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I'm 53 and an old-school guy, so I tend to favor shiny black paint and lots of chrome - at least on my H-D. But, I also appreciate the flat look on certain things and even bought a Ducati with that finish - it's very stealthy looking, but with a splash of shiny Italian red paint on the frame.
Thanx Capn Caps! Meant alot. For me, that Vtwin is a beautiful work of art to look at. I think chrome adds detail and dimension to the engine. All blacked out does the opposite. Personally, I think the black is just as hard to keep looking nice as chrome. Dust, water spots.
I'm back and forth. My 08 Anniversary SG was chromed out. Traded it for a blacked out 11 RGU. Traded that for a 16 RGS that I mixed it up with chrome and black bought a 19 Freewheeler and did that one like the 16. A nice mix of both. Week and a glaf ago I bought a blacked out 19 RGS. Used to be I said all blacked out shows no originality. when I bought the 11 I wanted a Roadglide. it was used good price. Not exactly how I wanted it. But had a lot of big ticket items done. When I bought the 16 I said I'd never have another blacked out bike. Well. Times they are a changing. Blacked out is beyond a fad. Not just because I have one. Been saying it for a while now. Denim paint. That I know I dont like for myself. I like shiney. Black or chrome. Need to get the black hinges for the TP. Gonna spray bomb the rack.
Motorcycles should be happy colors. Flat black, all black, black on black blacked out motorcycles are soooo unoriginal even though it fools some people into thinking they look all sinister and shizzt. The only thing worse is fake painted on "patina."
I like both, or is that all three....?
Depends on the bike and the color combo (I am past half way to 100).
I am still trying to get the right mix of black N chrome for my Deluxe (getting close).
But with all looks aside I wish I still had my old FLHT with its matt/flat lower end that I would/could ride in any weather and not give a rip.
A quick rinse off and she was ready for more abuse, my last two bikes are princess's compared to her.
Don't get me wrong I love the way they look (and the compliments) but more of a pain to maintain if you know what I mean.
My '05 883 was vivid black with plenty of chorme, and the 05 Dyna is a nice shiny red, only thing dull on both bikes is the silver powdercoat engine cases, so yeah I like the shiny sheeit. I am 50...
I can say the blacked out look is much easier to clean than chrome. I don't go out of my way to choose the colors of vehicles as I'm usually pushing for a deal and will take most colors as long as they aren't crazy like pink but it is amusing when I end up with the same 2 for bike and vehicle. My expedition and Softail Slim:
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
