July 26th, 2017, 11:18 AM | #1 |
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Design ideas?
Hey all,
My '06 was spray painted when I got it, and it looks like the previous owner was trying to get a cool negative space look from removing the decals (but gave up after removing one on the right side and half of one on the left). I'd like to remove both the paint and the OEM decals and replace it with some black reflectives for a look of stealthiness in the day (indirect lighting) but to stand out at night in direct lighting. The flames pattern is cool & all, but I feel like just putting that back in may be a missed opportunity. Anyone have any ideas for what other sorts of design I could put here? NOTE: this is an old pic. The bike is currently about 5hrs away from me in my dad's driveway... |
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July 26th, 2017, 11:44 AM | #2 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
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July 26th, 2017, 11:54 AM | #3 |
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This is very much a personal preference thing. Flames don't do it for me, personally. I'm a "less is more" guy, so stuff like flames, tribal graphics, graffiti bikes, busy lines, etc.-- all the stuff that you find in aftermarket decal kits -- tend to turn me off. I don't even particularly like the "strobe stripe" graphics on my track bike (fairings were already painted when I got them).
If the shape of the physical object pleases, then accentuating those lines with graphics is nice IMHO. If the shape is not that great, breaking it up with tasteful understated graphics can work too. I have a simple litmus test. Imagine looking at the bike 15, 20 or even 50 years from now. Will those graphics still look good? Classy? Or will they look like a dated mistake? James Bond looked great in 1962. That Bond could walk into a room today and still look good. Good taste defies time. There's a reason why Daniel Craig looked just as good -- because his style was the same. Eternal. Look at any style icon and you'll see the same. Audrey Hepburn would make jaws drop today, wearing the exact same clothes she did in the 1960s. On the other hand, things we saw in, say, the 80s, did not fare quite so well... especially the then-popular colors and pseudo-random graphic treatments. Barferrific. Now compare to contemporary graphics done really well: To my eye, that's gorgeous... and it was done 32 years ago.
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July 26th, 2017, 11:55 AM | #4 |
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July 26th, 2017, 11:58 AM | #5 | |
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Quote:
I'm not trying to make it seems like something it's not, and I'm not trying to give it attitude it doesn't have. I just want it to light up (and be obviously a motorcycle) when hit by headlights and not just be plain old strips or blocks. There are good and bad ways of doing plain strips, but that's like a 2nd choice option for me. |
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July 26th, 2017, 12:00 PM | #6 |
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Another from the "classy vs. OH GOD MY EYES" files. Which car do you like better? Simple and understated or not?
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I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem. |
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July 26th, 2017, 12:07 PM | #7 |
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July 26th, 2017, 12:08 PM | #8 |
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The one on the left is a skilled use of strips, but the one on the right is more along the lines of what I'd be capable of.
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July 26th, 2017, 12:09 PM | #9 |
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July 26th, 2017, 12:11 PM | #10 | |
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Quote:
Also, I don't actually believe in war, so the idea of representing that concept makes me feel meh. |
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July 26th, 2017, 12:31 PM | #11 |
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In case your wondering, it's called el wire. Different from the led stripes you get at Walmart, a lot more maneuverable.
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July 26th, 2017, 12:34 PM | #12 | |
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Quote:
Remember, this was once awesome.
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July 26th, 2017, 12:37 PM | #13 | |
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Quote:
And @adouglas, I didn't say it was an awesome design, I said it was skilled use of strips. As in, someone was capable enough to curve them and figure out which lines to follow. The second example they clearly just slapped them on in an "at least now I'm visible" way. (ps - is that nicole kidman??) |
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July 26th, 2017, 12:49 PM | #14 |
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I hear that re artistic skills. Mine aren't the best either.
I'll try to find a pic of the bike I had in the mid 90s. It was an EX-500, which had a really nice metallic red upper and pearl white lower factory paint scheme, ruined by a dividing stripe of hot pink (it was an 89). All I did was apply a long strip of SOLAS tape over the pink stripe. Looked awesome and was super-reflective, while not screaming in daylight. All I had to do was keep it straight. That bike had pretty much the same body style as yours. This is the same bike... I need to find the pic that shows what I did.
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July 26th, 2017, 12:58 PM | #15 | |
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Quote:
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July 26th, 2017, 02:38 PM | #16 |
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July 26th, 2017, 02:55 PM | #17 |
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I actually kind of like the white and pink and blue one.... I'd want a different colored seat, though. Those two shades of blue don't go together.
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July 26th, 2017, 03:28 PM | #18 |
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I have seen a couple of VTRs with the teal wheels available on craigslist and they have always intrigued me.
Took me a long time to realize the front wheel was so crazy because the brake is inside...! How's this for a different seat color?? |
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July 26th, 2017, 04:14 PM | #19 |
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July 26th, 2017, 04:38 PM | #20 |
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July 26th, 2017, 04:47 PM | #21 |
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I could just follow the angles of the bike, but I feel like it draws unnecessary attn to the engine "hole" :P
(this would obv be in black that reflects white, but red here for illustrative purposes) Or #2 the "fast but not on fire" approach... |
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July 26th, 2017, 05:11 PM | #22 |
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I call this one the "outline everything"
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July 26th, 2017, 05:56 PM | #23 | |
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Quote:
Lines that follow the natural overall flow of the bike work well. That lower line doesn't do that. If the graphics will be invisible in daylight (when then engine hole is visible) and apparent only in the dark (when the engine hole can't be seen anyway) whats' the problem?
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July 26th, 2017, 06:00 PM | #24 | |
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July 26th, 2017, 06:10 PM | #25 |
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It's all a matter of personal tastes.
I've always like clean looking, simple, not busy. I've seen a lot of cool stuff, and I can appreciate the time, money and skill that was put into it, but that doesn't mean I would do it to my stuff. When I got Serenity it was 98 red with blue/purple rims, I had to replace the fairings anyway so I found a complete set for cheap in 07 silver, with those flames. I sandblasted the rims and left them they, way,. I removed to flames, and had a custom set of graphics made in reflective silver. I like the look subtle, not all in your face. To each his own
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July 26th, 2017, 06:17 PM | #26 |
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July 26th, 2017, 11:17 PM | #27 |
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I like the #2 stripes version.
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July 27th, 2017, 12:31 AM | #28 |
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What about this?
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July 27th, 2017, 06:02 AM | #29 |
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THAT'S what I'm talking about!
That bike is going to look sharp 10, 20, 30 years from now. No trendy crap. Nicely done. In this case, the SF fan insider reference works for now. Might not as time passes... do you think a BSG original series logo would look good today, for example? BMW gets this whole understated thing, BTW. I was recently at a BMW dealer and there was a 20-year-old "flying brick" K75 in the parking lot. Looked fresh even after all these years.
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July 27th, 2017, 11:00 AM | #30 |
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I just noticed this. What does it say after "danger?"
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July 27th, 2017, 11:06 AM | #31 | |
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I take solace in knowing that not all production bikes last 20-30 years or more, and that the bikes that are going to last are going to be the ones owned by people who *make good choices*... So will things like this be trendy still in 30 years? Well, possibly... But will this bike be on the road in 30y??? Far less likely. |
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July 28th, 2017, 09:01 AM | #32 |
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Good eye, they are military aircraft warning decals, I thought I was a nice touch going with the subtle Firefly theme.
As far as the Serenity decal goes, it's another subtle thing, and it keeps the color theme going, and most people don't get it, it's just a nice decal, but the few that do get it, it's a nice touch.
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July 31st, 2017, 05:12 PM | #33 |
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That's awesome.
I've always thought riding a motorcycle was the closest any person would get to non-aircraft flight... |
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January 22nd, 2018, 01:15 PM | #34 |
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Pigeonherd, what did you decide upon? I'm always trying to alter the style with color and simplicity, and am curious as to which way you went.
Another forum member ( Z1R rider ) followed your #1 idea ( as I understand it )...
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January 22nd, 2018, 02:12 PM | #35 | |
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