Black out tourers
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,863
Likes: 172
From: Clarksville, TN
The engine is textured black. HD uses wrinkle on the came cover, primary, trans side, intake and horn covers. The rocker boxes and trans top are textured as well. There is a noticeable difference between textured and wrinkle black. What SpaceReapersNOLA is showing is wrinkle black. It has very small blue and silver flakes in it. Textured has no flakes at all.
The engine is textured black. HD uses wrinkle on the came cover, primary, trans side, intake and horn covers. The rocker boxes and trans top are textured as well. There is a noticeable difference between textured and wrinkle black. What SpaceReapersNOLA is showing is wrinkle black. It has very small blue and silver flakes in it. Textured has no flakes at all.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,863
Likes: 172
From: Clarksville, TN
To match what, the case or a factory blacked out engine...like on a Street Bob? Both the engines on my bikes are done in the way I listed above. With the exception off the rocker box tops on my Bob its all factory black parts...ie It came that way. I did the Glide the same way. On the Glide some part are OE Harley parts, some are ebay take offs, and some are powder coated by a local guy. You can't tell the difference between the factory stuff and stuff I had the powder guy do. You just need to decide on what want it to look like.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 65
Likes: 3
From: Middle Georgia
Something to consider
Wow, this is a looonnng thread with tons of good stuff to think about. If it's not too late, let me throw out something for you to keep in mind...or not.
When I bought my 2011 RG the PO had already started blacking it out. Handle bars, highway bars, AC and horn cover, and mufflers were all black. I liked the look so I bought the bike with the intention of finishing the murder task. Bought the black heat shields, and the black tour pack mounting stuff. That's when it hit me...as I gazed upon my bike I realized I had about 7 different variations of black going on. Some was shiny, some was flat, some appeared darker, some appeared deeper, some actually had a gray tint. From that point on I hated what I had going on. Maybe I have touch of that OCD thing but the different blacks no longer looked cool, it looked like a hodge-podge of dark parts thrown together. Now a year later I've got it almost all back chrome and I'm much happier. I'm not saying this to discourage you, not at all, but just in case you have a little of the OCD thing going on and think that multiple variations of black might be a problem you can attack the issue up front, not after the fact. Good luck with your endeavor!!
When I bought my 2011 RG the PO had already started blacking it out. Handle bars, highway bars, AC and horn cover, and mufflers were all black. I liked the look so I bought the bike with the intention of finishing the murder task. Bought the black heat shields, and the black tour pack mounting stuff. That's when it hit me...as I gazed upon my bike I realized I had about 7 different variations of black going on. Some was shiny, some was flat, some appeared darker, some appeared deeper, some actually had a gray tint. From that point on I hated what I had going on. Maybe I have touch of that OCD thing but the different blacks no longer looked cool, it looked like a hodge-podge of dark parts thrown together. Now a year later I've got it almost all back chrome and I'm much happier. I'm not saying this to discourage you, not at all, but just in case you have a little of the OCD thing going on and think that multiple variations of black might be a problem you can attack the issue up front, not after the fact. Good luck with your endeavor!!
To match what, the case or a factory blacked out engine...like on a Street Bob? Both the engines on my bikes are done in the way I listed above. With the exception off the rocker box tops on my Bob its all factory black parts...ie It came that way. I did the Glide the same way. On the Glide some part are OE Harley parts, some are ebay take offs, and some are powder coated by a local guy. You can't tell the difference between the factory stuff and stuff I had the powder guy do. You just need to decide on what want it to look like.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,863
Likes: 172
From: Clarksville, TN
Essentially I am striving to convert the chrome engine covers on my glide to the same pattern of a night train (or street bob, etc). It appeared from the earlier photos that the powder used in the rear wheel was a pretty close match to the engine cases, hence the question. I cannot get a solid answer from Harley on if the current offering in black for a primary cover is designed with the new compensator oil trough, so I am researching cheaper alternatives to buying new parts.
Ok...if you are going for a factory black engine i
they come as I listed above.
Here is how I went about it with my Glide. I made it look just like the Street Bob.
I got a take off cam cover from Ebay...they are plentiful and reasonably priced. Same goes for the intake cover. They are both wrinkle black.
The horn cover and trans side I got OE Harley parts...they are not that expensive new. Both also wrinkle black.
The trans top I also got OE. It is textured black also not that expensive.
I had an extra set of rocker box tops from when I swapped out the ones on my Street Bob so I had them, the primary cover, and tank dash powder coated wrinkle black.
The only thing that doesn't match the way a black engine covers from the factory is my rocker top boxes on the Glide. If you got them from HD they would be textured but they still look good.
My engine guards are gloss to match the frame as are the frame rail covers and all my detachables.
I left a sash of chrome here and there just to keep it from looking like a black blob. If you have any questions just ask.
Damn, that's pretty stinkin close to what I am shooting for! My glide is vivid black and I am considering a two tone paint scheme down the road in charcoal pearl and vivid black. Thanks for the inspiration, I really like that wrinkle black rocker box cover with the chrome lower rocket box, that looks really nice. Might have to look into that...
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 546
Likes: 59
From: New Orleans
Sorry I just saw your response to my post. As already stated there is a harley wrinkle and a harley textured. I went with the wrinkle, it just looks great in person.
I wish I could be more help with your engine questions but I havent gotten that far yet in my quest to black out the bike. I started in the rear having the rear wheel powder coated and all of the random brackets, etc done. I am mounting up a street glide rear fender with the filler panel and new Legend revo shocks. I got a set of hard bags that are currently being wrapped in carbon fiber vinyl.
moving up front I have the 21" roland sands morris wheel, paul yaffe thicky front fender, progressive monotube shocks up front. I am changing out the bars for a set of powdercoated wild 1 chubby ape hangers.
once I get all this stuff on the bike I plan to start on my engine black out. I have gloss black rocker boxes, cam cover, and timing cover, wrinkle black outer primary. need to get the rest of the bits together and do it.
It's crazy , you dont realize how much work it is to black out a bike until you start the process. Now when I look at the bike all I see is a million little bits that need to be sorted.... I need to find a good source for black hardware. It never ends does it!
I wish I could be more help with your engine questions but I havent gotten that far yet in my quest to black out the bike. I started in the rear having the rear wheel powder coated and all of the random brackets, etc done. I am mounting up a street glide rear fender with the filler panel and new Legend revo shocks. I got a set of hard bags that are currently being wrapped in carbon fiber vinyl.
moving up front I have the 21" roland sands morris wheel, paul yaffe thicky front fender, progressive monotube shocks up front. I am changing out the bars for a set of powdercoated wild 1 chubby ape hangers.
once I get all this stuff on the bike I plan to start on my engine black out. I have gloss black rocker boxes, cam cover, and timing cover, wrinkle black outer primary. need to get the rest of the bits together and do it.
It's crazy , you dont realize how much work it is to black out a bike until you start the process. Now when I look at the bike all I see is a million little bits that need to be sorted.... I need to find a good source for black hardware. It never ends does it!
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 1,612
From: Eastern Ohio
Craig you inspire me to go wrinkle black on my motor parts. I've made some more progress this last week. You guys aren't kidding about how much stuff there is to black out. I've debated covering my pinstripe with a flat black pinstripe so it still had a little contrast.
Black fork lowers, retro-gators, street glide fender, flush mount axle, wheel spacers, brake lines, WO577's, mirrors,.... on and on.
Not much room to take pictures.
Black fork lowers, retro-gators, street glide fender, flush mount axle, wheel spacers, brake lines, WO577's, mirrors,.... on and on.
Not much room to take pictures.
