colors. Just one thing to remember if you intend on doing JUST your tank in a flat color. On the 48 you've got gloss black front and rear fenders. So the combination of a flat colored tank and gloss colored fenders may be a little weird to look at. Just a though.

 

I removed the front fender already & will get the rear done this winter. I've decided to go OD green now I need to go flat or gloss! Decisions, decisions. I've tried googling OD green Harley but didn't come up w/too many to look @.

 

Correct, sort of. It is clear coated, but the flattening agent is in the basecoat, it is actually a PPG Delron paint. You can easily achieve the same affect by flattening the clear though.

 

I'm thinking I want OD green gloss. I was only able to find 1 pic on the internet of a bike that has it and it looks sick! The flat might look too 'used up' if that makes sense.

 

Well you asked for it so here it is.