What are the downsides to the "Black Denim" (or any other color) finish? This flat paint scheme is really popular with guitars right now too and the finish gets shiney where your body rubs it, causing some areas to be shiney and some to be flat.

Do the finishes on the bikes do this too? Do they show scratches alot more?

What are the downsides to this finish over time?

Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Chris

 

Yes the denim finish will get shiney if you rub it too hard. HD makes a special Denim Paint cleaner that is very easy to use. it is very $$ and others have used different products. I got 2 bottles of the denim paint cleaner when a dealer around here had a 1/2 off going out of business sale.

as for scatches, i haven't noticed that they show more than other bikes. But I have two chips on the paint. One from tropind a bit on the tank, and one on the rear fender from a passenger F* up. I think it chips easier because the clear coat is probably be thinner than the gloss finishes.


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Fingerprints!

I was seriously interested in Black Denim when I bought my SG. My wife and I noticed that every time we touched a painted surface (e.g., to open the saddle bags) there were fingerprints where we touched it. You can obviously wipe these off very, very easily, or just wear gloves when you open or close the saddle bags. And this may not bother others at all anyway. But it's just one of those things that would irritate me for no good reason. So I passed on denim paint.

It does look awesome, however.

 

Thanks guys! I'm kinda worried that if I got a Street Glide in the demin paint and did alot of 2-up riding, the passengers legs would make the top fronts of the saddle bags get shiny and not match the rest of the bike. Things like that would drive me insane. Really...

 

i read somewhere to clean denim paint with windex and skip out on the harley brand cleaner

 

Valid concern.
I am not sure how to (or even if you can) re-demin the paint once it is "rubbed" to a shine.

+1 on Windex for cleaning.

 

No one ever mentions that denim paint makes you even more invisible to cagers.

 

I use Windex ,works great. I will agree that you can put fingerprints on the piant but cant you do that on all paint and chrome?

I have over 6K on my Fat Bob in Black denim with no shinny spots chips or scratches yet.

 

When Harley first started the denim, I thought they were going for the primered look of a bike under construction.

Seen some up close with shiny spots and scratches. Not for me, but Harley has a hit with the look for a lot of riders.

 

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I really appreciate it. Keep 'em coming if others have experience with this.