Thinkin about de-chroming my bike a little - where to start? : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

JustDave71 · 10-31-2009, 01:29 AM

So...my opinion is that this bike has too much chrome. Everyone around here I say that too thinks I'm crazy, but...it's my bike, right?

I saw a bike with black pipes and chrome heatshields so I was thinking...pull the pipes and take the shields off, get em sandblasted and then use some of that hot paint that'll cure right up once the pipes are fired, but leave the shields chrome

what do you guys think? I don't usually ask for opinions on aesthetics but I'm bored

what would you do?

pjciii · 10-31-2009, 02:55 AM

Ya know "once you go Black, you never go back". i wouldn't have enough money to dechrome that bike but i think the pipes are always a great start. then some black wire wheels from american wire. next the balck forward controls, passenger pegs, swingarm, oil tank, front forks, cables. go for black chrome. that is really sharp looking...welcome to the dark side

JustDave71 · 10-31-2009, 02:58 AM

got some money I can borrow?

LOL, I know it's pretty shiny

what I'm getting at I guess is...ways to a)do it myself for now, and b) keep a sense of balance

I'd love to do the controls and calipers cuz the chrome is shot on them anyway

and some black spoke wheels would be cool, but keep the rims chrome...

but anyway...think just the pipe for now would look "balanced?"

pjciii · 10-31-2009, 03:06 AM

it is a nice looking bike and christmas is right around the corner. start dropping hints about the pipes if you dont get them there will be sales galore after the first of the year.. vance and hines makes a nice 2 into1 blacked out set.

JustDave71 · 10-31-2009, 04:31 AM

nope. thunderheaders stay. that's final

maddogg4 · 10-31-2009, 04:42 AM

Spend less time admiring that nice bike and leave it alone.

If you are bored, get another hobby.

Chopperman224 · 10-31-2009, 07:38 AM

To some its a way of life,To others its a hobby.

JustDave71 · 10-31-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chopperman224

To some its a way of life,To others its a hobby.

ok yoda

anyway...chrome's getting shitty on the pipes, so...might just take that one step first.

Cop_Stanger · 10-31-2009, 01:08 PM

I've got a bunch of black parts in the For Sale forum.........They'd be a good start.

springer- · 10-31-2009, 01:09 PM

A nice effect with chrome is going over it with a scotch-brite pad. Brush it in one direction and it will look like brushed aluminum but hold up much better in the long run. This is a nice effect on rocker boxes, air cleaners etc. Never tried it on pipe before though. This is an easy way to "fix" bad chrome without any expense. Just a thought.

JustDave71 · 10-31-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cop_Stanger

I've got a bunch of black parts in the For Sale forum.........They'd be a good start.

haha! nice one, dude.

aint got the money to spend, though. figured I could hot-paint the pipes my-sef

JustDave71 · 10-31-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by springer-

A nice effect with chrome is going over it with a scotch-brite pad. Brush it in one direction and it will look like brushed aluminum but hold up much better in the long run. This is a nice effect on rocker boxes, air cleaners etc. Never tried it on pipe before though. This is an easy way to "fix" bad chrome without any expense. Just a thought.

scotch bright, eh? dunno, man. I'd have to see that effect first

springer- · 10-31-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDave71

scotch bright, eh? dunno, man. I'd have to see that effect first

That's easy .... get a piece of old chrome and try it before doing any of your bike parts. Beans old bagger engine was done that way and it looked great. Of course that doesn't mean that it will fit your tastes but worth looking into. Also did a 99 RK that way and then painted all the parts black. I really liked the way it looked as well. That bike was in a fire but you would never know it.

ericmurray · 10-31-2009, 07:33 PM

Good lookin bike. Like the headlight.
Let the frame be the frame. Remove the swing-arm chrome and vertical chrome bits near the passenger pegs. Go with a black oil filter can. Revert the switch housings back to black but leave chrome switch caps. That'll be a nice little bit of fade-to-black.

JustDave71 · 11-01-2009, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericmurray

Good lookin bike. Like the headlight.
Let the frame be the frame. Remove the swing-arm chrome and vertical chrome bits near the passenger pegs. Go with a black oil filter can. Revert the switch housings back to black but leave chrome switch caps. That'll be a nice little bit of fade-to-black.

yeah, not that keen on the chrome swingarm. I'm not a flashy guy, and this is a flashy bike. I bought it with a pretty fair amount of chrome, and then when I did the few things I did to make it mine I added some more not thinkin about it.

thing is...money. so...tryin to do stuff that costs little to nothing.

but I like your ideas!

Oil filter is already black now. that pic's a few months old.

black switch housings with chrome switches would be cool, too. good ideas thanks.