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ColorRite rattle can paint project - looking for counsel

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Old Oct 19, 2025 | 03:25 PM
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Default ColorRite rattle can paint project - looking for counsel

I’m going to rattle can paint the Vivid black side covers on my 2024 police Road King. The rest of the bike is “New” Birch White and is listed as “Factory Variance” at ColorRite which means no matter how well I do this it’s liable to be a bust, so I bought some TCMT import Vivid Black side covers in case the paint job is a flop. They look perfect, so I have a fall back plan.

I also ordered the ColoRite clear and their primer, which is light gray.

What I don’t know is what kind of paint TCMT paints their painted parts with, and how well the ColorRite primer will work on top of that. I will sand them first to knock the gloss off the clear, but would prefer to not have to sand them down to the ABS plastic, with either the TCMT side covers, or the factory HD side covers.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Admonitions? Ridicule?

I’m all ears.
 

Last edited by gonemad; Oct 19, 2025 at 03:27 PM.
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Old Oct 19, 2025 | 03:51 PM
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Originally Posted by gonemad
I’m going to rattle can paint the Vivid black side covers on my 2024 police Road King. The rest of the bike is “New” Birch White and is listed as “Factory Variance” at ColorRite which means no matter how well I do this it’s liable to be a bust, so I bought some TCMT import Vivid Black side covers in case the paint job is a flop. They look perfect, so I have a fall back plan.

I also ordered the ColoRite clear and their primer, which is light gray.

What I don’t know is what kind of paint TCMT paints their painted parts with, and how well the ColorRite primer will work on top of that. I will sand them first to knock the gloss off the clear, but would prefer to not have to sand them down to the ABS plastic, with either the TCMT side covers, or the factory HD side covers.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Admonitions? Ridicule?

I’m all ears.
I would just put on the new covers, if you already ordered new covers.
I just received touch up paint sticks from Color right. I have not done a test yet.
Let us know how well it goes. I may try it on my side covers that are getting weathered. Or do a U.S. flag vinyl wrap on the covers.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2025 | 03:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Mongo1958
I would just put on the new covers, if you already ordered new covers.
I just received touch up paint sticks from Color right. I have not done a test yet.
Let us know how well it goes. I may try it on my side covers that are getting weathered. Or do a U.S. flag vinyl wrap on the covers.
The TCMT covers came in a few days ago. The paint, fit, and finish is perfect. Looks like Harley OE parts. $80 for the pair.

If Harley sold painted side covers in Birch White , I’d pay the premium to get the paint match from them, but they apparently don’t sell these side covers in Birch White according to my parts guy who has been at this dealer at least 20 years or more. Plus that color has changed. Birch White allegedly changed maybe two dozen years ago or longer, and yet a friend’s 2013 Birch White two tone Electra Glide is ever so slightly darker than my 2024 Birch White FLHP, so who knows.

I like what @Taxgod4u said to me when we discussed this recently, and I’ll paraphrase, “any difference in the color on the side covers will not be so noticeable, and if somebody DOES say anything, punch them in the face. They won’t say it again."

 

Last edited by gonemad; Oct 19, 2025 at 04:04 PM.
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Old Oct 19, 2025 | 04:40 PM
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They do still offer paint matched parts.

2024 FLHP
SIDECOVER LH: 57200071DH*
SIDECOVER RH: 57200072DH*


 
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Old Oct 19, 2025 | 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by chopper_man
They do still offer paint matched parts.

2024 FLHP
SIDECOVER LH: 57200071DH*
SIDECOVER RH: 57200072DH*
Thanks.

When I search those part numbers at HD, it shows the parts, but doesn’t list a color. The price is $370.81 per side. Unpainted is $160 I see on their OE parts page.

I don’t know that I would pay that much for them, but with enough whiskey, I am liable to order anything.

Can you share a link where you see the actual name of the color listed?

Edit: Okay, I see the linked page now.
 

Last edited by gonemad; Oct 19, 2025 at 05:00 PM.
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Old Oct 19, 2025 | 05:07 PM
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After digging further into those pages you linked, I found vivid black police bikes, and birch white police bikes with the side covers having the same part numbers you posted. I’ve researched a lot of police bikes in the past two years since I ordered my current FLHP, and never have seen a recent production police bike with anything other than vivid black side covers, regardless of the color of the rest of the tins, which would explain why those side cover part numbers are the same for the vivid black bikes and the birch white bikes. The fenders, and tanks of the two different colored bikes have different part numbers, whereas the side covers have the same part numbers.

I could be wrong...
 

Last edited by gonemad; Oct 19, 2025 at 05:19 PM.
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Old Oct 19, 2025 | 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by gonemad
The TCMT covers came in a few days ago. The paint, fit, and finish is perfect. Looks like Harley OE parts. $80 for the pair.

If Harley sold painted side covers in Birch White , I’d pay the premium to get the paint match from them, but they apparently don’t sell these side covers in Birch White according to my parts guy who has been at this dealer at least 20 years or more. Plus that color has changed. Birch White allegedly changed maybe two dozen years ago or longer, and yet a friend’s 2013 Birch White two tone Electra Glide is ever so slightly darker than my 2024 Birch White FLHP, so who knows.

I like what @Taxgod4u said to me when we discussed this recently, and I’ll paraphrase, “any difference in the color on the side covers will not be so noticeable, and if somebody DOES say anything, punch them in the face. They won’t say it again."

BWAAA HAHAHHA!
 
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Old Oct 20, 2025 | 05:24 AM
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Scuff the new side covers good with Scotch Bright pads and paint them.
Start with the base coat, and see how it goes.
The key is to apply many thin coats and either sand in between coats or apply when still tacky.
And don't forget to paint the backsides.
 
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Old Oct 20, 2025 | 02:40 PM
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Paint came in. Did a spray out on the test card they sent. I’m really pleased with the color match even though ColorRite says *Factory Variance* on this particular color.
The color coat laid down perfect on the test card. I mean it looks perfect in person. The sun is at a low angle being 3:30 on the east coast. And there's some large blue print on the card you can see through the one color coat.




Then I shot some clear over it, and that did exactly what I expected rattle can high gloss clear to do.

Show. every. little. thing. Stuff that wasn’t even there when I shot the color coat. (ETA- Looks better now that it has dried.)

After shooting the clear. Can’t see the blemishes at this angle, and the hard bag has some road schmutz on the back of the bags, but this should be the color after I primer spray the side covers with light gray primer.
 

Last edited by gonemad; Oct 20, 2025 at 03:01 PM.
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Old Oct 21, 2025 | 05:00 AM
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It looks a little darker to me, but seriously, it's so close, no one will notice it.
 
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