You Can’t Eyeball Vivid Black
We learned this the hard way on a ‘96 Softail. A rock kicked up on the highway and left a quarter-sized chip on the left tank panel, right below the emblem. Bare metal staring back at us. Figured we’d swing by an automotive paint supplier, hold the tank up to the color chips, and walk out with a rattle can close enough to work.
Two trips and three wrong shades later, we figured out that “black” isn’t just black when it comes to Harley-Davidson paint. Vivid Black has a specific depth, a specific clearcoat behavior, and a specific PPG formulation number: 9850. That number would have saved us a week of frustration if we’d known to look it up first.
This guide exists so you skip the part where you learn the hard way.
How Harley-Davidson Paint Codes Work
Harley has used several paint suppliers over the decades, but PPG Industries - through its Ditzler automotive refinish line - has been the dominant supplier for most of the modern era. When riders, body shops, and paint suppliers refer to “Harley paint codes,” they’re almost always talking about PPG/Ditzler codes.
The Ditzler Numbering System
PPG’s Ditzler system assigns a unique number to each color formulation. These are not the same as Harley’s marketing color names. Harley might call a color “Mysterious Red Sunglo” or “Deep Jade Pearl” on the brochure, but the PPG/Ditzler code is what the paint supplier needs to actually mix the paint.
A typical code looks like this: 9850 (Vivid Black) or 74661 (Patriot Red Pearl). Candy and two-tone finishes have two codes separated by a slash - one for the base coat and one for the candy or pearl mid-coat. For example, 51954/51955 is the base and candy layer for Dark Candy Ruby.
The HD Paint Code Crossover reference and PaintRef.com database are both useful for looking up codes by year if you don’t have the number in front of you. PaintRef covers Harley colors all the way back to 1903.
Finding Your Specific Paint Code
There are four reliable ways to identify the correct code for your motorcycle.
1. VIN Tag / Frame Neck: On most Harleys from the 1980s forward, a color code is stamped or printed on the VIN tag at the steering head. This is Harley’s internal code, not the PPG number directly - you’ll need a cross-reference chart to convert it to the Ditzler number.
2. Parts Catalog / Service Manual: The Harley-Davidson parts catalog for each model year lists available colors and their codes. Dealers can look this up by VIN.
3. Under the Seat or Inside Saddlebags: Some model years have a small sticker that lists the color code. Not universal, but worth checking before you start disassembling things.
4. PPG Paint Supplier: Any PPG-certified supplier can look up Harley-Davidson colors by year, model, and color name. Walk in and say “1998 Lazer Red Pearl” and they’ll pull the Ditzler formula. Community forums like the Harley-Davidson Forums paint code thread also have crowdsourced reference lists.
For help identifying the correct model year and verifying originality, the VIN decoder guide breaks down Harley’s VIN structure. And our tank emblems by year guide helps you verify that the graphics match the paint code year.
Understanding Harley’s Color Types
Not all Harley paint is created equal. The type of color affects the code structure, the application process, and how difficult a repair will be.
Solid colors (Vivid Black, Birch White): Single-stage or basecoat/clearcoat. One Ditzler code. The easiest to match and repair.
Metallics (Charcoal Satinbrite, Stardust Silver): Basecoat with metallic flake plus clearcoat. One Ditzler code. Slightly harder to match because flake orientation affects appearance at different angles.
Pearl coats (Patriot Red Pearl, Aqua Pearl): Basecoat, pearl mid-coat, and clearcoat. May have one or two Ditzler codes. The pearl layer creates depth that changes in different light.
Candy colors (Dark Candy Ruby, Light Candy Ruby): Color-tinted clearcoat over a metallic base. Always two Ditzler codes - one for the base, one for the candy coat. The final appearance depends on how many candy coats are applied. These are the hardest to repair.
Sunglo finishes (Bright Victory Red Sunglo): A Harley-specific term for certain metallic or pearl finishes. The Sunglo designation helps differentiate between similar color names in the catalog.
Denim finishes (Black Denim, Olive Gold Denim): Matte/flat finishes introduced around 2007. These require a flat or matte clearcoat instead of standard gloss. Using gloss clear on a Denim finish will destroy the look. Make sure your painter knows the difference.
PPG Paint Code Reference Chart: 1991-2012
Below is a year-by-year reference of PPG/Ditzler paint codes for standard production Harley-Davidson colors. These cover the colors available across the Harley lineup for each model year.
1991
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Bright Sapphire | 17794 |
| Dark Candy Ruby | 51954/51955 |
| Dark Sapphire | 17795 |
| Light Candy Ruby | 51953/51955 |
| Turquoise | 17796 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
| Vivid Yellow | 83361 |
| White | 91018 |
| Wineberry Pearl | 51632 |
1992
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Bright Sapphire Sunglo | 18229/18220 |
| Charcoal Satinbrite | 35705 |
| Dark Candy Ruby | 51594/51955 |
| Dark Sapphire Sunglo | 18752/18220 |
| Light Candy Ruby | 51953/51955 |
| Light Poppy Pearl | 73874 |
| Red Voyage | 73875 |
| Turquoise | 47366 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
| White | 91189 |
1993
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Aqua Sunglo | Canceled (replaced by Aqua Pearl in 1994) |
| Arctic White | 91056 |
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Bright Victory Red Sunglo | 51190/73977 |
| Scarlet Red | 72095 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
1994
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Aqua Pearl | 47435 |
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Bright Victory Red Sunglo | 51190/73977 |
| Burgundy Pearl | 51952 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
1994 Custom Models:
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Blue Metallic | 19124 |
| Crimson | 51951 |
| Dark Candy Ruby | 51954/51955 |
1995
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Aqua Pearl | 47435 |
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Bright Victory Red Sunglo | 51190/73977 |
| Burgundy Pearl | 51952 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
1996
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Aqua Pearl | 47435 |
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Mystique Green | 47981 |
| Patriot Red Pearl | 74661 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
1997
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Aqua Pearl | 47435 |
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Mystique Green | 47981 |
| Patriot Red Pearl | 74661 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
1998
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Lazer Red Pearl | 75129 |
| Mystique Green | 47981 |
| Violet Pearl | 52111 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
1999
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Aztec Orange Pearlcoat | 61889 |
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Cobalt Blue Pearlcoat | 191058 |
| Diamond Ice Pearlcoat | 37056 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
2000
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Aztec Orange Pearlcoat | 61889 |
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Diamond Ice Pearlcoat | 37056 |
| Luxury Rich Red | 75946 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
2001
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Aztec Orange Pearlcoat | 61889 |
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Dark Blue Pearl | 19547 |
| Luxury Rich Red | 75946 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
2002
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Gunmetal Pearl | 37107 |
| Luxury Rich Red | 75946 |
| Sinister Blue | 19789 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
2003
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Gunmetal Gray | 902651 |
| Luxury Rich Red | 75946 |
| Sterling Silver | 902650 |
| Anniversary Copper/Black (100th Anniversary) | 62050 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
2004
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Lava Red Pearl | 902959 |
| Brilliant Silver | 902849 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
2005
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Black Cherry | 905951 |
| Chopper Blue Pearl | 908588 |
| Rich Blue Sunglo | 906546 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
2006
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Deep Cobalt Pearl | 908850 |
| Black Cherry | 905951 |
| Two-Tone Pewter Pearl / Vivid Black | 37226 / 9850 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
2007
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Black Denim | 938014 |
| Deep Cobalt Pearl | 908850 |
| Mirage Orange Pearl | 904763 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
2008
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Black Denim | 938014 |
| Candy Red Sunglo | 917827 |
| Dark Blue Pearl | 917828 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
2009
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Black Denim | 938014 |
| Electric Orange | 925676 |
| Inferno Orange | 928909 |
| Stardust Silver | 926260 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
2010
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Black Denim | 938014 |
| Cool Blue Pearl | 926715 |
| Psychedelic Purple | 923381 |
| Scarlet Red | 928891 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
2011
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Black Denim | 938014 |
| Chrome Yellow | 926793 |
| Cool Blue Pearl | 926715 |
| Sedona Orange | 929490 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
2012
| Color Name | PPG/Ditzler Code |
|---|---|
| Birch White | 90303 |
| Black Denim | 938014 |
| Daytona Blue | 930016 |
| Ember Red Sunglo | 930846 |
| Big Blue Pearl | 930849 |
| Vivid Black | 9850 |
Two Codes You Should Memorize
Look at the chart above. Two colors appear in every single year from 1991 through 2012.
Vivid Black - 9850. The default Harley-Davidson color. The base-price option on nearly every model. Deep gloss black that’s been in continuous production longer than most riders have been alive. If you need to touch up Vivid Black from any year, the code is the same: 9850.
Birch White - 90303. The other constant. Used as a standalone color and as a component in two-tone paint schemes across decades. Same code, every year: 90303.
If you work on Harleys regularly, commit those two numbers to memory. They cover a massive percentage of the bikes on the road.
Matching Aged Paint: Why the Code Alone Isn’t Enough
Having the correct PPG code gets you the right color formulation. But paint that’s been on a motorcycle for 10, 20, or 30 years will not match fresh paint straight from the gun. UV exposure, oxidation, road chemicals, and plain wear shift the color over time. A 2003 Luxury Rich Red that’s sat in the sun for two decades doesn’t look like a freshly mixed batch of 75946.
A skilled painter will tint-adjust the fresh paint to match the aged panels. On larger repairs, blending into adjacent panels creates an invisible transition. If you’re repainting an entire tank, matching becomes less critical - but if you’re touching up one side of a two-tone scheme, get a painter who understands color matching on aged finishes.
Candy Color Repairs: The Hard One
Candy finishes are the most difficult to repair. The final color depth depends on how many candy mid-coats were applied over the metallic base. Too few coats and the repair looks washed out. Too many and it’s darker than the surrounding original paint. Even with the correct dual Ditzler codes, getting an invisible candy repair on one panel is extremely difficult.
If you’re repairing a candy finish, seriously consider repainting the entire tank - or at minimum, both visible tank halves. Partial candy repairs are the kind of thing that looks fine from ten feet away and obvious from two feet.
Where to Buy PPG Harley Paint
PPG paint is available through authorized PPG distributors and automotive paint supply stores. You will not find it at a hardware store or chain auto parts counter.
Call a local automotive paint supplier, give them the Ditzler code, and they can mix it to formula on-site. For small touch-ups, companies like ColorRite and TouchUpDirect sell factory-matched Harley paint in spray cans, bottles, and pens using the correct PPG formulations. These work for chip repair and small scratches but aren’t suitable for full panel repaints.
Beyond PPG: Other Paint Systems
PPG/Ditzler is the primary system, but Harley has used other suppliers for certain years and special editions:
- DuPont/Axalta: Some CVO and special edition colors. Their own code system.
- BASF/Glasurit: Used for some European-market and specialty finishes.
- House of Kolor: Occasionally used for CVO and custom paint programs, particularly candy and pearl effects.
For standard production colors - the ones most riders encounter - PPG/Ditzler remains the reference system. CVO and limited-edition colors may require contacting a dealer or Harley customer service directly for the correct formulation.
Paint Tells the Story
The shift from bright sapphires and candy rubies in the early 1990s to dark pearls and matte denim finishes in the late 2000s tracks exactly with Harley-Davidson’s evolving identity. The introduction of Black Denim in 2007 reflected the broader custom culture movement - riders wanted bikes that looked built, not polished. Harley responded by making matte a factory option, something unthinkable a decade earlier.
The Evolution engine era and the Twin Cam era each had distinct color palettes that reflected the mood of the riding community at the time. Knowing the paint codes helps date a bike, verify originality, and spot previous owner modifications. For restorers working on period-correct builds, the PPG code chart is as essential as the parts catalog.
If you’re restoring a specific model, the spark plug cross reference ensures you’re running the correct plugs for whatever engine sits under those painted tins. And the Cross Bones is a good example of what Black Denim looked like on a factory bike that was built to reject chrome from day one.
If you’re not restoring - if you’re building a custom bobber from scratch - matching original paint is one option. But plenty of builders go flat black, raw metal, or hand-brushed primer and skip the color matching entirely. The paint code chart matters when originality matters. When you’re building something new, the only code that matters is the one you choose.
Whatever the finish, gear up for the ride. We build for people who actually use their machines.
Sources
- PaintRef.com - Harley-Davidson Color Code Database - comprehensive PPG/Ditzler color code cross-reference covering Harley-Davidson paint from 1903 to present
- HD Paint Code Crossover Reference - year-by-year Harley-Davidson paint code lookup with PPG Ditzler numbers
- PPG Industries - Automotive Refinish - manufacturer of the Ditzler paint system used for Harley-Davidson factory colors
- Harley-Davidson Motor Company - original color names, model year specifications, and factory paint documentation
- ColorRite - Harley-Davidson Touch-Up Paint - aftermarket paint supplier using PPG-matched formulations for Harley colors
