I gave them a shot to but they also don’t do Barracuda silver but I’m pretty sure they do good work

 

I’ve said it before, that’s a beautiful color

 

As a former painter I can tell you silver is one of the WORST colors to match, silver metallic is even worse and anything pearl or three stage goes to the top of the list of colors I hated to paint.

You really need the bike there to do spray out cards to make sure your mix is spot on.

 

I’m not sure if my Morocco gold pearl is a 3 stage (I think it is) but mine has been spot on, all 5 times. Hell, even my pinstripes have been perfect.

 

I know nothing about paint other than it's expensive. But why not just use HD OEM paint? Just asking.....

 

I tried to go through them as well. That was a no go. Smitty said he could do my Merlot Sunglo but wouldn't even attempt the Cherry Red Sunglo. Told me there was no paint code for it and it was a one year color only. Offered to leave my two tone side cover with him but he wouldn't budge. I called 2 different painters and both had the paint code in less than 2 mins. So....I'll be picking up my rear kit from Top Shop on the 7th and sending it to my painter.

 

All the HD paint is PPG, and if you have access to the PPG mix formulas the HD colors are in there

The problem is with some colors it is very expensive to make a mistake.

A basecoat clear coat generic red is about 120 dollars for 8 ounces, plus reducers and clear/activator.

HD has some of the best factory paint in the world, I love their finished product, IMHO nothing comes close.

Trying to duplicate their paint is tough

If you get into silver, which is a very translucent color, you are at the mercy of the color of the primer or sealer to start with and then how many coats it takes to get coverage... the more paint you put on the darker it gets.

The distance of the spray gun to the part, and the pressure in the gun also will change the finished color.

If you ever buy Color Rite paint, and they have mixes for all the HD colors, it usually comes with pretty specific instructions that if you don't follow to the letter will cause a mis match.

Vivid Black is easy to match, everything else IMHO is up to the talent of the painter.... they know what colors they can match with a reasonable chance of getting it right, and what paint to avoid like the clap.

Motorcycle painting is an art, painting cars is like giving a kid a box of crayons in comparison.

Every flaw shows, everything has do be perfect from the time you degrease it out of the box thru the buffing process.

When someone says they won't paint a color, chances are they have had an issue with it in the past.

 

Think of it this way, be glad they told you, up front, that they don’t do that your color, rather than waste your time and not get it right. If they do do your color, you can be rest assured it will be done to the highest quality.

 

5 weeks