Hi all.

So I have quite a bit of chrome on my Dyna Super Glide Custom, which to be fair I'm not a great fan of. I prefer the matte black look, the kind you get on Irons etc. I don't have the funds to take it to be powder coated or painted by a pro, so was wondering if you have any suggestions on how to paint some bits black.
For example, the horn cover, air intake cover etc. Is it a case of just taking off and spraying with VHT paint, something like this...
https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/car-maintenance-accessories/paints-and-primers/high-temp-paint/?549772211&0&cc5_161&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgOLE_JCa2wI V7bftCh02NQhQEAQYASABEgII6PD_BwE
Or do I need to prep the parts before hand, like sand them down or something?
Advice appreciated.

 

You can do what I do, and that is look on facebook/ebay etc and buy the parts used already in black. Turn around and sell your chrome bits to help reduce the costs. I'm terrible at painting/prepping, so this is my alternative lol

 

I've had pretty good luck with VHT over scuffed chrome. The epoxy paint is more durable but I don't think they offer it in matte.

Beyond proper paint selection, success is in the prep. Scuff, clean, cure.

Investigate you local powder coating options. Get an estimate for some small parts. You may find it's cheaper than expected.

 

If your going to permanently paint them, I would scuff them first to take the shine off and then clean them with a wax and grease remover. Or you could use Plasti-dip in a spray can, it works real well and can be peeled off if you don't like it. It's very durable and will last a long time. It can also be touched up pretty easy. I'm a big fan of Krylon spray bomb paints, I've found them to be the easiest to spray and most durable.

Steve

 

I blacked out a number of smaller chrome bits on my bike. indicators, mirrors and some other bits and bobs. You really have scuff the hell out of the chrome and get the shiny chrome completely gone , paint just doesn't like to stick to it unless you really mess the surface up.

I laid paint on thick. I used 2 coats of primer, at least 4 coats of black (if I remember correctly I used an Acrylic auto paint), then 2 coats of 2K clear.

Your other option is Plasti-dip

 

I used black plasti-dip on aircleaner, fender struts, turn signals, batt cover, and VHT high temp on the exhaust.

 

My vote is for plastidip. If you don't like it you can take it off pretty easily, yet it stays put very well until you decide to do so.

That way if you go to sell it down the line you have options about it. If you sand up the chrome it will never look like chrome again. Plus sometimes things grow on you or you decide you painted one piece too many, the plastidip allows you to go back. Wouldn't use it on the exhaust, though there are very few things you can use on an exhaust due to the heat.

 

Agreed on all the above - but would also recommend getting quote from local powder coater as it's typically a lot cheaper (especially for smaller parts) than you'd expect! Example - powder coating my handlebars locally was $30

 

If you're really on a budget, you could clean it up real nice, tape it off and use some good high-heat (VHT or whatever). I'm not necessarily suggesting that, but it seems to have worked for this dude (not my bike).

 

"Scuffed Chrome!" I almost got sick

I'm half drunk...but I like shinny--I like chrome--the more chrome the better shinny shinny my precious! Beside without chrome what would I get drunk and polish? Guess I'm old skool guys "It aint cool if your chrome dont shine"

Ah to each thier own my brothers--may the rubber side always stay on the bottom!