If it were me, I guess I'd consider what the cost/level my paint job is going to be. If I'm dropping a lot of coin on some nice paint, everything comes off that can come off.

If I were doing just above a rattle-can kind of job, yeah, I'd mask it off.

That's just me. ... and what I plan to do is powder coat the tank and rear fender to match my other colored parts... .so .. for me, it all has to come off anyway.

 

Oh I'm sorry, where you just seeking validation for your choice?
Here ya go;


Millennial's,, jeez they just want the answer.
Take the part off, mask from the inside,, then present it to the painter.

p.s.,, this is a harley forum,, not a painting forum.
If you want to do your own work "before" you present to the painter, at least for the same reason we all do, aka; to save money,,, you should ask the painter.

Take the part off. Do the work yourself if you want a decent job at a bargain price
Otherwise No,, you don't want paint build-up next too/on top of fitting parts. Fitting parts may need to change position in the future. That knowledge is as old as dirt