2011 Harley-Davidson Touch Up Paint (7 OEM Colors)

The 2011 Harley-Davidson Vibe

Welcome to 2011, the year Harley-Davidson decided that if you weren't blinded by the metallic flake in your paint, you weren't really riding. We were firmly in the era of the "big flake" and the sophisticated tricoat. Whether you were rocking a Road Glide or a CVO Softail, the Motor Company was leaning hard into high-end finishes like Black Diamond and Red Hot Sunglow. This was a transition year where the "Denim" craze-represented by the likes of White Hot Denim Tricoat-started proving that flat didn't have to mean boring. The palette was loud, proud, and clearly designed to look better under a gas station halogen light than anything the competition was putting out.

Paint Health Check

Now, let's get real. By 2011, the robots in the factory had become a little too good at their jobs. This is the heart of the Thin Paint Era. Back in the day, you could sand a fender until your arms gave out; try that on a 2011 and you'll be looking at bare metal before the radio finishes a song. The clear coat on these bikes is notoriously "efficient," meaning it's thin. We're seeing a lot of these 2011s coming in with "seat rash"-where the vibration of the stock seat has chewed right through the clear and base on the rear fender. If you're seeing a little lift or peeling near the edges of your Black Ember or Scarlet Red tins, that's the factory clear losing its grip. It's a precision finish, but it doesn't have a lot of "meat" on the bone for heavy correction.

Restoration Tip

When you're touching up a 2011, especially the heavy hitters like Copper Pearl or Red Hot Sunglow, you have to respect the layers. These aren't your grandpa's single-stage blobs. These are multi-stage masterpieces. My advice? Build your layers like you're making lasagna-thin and steady. If you try to fill a chip in one heavy go, the metallic flake will "flop" (that's painter-speak for looking like a dark, muddy mess). Apply your base, let it flash, and if you're working with a Tricoat, sneak up on that mid-coat color slowly. And for the love of the open road, don't go aggressive with the buffer; that factory clear is thinner than a biker's excuses for being late to the rally.