General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Painting Lighter Color Over Base Color?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 8, 2009 | 09:16 AM
  #1  
Kregg's Avatar
Kregg
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Default Painting Lighter Color Over Base Color?

My bike is Red Hot Sunglow and I'm looking to have some custom painting done. I want to keep the very nice Red Hot Sunglow as a base and paint a lighter color over it (orange or yellow) with a design TBD. I know if you are painting from scratch you do the lighter colors first and build up to the deeper colors.

Can I do this without starting over with the base paint as well?
 
Old Jul 8, 2009 | 07:49 PM
  #2  
nearmiss's Avatar
nearmiss
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 151
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
Default

Depending on the colors you choose, you can paint over the darker. It will take more basecoat. You also have the option of using a lighter color sealer first in those areas to be re-coated. If a paint shop is doing the work, they should know how to accomplish what you want to do.
 
Old Jul 8, 2009 | 09:50 PM
  #3  
oct1949's Avatar
oct1949
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Default

Keep us posted as she goes.
 
Old Jul 8, 2009 | 11:11 PM
  #4  
MidnitEvil's Avatar
MidnitEvil
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,235
Likes: 65
From: Joliet, Illinois
Default

I wouldn't experiment on the bike. I always do some test panels first. Paint a number of panels red hot sunglow, then try various colors over each of them. The results are not always what you expect them to be.

If you want something completely different than the red hot sunglow, you'll probably want to scuff up the areas to be painted, shoot some sealer over them, then your new basecoat over that.
 
Old Jul 9, 2009 | 08:11 AM
  #5  
Kregg's Avatar
Kregg
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Default

Thanks for the comments.

I understand the base coat issue. This would work as long as by added graphics are opaque. However, I was hoping for some translucency of the orange over the red. This would probably be airbrushed flames or another graphic.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
HAWGJO
General Harley Davidson Chat
5
Apr 25, 2017 08:41 PM
Springerfan
Touring Models
4
May 19, 2010 12:13 AM
Punk09Rocker
General Harley Davidson Chat
6
Apr 21, 2010 04:41 PM
ron bayless
General Harley Davidson Chat
13
Aug 13, 2009 08:55 PM
jeb_cfl
Dyna Glide Models
6
Oct 22, 2007 11:06 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:50 PM.

story-0
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE