Help with color schemes

[cliffnote]

I have a 79 GS 1000E and am getting ready to have the bike repainted. My bike is currently the traditional black with blue/gold pin-striping. I really don't mind the black color but I just can't bring myself to re-live the Bee-Gees and the pinstripes. I am not looking for an air-brushed Harley look but want something tastefully retro (sans the disco stripes) and modern looking. I have gone through the gallery but really didn't get any ideas. I would love to see what some of you have done outside of the factory schemes.

[Steve]

I have only had one bike painted and it wasn't an E, or even a 1000.
It was re-done with basically the factory pattern, but not the same colors.

My wife's '82 850L started out as the black and gray, but it looked like whoever fueled the thing regularly might have been blind.
There were several, no, MANY nicks in the paint within two inches of the filler neck. It looked like someone just banged the gas hose down, said "oops, I missed the hole" and tried again. And again, and again.

The side covers were both partially repainted. The gray area in the center had been re-done in a battleship gray with a brush. And, one of the covers had a large crack and a missing mounting tab.

Colors were easy for us. She likes dark blue (similar to my Wing), but thought it would be too dark. I suggested the bright silver to brighten it up from the sides. Added some pinstripes (again, to sorta match my Wing) and here is the result:










And, because it's HER BIKE, she has her guardian angel painted on the tank, too.


Yeah, it's not for everyone, but it was meant to please HER.

.

[crazypaint]

check out the custom bike post lots of ideas in there

[SVSooke]

Welcome to this club,I have been driving my wife crazy with my waffling on colors I could do my 85 750 in.So many choices it's hard.Think I've picked something then see a combination that goes "that would look good" and I'm off again.

[Agemax]

heres my GS, simple but effective

[Adler]

Colors were easy for us. She likes dark blue (similar to my Wing), but thought it would be too dark. I suggested the bright silver to brighten it up from the sides. Added some pinstripes (again, to sorta match my Wing) and here is the result:






.

That looks pretty awesome! Howd you do those pinstripes?

[jwhelan65]

I agree with Agemax, simple is better and keeping it as close to the stock look as possible. I always retain the original bodywork, color and sheme than customize other areas to my liking, similar to the bike above in the photo...btw great look Agemax!

Just my .02

[Steve]

That looks pretty awesome! Howd you do those pinstripes?

It was actually rather easy.

We just took the body parts (tank, side covers and trunk) to the painter, told him
"we want a dark metallic blue (sort of like my Wing), make the inset areas a bright silver,
then add some pink and blue stripes (again, like my Wing) and add an angel on the tank."

About five weeks later, we handed him $700 and took the parts home.

.

[srsupertrap]

IMO GS1000's can benefit from a two tone paint job and the overall effect can be okay. Pinstripes were used almost on every 70's Japanese bikes so if you eliminate that feature it might not appear to be from that period. A GS 1000/1100 which look like a tri color GSXR or CBR is trying to be something it isn't

+1: Custom Bikes Thread

[cliffnote]

Nice idea with the two-tone. Thanks

[Dave8338]

I like to use stock colors or VERY close matches. For me, when a bike has been repainted in a color that wasn't availabe at the time the bike was built...it looks like a "nice bike" but "where did that color come from".

To each their own.

[shedman1300]

Mine is Painted in ford Fiestiva green.
Im happy with the one colour but my mates are 50/50 on pinstriping it.



It does have the side cover badges on now that make a difference.

[cliffnote]

Seat- Agemax

Agemax,
I really like the seat you got for your white GS 1000. Where did you get it or did you have it specially made?

[cliffnote]

Shedman,
Nice job thinking "out of the box".

[Agemax]

Agemax,
I really like the seat you got for your white GS 1000. Where did you get it or did you have it specially made?

its an aftermarket seat, not sure what make. i had it upholstered in black suede. you can still get them on ebay now and again.....
hang on, i just found this one on ebay. exactly the same shape. apparently they are still in business

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suzuki-GS750-GS550-GS850-GS1000-/190448579929?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2c579eb559