Not liking the blackout trend
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 14
From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
I really thought at first the "denim" look was simply primer waiting for a finish. Now that I own a Rushmore I don't like so much chrome. Rocker covers, pushrod tubes and bases, tranny cover, and the butt end of the starter, along with the oil filter would have been easier to take care of if it was just blacked out.
Seems to me there's a whole lot less constant cleaning on the denim finished bikes. I can understand that!
Seems to me there's a whole lot less constant cleaning on the denim finished bikes. I can understand that!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 2,500
From: Tennessee
Lots of us were running blacked out bikes for decades before S.O.A. turned it in to "The next big thing".
I have never liked chrome very much and have always tended to like the utilitarian type of bike that requires no polishing a and wiping down all the time....Just ride the hell out'a the bitch!
I have never liked chrome very much and have always tended to like the utilitarian type of bike that requires no polishing a and wiping down all the time....Just ride the hell out'a the bitch!
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 245
From: Triune, TN
+1 on a balance of black and Chrome. Too much of either one is overkill to me. When I ride, it seems I see a lot of guys parked in their drive or at the dealer polishing that Chrome, seems kinda high maintenance...kinda like a trophy wife ha-ha.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 302
Likes: 4
I think some of the blackout bikes look pretty cool. If you have one, please don't think I'm talking trash about your bike. A bike is a very individual thing and I can see digging a blacked out bike. Saw a customized blacked-out Street Bob at our dealer a week ago that looked really cool.
I liked "Sons of Anarchy" as much as the next guy and Jax Teller's various blacked-out bikes were OK looking.
But you know, at the end of the day Harley Davidson does chrome and paint better than anyone else in the industry. I do not care for the trend away from chrome on their newer bikes. Chrome, correctly done, looks better than any blacked out bike can ever look.
I get it that blackout no doubt involves cheaper manufacturing costs. But we don't buy our Harleys to get cheap looking bikes.
Hope no one is offended by this; am I the only one against this current blackout style trend?
I liked "Sons of Anarchy" as much as the next guy and Jax Teller's various blacked-out bikes were OK looking.
But you know, at the end of the day Harley Davidson does chrome and paint better than anyone else in the industry. I do not care for the trend away from chrome on their newer bikes. Chrome, correctly done, looks better than any blacked out bike can ever look.
I get it that blackout no doubt involves cheaper manufacturing costs. But we don't buy our Harleys to get cheap looking bikes.
Hope no one is offended by this; am I the only one against this current blackout style trend?
I agree with you 100% but to each his own!!!
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 79
Just do you, and don't worry about others bikes. I, kinda, understand trying to validate your feelings by posting to this forum, to gauge response, but don't **** on others parade. Don't like them, don't buy them.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 695
From: Huntington Beach, CA
I will say that I worry that HD is soon going to have things set up such that to buy the bike that I and others want, we will only be able to get it in blacked out. Cheaper for HD so higher margins.
Such a trend is not desirable. That is my point.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 10,291
Likes: 7,773
From: West Central FL
I'm not against flat black. If you like it, buy it. I just thought the fad was over about three years ago. You can always tell when a craze is winding down. The factory starts selling it off the rack. Chrome however NEVER goes out of style.
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Central Arkansas
Not trying to validate my feelings, chum.
I will say that I worry that HD is soon going to have things set up such that to buy the bike that I and others want, we will only be able to get it in blacked out. Cheaper for HD so higher margins.
Such a trend is not desirable. That is my point.
I will say that I worry that HD is soon going to have things set up such that to buy the bike that I and others want, we will only be able to get it in blacked out. Cheaper for HD so higher margins.
Such a trend is not desirable. That is my point.
