In the Shop: Powder Coating

Importance of Maintaining Your Harley

Some riders make detailing their bike a hobby. Nothing wrong with that! Cleaning your Harley is an important part of basic maintenance. Even a bike that is thoroughly detailed will eventually succumb to the elements and road debris if ridden on even a semi-regular basis. In time, rust may appear around spoke ends, aluminum components may begin to oxidize and “pit,” and chrome plating may begin to blister and crack. Replacing unsightly or scarred components can be very expensive, and depending on the year of your motorcycle, many parts may be obsolete. Replacing original manufacturer parts with aftermarket parts made in China is not much of an improvement. There are, however, a few better options for refurbishing older parts on your HD.

Chrome Plating

It is more expensive these days because of EPA regulations and there are a lot of companies that do a very poor job of it. So, if you’re interested in chrome plating, make sure you find a reputable company in your area.

Painting

This is another decent option, especially if the component you are rehabbing was painted originally. Paint can be relatively cheap, and usually it’s possible to save money by doing it yourself. Of course, if you are striving for a finished product that is close to perfection, you may want to hire a professional that has access to a paint booth and proper resources.

Powder Coating

Powder coating typically provides a more durable covering than most paint. Although you will hire a company to do the powder coating for you, it is still significantly cheaper than chrome plating. Powder coating can be flat or gloss colors just like paint. Recently, we dismantled a 2004 Iron Horse Texas Chopper. The owner puts a lot of miles on this bike every season, and although he is diligent about maintenance, many finished surfaces had begun to look pretty rough. We powder coated a number of areas: motor parts, calipers, rims, controls, headlight, primary drive, marker plate, coil cover, even cable clamps. There’s more, as you may be able to see in these photos.