Hi! I bought he bike used (third owner) and the crash plates were already that way, they are painted black, not originally black. I am considering re-covering them in black since after a couple of falls (while stopped) the show cracks in the paint surface, but hey, the bike's gonna fall again, so why bother? ;-) The seat also came that way, it is the one of the "easy ride" optional kit which lowers the bike a bit. I'm happy I found the bike already lowered, that saved me some money.