Okay, let’s talk about getting my Road Glide painted. It’s something I thought about for a long time, and finally pulled the trigger. Here’s how it went down for me.
Why I Needed a Change
Look, the stock paint on my Road Glide was… fine. It was black. Like, really black. Nothing wrong with it, but just kinda boring, you know? Every time I went to a bike night or a rally, seemed like half the bikes looked the same. I wanted something that screamed ‘me’ a bit more. Something unique. So, I started thinking about custom paint.
Figuring Out What I Wanted
This part was harder than I thought. I spent weeks just looking around. Saw tons of bikes online, flipped through magazines, checked out bikes at local spots. Some ideas I had initially:
- Maybe some classic flames, but not the cheesy kind.
- Thought about a two-tone, something classy but still custom.
- Even considered some wild airbrush stuff, but worried it might be too much.
I kept going back and forth. One day I’d want something subtle, the next day something loud. It’s tough picking something permanent, you know? Eventually, I landed on a base color I liked, a deep candy red, and decided I wanted some clean, sharp graphics, maybe in silver or a dark grey, to break it up. Nothing too crazy, but definitely not stock.
Finding the Right Guy
Finding someone to actually do the paint was the next step. Talked to a few shops. Some guys were asking crazy money, like, ridiculously high. Others didn’t seem that interested or didn’t really get what I was after. You gotta find someone whose style matches what you want and who you feel you can trust with your tins. Took me a bit, but I found a local guy, worked out of his own garage mostly. Saw his work on another bike and it looked solid. We talked for a while, he showed me some samples, and the price felt fair. Communication felt right, which was important to me.
The Painting Process (The Waiting Game)
Once I decided on the final design with the painter – we sketched it out a few times – it was time to take the bike apart. Took off the front and rear fenders, the tank, the side covers, and the outer fairing. Carefully wrapped everything up. Dropping off your bike parts feels weird, like leaving a piece of yourself behind. Then came the waiting. He told me it’d take a few weeks. And man, waiting is the worst part. You’re excited, anxious, hoping it turns out like you imagined. He sent me a couple of pictures midway, which helped. Seeing that candy red base go on was pretty cool.
Getting it Back Together
Finally got the call – parts were ready. Went to pick them up and wow. Seeing the color and graphics in person, under the light… it looked amazing. Way better than I even hoped. Carefully loaded everything into my truck. Getting home, I couldn’t wait to put it all back on. Took my time, didn’t want to scratch anything. Bolting on that freshly painted outer fairing felt damn good. Everything lined up okay, just had to be patient putting the tank back on, getting the fuel lines connected right. Seeing the bike come back together piece by piece with the new paint was awesome.
The Final Look
Stepped back and looked at the whole bike assembled. Totally transformed it. The deep red pops in the sun, and the silver graphics are clean and sharp. It finally feels like my bike. It wasn’t cheap, and it took time, but seeing it done? Totally worth it. Every time I walk into the garage now, I get a little grin. It stands out, but in a good way. Just feels right. That’s my experience with getting the Road Glide painted – quite a process, but glad I did it.
