I have been considering having my Heritage repainted in pearl white. I remember in the late sixties and early seventies some really sweet custom pearl white cars. It was as if you could look down into the paint. It was like looking into a deep pool of liquid pearls.
Here is the problem.
The pearl white paint jobs I've seen in the last few years look like a thin layer of dirty white paint. Some of them even look more like a faded gray paint than white pearl. It has no depth. It also lacks the luminescence effect of the old paint jobs that used to be done.

Is the old style paint no longer made or is it the lack of skill that is gone? I do not want a dirty white or faded gray paint job.

Michael

 

Saw a Rocker at a dealership some time ago up for sale with this kind of paint job it made the tins look as though they were made out of plastic, and the last time I saw it sometime later it still hadn't sold.

 

The paint now is different. That may not be the reason for the paint jobs you've seen lately, but the paint is different.

 

I was not impressed by Harleys pearl white factory paint jobs. I took on the job of repainting the ol ladys sportster. Wound up using General Motors 3 stage pearl same as used on older caddys. It was PPG paint and it still looks as good today as when i painted it 10 years ago. I experimented on an old Norton fender until i got the results she wanted. Turned out 3 coats of gold midcoat did the job with the proper sheen and depth to the pearl. White base, pearl gold midcoat, clear topcoat. She had seen a bike this color and i asked the guy what kind of paint it was. It looks as good as any Pearl paint job i have seen.

 

For some reason, somebody at Harley decided flat "denim" white paint would look good with pearl in it. Now I can udnerstand denim/flat black, but flat white? Then you take a flat paint, that is anti-bling, and put pearl in it? Who comes up with that crap.

Anyhow, I'm sure you can still get a nice gloss white pearl paint job, just avoid the denim crap.

 

One of the salesman at our dealership did his St Glide in the GM white pearl,,

It came out Fantastic IMO. Might check into that one.

Wish I had a pic but I don't.. He's got around $50k in it, and its one Killer bike


He say's being single, living at parents, making decent money and work at the dealership is hard on checkbook...

 

Last time I got to see a good pearl white paint job up close was about three yrs ago.
I was at a bike rally and a guy came riding up to park his bike next to where we were hanging out, people watching. Turned out it was Samuel L. Jackson. Best pearl white paint job I'd ever seen.

 

Since UI..... painted. Howwwww ////// Csasaasasas

 

A friend of mine used to work at a 'Maybach' dealership and had the guys in the back do his Harley in Maybach pearl white. The pearl white used on those $half-million dollar vehicles is astounding and magnificent. It is by far, by design, the most amazing pearl white paint ever made. Don't know what it would take for a mere mortal without connections to get ahold of some of that paint or how expensive it would be but would be worth every penny if you could somehow get ahold of it.

From their website:
The shining new "Antiqua White" finish impressively emphasises the dynamic character of this high-end luxury saloon, whose outstanding performance potential particularly captures the enthusiasm of passionate owner-drivers.

The white paint finish of the Maybach 57 S is applied in multiple layers by experienced specialists using a highly involved process –there are almost twice as many layers than is usual for other luxury cars. In contrast to conventional paint finishes using just one base paint to provide the colour tone, two different paints are necessary to achieve this incomparable, mother-of-pearl-like sheen –one of these contains mica. This highlighting material is responsible for the particular sheen of the paint finish, which varies slightly depending on the lighting angle and shines especially brightly in sunlight. The paint layers are mainly applied by hand, and several additional layers of clearcoat ensure a highly resistant finish.

 

Heres my 2002 in the house for the winter. The pearl white looks great outside in the sunshine.