i'm looking for pics of bikes that people have painted the metal ring around the headlight black. Also how did you do this? I'm not much of a DIY-er, but with proper instruction, i'm sure i could.

thanks,
tt

I did it the quick and lazy way, just to see if I liked it.  The hardest part was getting the ring off the headlight.  I took it apart, sanded it by hand, just enough to give it that brushed stainless look, then hit it with a few coats of rattle can flat-black rustolium.  Not perfect, but I would like to eventually pick up a spare and have it powder coated.  Cant be without the bike while parts are in the shop, thus the spare.  One of the easiest mods...next to swapping out the sprocket cover.

Quote from: tristantumble on September 21, 2008, 06:53:59 AM
i'm looking for pics of bikes that people have painted the metal ring around the headlight black. Also how did you do this? I'm not much of a DIY-er, but with proper instruction, i'm sure i could.

thanks,
tt

Take it of, sand it and paint it. or mask everything, sand it, paint it.

Just remove it with a philips screw driver (screw on the bottom) sand it down with some fine grit sand paper. It dose not have to be perfect, just get it smooth.  Buy some flat black paint and whisk it back and forth hitting the paint button in every stroke. Don't stay in one spot and spray because you get the paint to run. Don't use corse sand paper because you'll leave streaks on the headlight rim and it'll look rough. If you have a toaster oven put the ring in there once done painting at 300 degrees and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on it though.  In the hot summer days I just set it on top of the wall and let the sun bake it.  Good luck, it's simple.

As stated above. Remove it. Sand it then hit it with a couple of coats of rustolem or metail paint. Make sure you let it dry for a few hours before putting it back on.

I  took it all apart and used a circular sander with 60 grit to open up the chrome.  I then used laquer primer to fill and then finished with 180 grit. The final coat was Krylon satin black enamel. If you want the paint to stick you really need to grind into the chrome. I also used CF brackets from Monsterparts.

spray can job undercoat and matt black, chrome eventually chips, just take it off and spray again it only took a couple hours

Take it apart and get it powdercoated like mine,it'll be a lot tougher and wear better than paint.

black looks the best...chrome is for a Harley, then again, anything chrome on a sport bike   

Sanded, primed, painted flat with a coat of metallic on top.  Matched the frame pretty well.  No chips.

Painted low gloss black (like everything else on the bike)..
Think it looks much better than the stock/chrome (my opinion)..

If you don't like the look of the chrome ring you can also try the brushed metal look, by simply sanding the ring with a very light sandpaper.  You get rid of the chrome, but still have the contrast of the black headlight bucket with the silver metal ring.

Red Scotch brite pads work well for the "scuffed" look...

I was going to toss mine into the powder coat box....will the blasting etch into the chrome enough you think?

Quote from: Ranger06 on September 21, 2008, 07:06:50 AM
I did it the quick and lazy way, just to see if I liked it.  The hardest part was getting the ring off the headlight.  I took it apart, sanded it by hand, just enough to give it that brushed stainless look, then hit it with a few coats of rattle can flat-black rustolium.  Not perfect, but I would like to eventually pick up a spare and have it powder coated.  Cant be without the bike while parts are in the shop, thus the spare.  One of the easiest mods...next to swapping out the sprocket cover.

How did you get the rim of the headlight?  I've loosened the Philips head screw but I can't get it to screw out and I also have tried tightening it back on, but it won't do that either.  What's the trick here?