Paint jobs on a Harley-Davidsons are like tattoos, and while they are not permanent, it is a reflection of the owner. You can paint brush the gas tank or opt to paint all body parts. Whichever floats your boat, here are the best custom paint jobs for your Harley.
1. Soldier’s Salute
Taking a page from WWII history books, this paint job will give it that old-school fighter plane appearance. Those war-like rivets can also be done with a little rust. Of course, you have the choice to make it authentic. There are plenty of images online to make sure you stay as accurate as possible, right down the star on the gas tank.
>>Join the conversation about Awesome Paint Jobs for Harleys right here in HDForums.
2. Rusty Piece of Awesomeness
While a rusty bike might not sound so appealing, this bike pulls it off. The rusty brown accentuates the teal. Take caution; adding too much brown against the bright color teal can make it look muddy. Think ombre and less sponge when applying the paint to your Harley. Also, adding a leather seat/saddlebag will really sell the bike’s paint job.
>>Join the conversation about Awesome Paint Jobs for Harleys right here in HDForums.
3. Lightning Strike
A simple design can be all that is needed. You can do simple lightning bolts or create a scenery, but it is important to note that a great paint job will make your bike stand out in a good way. Remember that less is better here. You don’t want to overdo the lightning bolts and make it look like a bunch of squiggly lines. You also have many color options for the lightning bolts, maybe a purplish blue is more your style.
>>Join the conversation about Awesome Paint Jobs for Harleys right here in HDForums.
4. Your Spirit Animal
Are you a free wolf or a fearless crow? There is no better way to show off your favorite animal than on your bike. Like stated above, the paint is only a reflection of yourself, so show that to the average passerby. Insects and mythical creatures also apply.
>>Join the conversation about Awesome Paint Jobs for Harleys right here in HDForums.
5. The Horror Club
Maybe you prefer to show those passing by that you fancy all things that go bump in the night. Pick your favorite monster from the considerable amount of movies and shows in pop culture and apply them. Our favorite gold-obsessed Leprechaun (above) shows that you don’t even have to bother painting your whole bike (that is, of course, if your bike is already green). It can’t be stated enough that the paint brush can either make or break the paint job.
>>Join the conversation about Awesome Paint Jobs for Harleys right here in HDForums.
6. Hell’s Bells
Skeletons are a common paint job choice for motorcycle owners. Shown in the image above is a silver flame breaking up the red, but you can just as easily make the whole bike a fiery pit of hell if you choose to do so. Decide what works best with your style and go with it. Other color options can be green, blue and purple; you don’t have to settle for the red if that isn’t your color.
>>Join the conversation about Awesome Paint Jobs for Harleys right here in HDForums.
7. Death at the Door
Yes, this might appear like another skeleton, but the Grim Reaper can be shown in many different ways. You might as well accompany your Reaper with a graveyard and/or tortured souls.
>>Join the conversation about Awesome Paint Jobs for Harleys right here in HDForums.
8. Lace
You know the lace trick, right? Take a piece of lace, tape it over your canvas and paint away. The more common lace designs are flowers, but you can also look for Halloween lace with cobwebs. You can use different lace designs on multiple sections of your bike, or get extremely creative. Take your imagination to the next level with the help of lace fabric.
>>Join the conversation about Awesome Paint Jobs for Harleys right here in HDForums.
9. Simple but Effective
Finally, the more simple route. If the above is too adventurous for you, you might just consider solid paint jobs (with another flattering color if you wish). With the right color combination, you can make a boring bike look hot. Two tone variations are infinite: black/orange red/beige, white/navy blue, etc.
>>Join the conversation about Awesome Paint Jobs for Harleys right here in HDForums.
For more information on do-it-yourself maintenance and repairs, check out our how-to section in the forum.
