Ok this is something that has bothered me for years. Obviously black is a very popular color among Harley owners. The fastest color as they say. So why a plain black??? And an inferior paint at that. It scratches and shows swirls alot easier than any other color. I know black in general does. But the Vivid Black gets swirls from a light breeze. Why not a better quality metallic black??? Seems logical doesn't it????

 

If you have to ask, you just don't get it

 

It's popular because it's $500-$1,000 cheaper than other colors. On some bikes it's also the right color.

 

It will just have to do until they can come with something darker..........

 

You are right on about the clearcoat that Harley uses. You can scratch it with a terry towel. Ask me how I know. I found a product that really seems to help. . . . it's a detail spray by Turtle Wax called Ice. I use it after a good waxng with Carnuba to help fill the fine scratches and swirl marks.

No matter how careful I am, the clear still seems to get fine scratches that really show in the sun.

I still love the color although the latest red colors are awesome. I'm not a big fan of 2 tone but that new brown and black combo looks good too.

 

I have vivid black and 3 black cars. I like black, and it's all in how your wash, dry and wax them. Black has nothing to do with price for me. There are a lot of nice looking bikes that are not black, but there's nothing prettier than black and chrome.

 

Well black tends to blend with the frame, seat, handgrips...
now another color it just doesn't flow like black... maybe they should try color matching the frame on color bikes... like the CVO's

I've seen this and is looks really great...

 

FLHTC & FLHTCU actually NEED the 2-tone paint. The new aqua/cream, as well as the white gold pearl/pewter pearl are totally awesome in person. OTH, Street Glides and V-Rods are killer gorgous in Vivid Black. I went with Vivid Black on my Road King Classic because there was already a lot of black (bags & seat) on the bike. I went with Olive Pearl/Vivid Black with red/gold pinstripes on my Electra Glide, and I get more positive comments on that bike than I did on my Classic.
The key is to tie it all together. The black paint ties in with the seats, frame, engine & tires, while the red pinstripe ties in with the red lights. The gold pinstripe ties in withe gold metalflake in the Olive Pearl. Too many times, we owners, will just throw stuff at the bike, hoping it looks "right" when it's done.

 

Nothing goes as well with bling:

 

Ok some of you missed the point of this thread completely. Not why black. That is obvious. But why Harley doesn't use a better quality metallic black since black is so popular.