Black Engine Guards

[Alberta Patriot]

Back in Dec. 2017 I dropped the bike avoiding a cage that ran a 4way stop.
Anyway... the bike not only dropped, it flipped over so both engine bars got ground down.
Rather than spending 600 Canadian Pesos on new bars, I'm thinking about inserting several screws in the damaged areas to the right depth to fit the original profile and bondo the bars and paint them black.
Most rattlecan paint is sketchy and soft, so I would use good quality paint and 2K Clear Coat for added hardness. I have seen a few Valk pics with black bars...I kinda like it.

[Jess from VA]

This sounds like a nice project, but here's my take.

The majority of Valks out there have the underside of the engine guards scratched, to ground down a bit from various mishaps.  I know mine do.  And it is only visible if you lay down to look at them.  I don't know if yours got ground down on top (or more visibly than underneath), but I'm pretty sure bondo will  break/crack right off from even a tip over or drop, to a fall and slide.  So it sounds like a lot of work for something that could go south even from a small drop or mishap.  Black isn't the issue, fragility is. (black guards on a black and red interstate would probably look fine)

Instead, what about trying to cover the damage if is visible topside?  A wrap of some sort.  Or a salvage set of guards.  And I think powder coat is tougher than bondo.

It's hard to suggest alternatives without knowing how bad the damage is (or looks).

What comes to mind is my first car; a nice little '62 Karmann Ghia VW.  I got hit very lightly in the rear quarter panel, and a bunch of the bondo (I was unaware of) just broke/crumbled off and looked terrible.

[Chrisj CMA]

Just look for used ones to have powder coated. Do it right

[Avanti]

If you can not find used ones, cut out the damaged part and weld in new, than powder coat or have chromed.

[Sorcerer]

Or if someone notices the scratches just tell then you had a lot of fun at a track day. On my 2013 F6B I did have way more fun at a track day. Never fell down yet ground both front crash bars, left and right header heat shields, took the domes off the acorn nut that held the heat shields in place and put some scrape marks on the right muffler. The only parts I replaced were the drivers foot peg sounders. Unfortunately that bike met it’s demise less than a month later.

[Robert]

I would also add to others response the bars are there for protection. If altered to much may lose their ability and strength to protect, the job they were designed for. They are not expensive and easily replaced also so it may be a good idea just to bite the bullet and replace them. If then you want to change the color then so be it.

[Savago]

All good advice given by other posters.

It seems they cost 25 bucks each (or 50 bucks a pair) used from ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/01-HONDA-GL1500-GL1500CD-VALKYRIE-DELUXE-ENGINE-GUARD-REAR-RIGHT-W25/352578253556?hash=item52174d32f4:g:JesAAOSwFZZcS6hO:rk:2:pf:1&frcectupt=true

[The emperor has no clothes]

All good advice given by other posters.

It seems they cost 25 bucks each (or 50 bucks a pair) used from ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/01-HONDA-GL1500-GL1500CD-VALKYRIE-DELUXE-ENGINE-GUARD-REAR-RIGHT-W25/352578253556?hash=item52174d32f4:g:JesAAOSwFZZcS6hO:rk:2:pf:1&frcectupt=true

He's going to need ones for an Interstate though.