What paint scheme for the bike?

[Lucien Harpress]

Due to a number of circumstances, I'm going to have to re-paint the bike this winter. To keep it simple, I'm sticking to just repainting the tank, the side covers, and (probably) the rear saddle bags. The question is, though, what kind of scheme to shoot for?

After thinking about some real crazy ones, I finally settled on a rather traditional setup. Here's my bike right now:



Okay, so maybe it's my bike a while ago. Paint's still the same, though.

Here's what I'm thinking- base color is the same metallic black that is on the bike right now (maybe a touch darker). All the badges will probably be re-painted "redneck chrome" (silver spray paint). What I'm still on the fence with are the pinstripes.

My main choices are a dark blue, a dark blue with a slightly smaller white stripe underneath it, red, florescent lime green, or something completely different.

So- what do YOU think?

[xs11bobber]

Lime green, some custom pinstriping - not factory, some green accents on the outside carb bowls, and the inside area (black) of the rotors green/or calipers. That could be cool, lol.

[MeatTooth]

With the black/ charcoal combo I think some orange would look cool. Mine is currently getting black/ orange/ silver. combo. great looking bike BTW!!!

[jjwaller]

Badges GOLD!
Pinstripes GOLD!
Sorry I'm old school.
Stock is better in my mind.

[fredintoon]

Hi Lucien,
black is good, the BLACKEST black you can find.
With gold pinstriping. (to borrow from The Naked Ladies, "not real gold, that'd be cruel")
Concerning real gold, a while ago I was at the Biggar British Bike Reunion talking with a farmer who'd ridden in on his Series B Vincent Rapide when a young man came up to us to discuss his Series C Vincent Black Shadow which he'd brought in a padded van. Fella said he had his pinstriping applied over chinese red lacquer to bring out the highlights in gold leaf.
OK, it was a real nice Series C so we only mocked him after he'd walked out of earshot.

[clobe26]

I'd say "Gun Metal Silver" & black pin striping. I'm true to the "old skool Look" so in your case...being it modern looking....go for the classic look. If you plan to "Rat-Rod" yours....here's a picture of my 72' Moto Guzzi Ambassador....Enjoy!

[Guy_b_g]

I love those old Guzzis..you should restore them to stock...they are at their coolest in stock form!

[MeatTooth]

here is some rustoluem hammerd black and chevy orange. This wasn't supposed to be a spray bomb bike but since I've been laid off the funds to do it right aren't there and I want to ride!




The Guzzi is amazing!!

[Guy_b_g]

go for the classic look

Here's one of the coolest Ambos around...paint looks nearly stock, but check out the rest of the bike...imagine an XS done up like this...