May be a dumb question but I'll take my chance and ask it anyway. Would laying a clear coat on denim get it close to Vivid black, or would it need new base as well?

 

No, it wouldn't be the same.

If you want vivid black, your going to have to paint the bike.

 

But now that begs the question - what would a denim black bike look like with a few coats of clear shot on it? Hmmmmm...

 

Doesn't the denim have a clear? A Mat clear?

 

I think it'd look pretty darn close. The clear makes the shine. It just may be a little greyer than vivid black.

 

I don't know why But I think it would look more like gloss charcoal than vivid black.

 

before you go spraying paint or clearcoat, read this thread

 

Wet the denim paint, and that is what it will look like cleared. I would bet that clearing it Would give you the results you are looking for. You will need to scuff the Matt clear coat with 600 grit before you shoot your clear so it has something to grip to.

 

Wow! looks like I was wrong.
That bike looks great!

 

+1 I would have never thought it would turn out like that