First post here, have done a search but could not find any answers to my question...

I have my eye on a few Sportsters that i am looking to purchase this weekend. (first Harley)
one is a 2009 883 the other a 2002 1150.

i would prefer the 2009 as i would prefer the FI and Rebber mounts but it has a chrome engine bay and would prefer black (which the 2002 bike has and also already has the mods that i would want to carry out such as ape hangers and short shot)

my question is, how difficult/expensive is it to take a chrome engine bay and make it black, to a decent level.

much appreciated

Ben

If you want a late model 883 Sportster with a black engine, look for an 883 Iron, they are black. The 2009 model you're looking at most likely has polished engine covers, not chrome, but those bikes also have a grey coloured engine block. You'd have to paint both the engine and the covers black. It would be a lot of hassle to get it all black.

What KC said, also instead of rushing to buy one this weekend, look around a bit longer till you find one that suits you.

 

There are 88 Irons for sale on Bikesales.

http://www.bikesales.com.au/dealer/OAG-AD-2130224/2014-Harley-Davidson-Iron-883-(XL883N)/?cr=0&psq=((((((SiloType%3D%5BBrand%20new%20bikes%20available%5D%7CSiloType%3D%5BBrand%20new%20bikes%20in%20stock%5D)%7CSiloType%3D%5BDealer%20used%20bikes%5D)%7CSiloType%3D%5BDemo%20%26%20near%20new%20bikes%5D)%7CSiloType%3D%5BPrivate%20used%20bikes%5D)%26(Make%3DHarley-Davidson%26Model%3D%5BIron%20883%20(XL883N)%5D))%26Service%3DBikesales)&pso=0&pss=Premium

 

 

thanks for replys, sadly the irons are out of my price range. the 2009 i found is a bit of a bargain, so i can afford thst and then would slowly mod to look how i want it which is pretty much the picture above but with 13" ape hangars.

but if it would cost any more than say $1000 to back out the engine then i probaly wouldnt bother.

for example if i did a 1200 conversion (in black)
bought the black vance and hines short shots
and a air cleaner kit

which i would want to do anyway, would i be able to buy covers or pain the rest to make it look like a iron?
right now the bike looks pretty much like this:

Could you save a bit longer and get what you want with minimal fuss?

I have an Iron for sale 1250cc, Performance Machine wheels, it's a weapon, what's your price range.

$7k mate

i could save for a few moths yes, but i sold my bike last weekend and im hating driving the car to work and into Sydney already.

plus i thought part of the fun of owning a sportster was to modify?

i can get a bike with all of the mods that i want for about $10500, but then that is quite a lot of money for a bike. for me at least.

Harley davidson sell there Engine Paint for about $30 a can

thanks walka, how hard would it be to apply this to a decent standard?

It's a pressure pack can and one you spray it on it's like the factory it did

can confirm the HD stuff is great, sprayed a mates XS650 cases with it and looks exactly like a factory finish. Unbelievably easy to do.

this stuff?

http://www.harley-davidson.com/store/touch-up-paint-pa-15-98606bf--1

Thats it

This Engine was done with

 

thats awesome, thanks!

Well i bought one, i am now a member of the Harley Club.

Nice one mate. They're good fun. Enjoy the customising bug.