@Drew Trilling Hey dude! Thanks for posting! You may not like my response, just a warning, but you will always get my honest authentic opinion even if it means i'm saying something you might not be stoked on. I mean no offense, but please take everything i say with a grain of salt and in all things, do what makes you stoked. Im sharing from 20+ Years of experience, but you can choose to ignore that if you wish. FREDOM! =)
Something a lot of folks do not take into acount is resale. When selling a bike, a painted engine never looks good. Unless you completely disassemble and cerakote the engine, or powdercoat, paint jobs all end up looking pretty haggard.
If I look for a bike to buy i always pass on painted engines. 10 times out of 10, the paint is low quality, wasnt cured properly, and is either flaking chipping off or i can tell the owner just threw layer after layr of paint on that thing as "maintenance".
Another consideration - heat WILL change the color. Unless you want to continually strip and paint the engine every year or so depending on how much you ride, they just dont look good after a bit of time.
It can also make finding a leak difficult. Its harder to sea a leak on an all black engine, and if you do get a leak, it will innevitable begin to discolor, bubble or strip the paint in short order.
Get any gas on that paint? well unless you used 2k its gonna discolor or peel off.
If you ever try to clean the bike, you will discover that certain areas of paint will flake or chip off, dont even think about a pressure washer!
If you're going to paint it correctly, disassemble the engine, prep all the pieces correctly meaning strip them of the PVD coatings and abrade the surface. (Bear in mind - the chrome cases are no longer available so if your head and case covers are chrome, perhaps you want to save the chrome ones and find some non chrome versions for the paint job.) Then, either cerakote or powdercoat. then reassemble, this is the only way you're going to have a chance at a remotely decent looking engine down the road. otherwise, its just a half assed job. most folks end up getting overspray all over the bike, the paint drips, they dont do it in a clean environment, theres bugs in the paint, and dust particles, its hard to do it nice. =/
And last but not least, an all black engine is blah. Nothing pops. Nothings there thats eye catching and interesting. I see an all black bike, I dont even slow down, i keep walkin lol! Painting exhaust is about the same, but the color changes faster. however it is easier to re-coat exhaust with some VHT than it is to do an entire engine.
Do with that what you will. and bear in mind, this is my experience and OPINION only, its not the law LOL
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