I have another question guys.
As far as durability, factory paint or say a custom paint job using a quality paint such as HOK or PPG, what has held up better for you?
Thx in advance, Rich

 

Both of my bikes have original paint. One is a decade old. The other is 3 decades old. They still look great.

 

Factory Paint!!!!

 

I doubt that durability is influenced by the paint and clearcoat (it's generally accepted that PPG supplies HD's paint) as much as it is by the application process in the first place, and the maintenance of the finish thereafter.

Even HD has paint problems. If you go to the CVO forum, and check the 2006 SE Ultra portion of that forum, you can search and find numerous threads posted by guys whose entire paint sets were replaced by HD due to paint problems.

In the course of doing some research before my recent paint project, I learned that PPG makes several varieties/qualities of paint systems as well as at least a couple of different clear coats.

My suggestion is to talk to guys who custom paint bikes and pick their brains, primarily about cutomers who ride their bikes, rather than show bike paint work. And ask guys with custom painted bikes that you meet--most are happy to talk about their paint jobs.