has anyone thought of heard of or done this? Covering lower forks with self adhesive automotive vinyl, like the kind they make graphics from?

 

Did you not read where stickers are not allowed on a HD.

 

Given the beating the forks take from road grit, etc., I'd think that vinyl applications would look like crap real fast.

I have no problem with stickers on a Harley, but it's kind of an all-or-nothing sort of thing. Do it up, do it all the way, or don't do it.

 

There several "sticker" like graphics that are availible for tanks and fenders. If your creative you could modify those to attach to the fork lowers.

But most of the fork lowers are not very smooth, so you may have to polish them up a bit.

I think it would be easier to place a printed design on the fork lowers, cut the design out and paint them using duplicolor paints.

The area is real small so you can easily mask it off and remove any failed attempts. I would pull the fork leg off the bike first, but that is just me.
...gene

 

Anytime I do something to any of my toys. I ask myself how will it look in the long run? Will it hold up? Why am I doing it? Each his own but no vinyl graphics on my bike.

 

i wasnt looking for a graphic, but more of an alternative to paint/powdercoating the lower fork

 

Clear coated lower front forks deteriorate very quickly if bugs and bug juice are left on them. I learned from a good friend to wipe down my lower front forks every night before I left the bike. Both of mine look almost brand new after 11 and 6 years. I had a friend that neglected his front lowers pull them off of his bike and refinish them with a new coat of clear--they look factory brand new now. Different approaches to the same problem. I had thought of chrome lowers but don't want to spend the money, so I will keep cleaning mine before putting them up for the night. The sky is the limit---your bike and your taste. What you do has the potential to look good. If it turns out others may copy.

 

no stickers spend the money to powdercoat,looks alot better

 

It will void the warranty

 

What is the cost of these stickers to do what you are wanting to? I think you could spend the same on some DIY painting...Prep is key, paint it, then clear it you are good to go. Quite a few people have painted much of their front end with rattle cans, just takes time!