Thoughts on a flat black Retro?

[ITC(EXW)]

OK, I've always liked the flat black or flat olive drab look on bikes. I'm still not sure if the retro can pull it off, but found this picture of a 2010 Indian Chief Dark Horse (a cool $27,000). I love the look, and am thinking of going in this direction with my shiny new red VTX.

Thoughts from the peanut gallery? I'm thinking powder coat or rattle can almost everything - engine, trim, bars... leave a few chrome accents, put the louvre chrome accents on the fenders... rake out the frame (not with trees, cut & weld) and *maybe* put on hard bags also flat black.

16251

[woodytick]

flat black will look good on it, paint that bitch.

[pilotguy299]

i think it will look sharp. are you also thinking of smoking or clearing the lenses?

saw this one on another web site

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h312/pjriss/DSC00363.jpg

[BaldEagle]

Looking at the rear fender, that one looks like it is painted with LineX. Great looking X and I think all the Dark Xide riders here need that X air cleaner cover.

[Kycop34]

Flat Black with minimal chrome accents....hmmmmm that will be friggen sweet.

If you rake it out and go with hard bags, slap the fattest tire you can under the rear.

I have also seen a few of the VTXs where the headlight bucket was painted to match the bike paint and the chrome visor ring was left chrome, going with a flat black and few chrome accents, i would think the chrome visor ring with a black bucket would look pretty sharp.

[ITC(EXW)]

I'd already decided to leave the chrome trim rings chrome (turn sigs, headlight) and paint all the buckets black. Thanks for finding the flat Retro, I knew the idea was too good to be remotely original, I'm not that clever. Of course, that friggin picture is very close to what I had in mind! I'd already written down the red mesh behind the grill on the airbox, etc... Damn. I never wanted a fairing or backrests or passenger boards, but a lot of the rest is close to my plan. I assume by "other" you meant the cafe? I want to put on big 1.5" bars, 8 up and 13 back, powdercoated black.

That airbox is a Spyker mod, I'm wanting to do that myself with a different cover though... I'm also looking at black Kuryakyn ISO's, black bars... just chrome control housings and levers - everything else on the bars black, chrome risers.

I'm still working out in my head the paints and places (flat, satin, gloss, and where for what paint). I'd like to put on the V&H Big Shots, and send the heat shields off to be satin black ceramic powder coated, leave the actual pipes chrome.

I plan too much...

[Doc_Shadow]

I did flat black on my scoot then decided to go with a matte black instead. Its still flat but looks a little better I think.

[ITC(EXW)]

I looked around some more and found more Retros done with LineX, Rhino lining... etc. Damn. Several of them look really good. I think I'll stick with flat or satin black though, because I'd like to do this myself.

[ITC(EXW)]

I did flat black on my scoot then decided to go with a matte black instead. Its still flat but looks a little better I think.

Definitely like the look of your scoot - thanks for the tip!

[pilotguy299]

i've actually been searching for a few more pics of bikes done in line-x for my son's bike. i've seen a couple that looked good, and a few that werent too interesting. when i called a line-x place locally, they said they could do the tins in their standard color with sand like grit/finish for $250, and any other color for $500. still playing with the idea, but not 100% sure yet...

[MUKAMOmember]

I love motorcycles that are black, especially flat black. I dislike lots of chrome. This example of a midnight warrior isn't flat black, but one of the best I've seen straight out of the factory

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd89/nohlsson1/2009%20Yamaha%20Midnight%20Warrior/bike10Small.jpg

I can't wait to see how yours turns out.

[PeppermintPatty]

I did flat black on my scoot then decided to go with a matte black instead. Its still flat but looks a little better I think.



yeah, that. don't go completely flat.

[ITC(EXW)]

i've actually been searching for a few more pics of bikes done in line-x for my son's bike. i've seen a couple that looked good, and a few that werent too interesting. when i called a line-x place locally, they said they could do the tins in their standard color with sand like grit/finish for $250, and any other color for $500. still playing with the idea, but not 100% sure yet...

The Line-X place in Cleveland TN (10 min or so from me) said they have done several bikes. They will do black for $150 and color (I was and still am considering olive drab) for $300.

That was with me bringing in tins that were either primed or already painted with a good surface they could scuff and paint over.

[BaldEagle]

Man, $150 is a good deal!

[Kreeper Of Death]

That does sound awesome. I think I may just go that route too. I had a 1977 CJ5 I was gonna do that with, but doin' the bike is an awesome idea!



If it don't go........chrome it!

[shorty]

I did flat black on my scoot then decided to go with a matte black instead. Its still flat but looks a little better I think.

Doc, that Matte black looks sexy as hell. And ain't that what it's all about? LOL
Seriously though, the matte black looks really, really good. I'm powdercoating just about everything I put on Shorty. Love that look and love seeing it on other's bikes.

[AeroCapDave]

Flat black, especially with a pinstripe looks great. $150 - you can't beat that price. Go for it!

[pilotguy299]

The Line-X place in Cleveland TN (10 min or so from me) said they have done several bikes. They will do black for $150 and color (I was and still am considering olive drab) for $300.

That was with me bringing in tins that were either primed or already painted with a good surface they could scuff and paint over.

That is a good deal. You gonna do it?

[ITC(EXW)]

That is a good deal. You gonna do it?

Hell yes. I'm just trying to be responsible.. I've got to fix my roof damage, fence damage, and A/C from the tornado, and pay my taxes first. Then I'm spending money on the ride. I'm also still trying to find the source of my &@*#! coolant leak. Damn it.

Too many irons in the fire lately... way too many... the last deployment (two years overseas, no leave) really messed up my civilian career and my home life... I'll say no more.

I can't wait to start the painting and powdercoating though, and I am going to do a Spyker mod, rejet, pipes, etc... when I can start diverting money to the bike instead of spending it all on the house.

[pilotguy299]

cant wait to see the pics!

[ncSpirit]

Idk if you thought of this or if this is an option for you. How bout buyin a hot rod black kit and lettin the local community college do it. I know the one i go to paints for free you just hve to buy the paint. Its under half the price and its actual paint
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off&q=sem+hot+rod+black+kit&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1024&bih=575&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=7777619743802069127&sa=X&ei=LY3zTbjPGMPAgQelkNneCw&ved=0CEoQ8wIwAA

[rustyski]

MAtte Black looks good, hmmmn.....

[jkyu55]

I did flat black on my scoot then decided to go with a matte black instead. Its still flat but looks a little better I think.


Doc, your bike looks great. My I ask how you did the softail fender ? Was it a lot of work to get it to fit..?

Stone

[OBGT]

Like some others said. Flat black looks like it's waiting for paint, my opinion looks like crap when matched with chrome or anything shiny. Satin is where is at, looks like it's painted but doesn't have that wet look. Matte is between the two.

Flat:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/obgt/flatm3.jpg


Matte:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/obgt/BMW-M5-Matte-Black-0.jpg


Satin:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/obgt/satin.jpg

[Mine20]

man OBGT it's hard to tell the difference between the flat and matte in the pics. I like all 3. Then again you could paint a beemer shit brown and I'd still think it looks good.

[OBGT]

man OBGT it's hard to tell the difference between the flat and matte in the pics. I like all 3. Then again you could paint a beemer shit brown and I'd still think it looks good.

Yeah, the matte could be flat. It's hard to distinguish between the two due to lighting. Really have to see both in person next to each other to see a difference

[Juggernaut]

I love the "non shiny" look you get from all three. I have built bobbers in the past. my first one was a 84 Kaw 454 ltd which I did in olive drab. The second was a 76 Honda cb550 that I did in satin black.
If you are still deciding on a color i would try out Plastidip spray. The bonus to this is if you don't like it you can peel it off without hurting your paint (no sanding required).

[ScootGeek]

Nice. [Both of 'em.]

[shorty]

Like some others said. Flat black looks like it's waiting for paint, my opinion looks like crap when matched with chrome or anything shiny. Satin is where is at, looks like it's painted but doesn't have that wet look. Matte is between the two.
Satin:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/obgt/satin.jpg

I like the tone of this one, but it's a bit too shiny. I'd want the matte finish with this tone of black. With no other stuff on it to clutter... Just simplicity of form to pretty it up. classic and beautiful. And no college kid would ever paint my shorty. I understand cutting costs, I do, but not that way... JMO

[KenMcBreezy]

Hell yes. I'm just trying to be responsible.. I've got to fix my roof damage, fence damage, and A/C from the tornado, and pay my taxes first. Then I'm spending money on the ride. I'm also still trying to find the source of my &@*#! coolant leak. Damn it.

Too many irons in the fire lately... way too many... the last deployment (two years overseas, no leave) really messed up my civilian career and my home life... I'll say no more.

I can't wait to start the painting and powdercoating though, and I am going to do a Spyker mod, rejet, pipes, etc... when I can start diverting money to the bike instead of spending it all on the house.

Hey Chief did you ever find where the coolant leak was coming from? Just wondering if you were able to one-line that off your to do list. On my R6 I developed a coolant leak and tracked it down to some of the hoses getting worn out on the coolant side and it was leaching out at the ends thanks to the thread weave between the rubber layers, and it drove me nuts until I found it (the coolant was just EVERYWHERE no matter how much I wiped it off) but I digress, have you corrected the deficiency on yours?

[Juggernaut]

"And no college kid would ever paint my shorty." sadface
I may not be the most skilled painter but I pride myself in being able to do every bit of work on my bikes myself.
Choppers > Shoppers IMO