Help me decide what to do on the GS scheme. *pics added 02/10/07*

[Susuki_Jah]

Ok so hear it is I cant make up my mind on what to do. Im not really into bright colors bikes but the paint is still very good on all the parts I ordered from a seller on here..

there is the picture he provided and I bought all the body work and gas tank.

I just added a brand new headlight to the bike a diamond cut clear one with black bezzle.   and my wheel are black but I am thinking of having the re powder coated black again or maybe even red if I stick with this scheme.

here is what my bike looks like now. 



I cant freeken decide!



I think im leaning towards having it painted a gunmetal again with the hap arnold symbol in white on the tank 

this is kinda the color im thinking of with the copper

[The Buddha]

Its a nice paint job, leave it alone.
You'll crash it soon enough, and swap the tank then ... then if mismatched paint them.
If you dont crash it for a long time ... well that's a benifit in itself.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Susuki_Jah]

Its a nice paint job, leave it alone.
You'll crash it soon enough, and swap the tank then ... then if mismatched paint them.
If you dont crash it for a long time ... well that's a benifit in itself.
Cool.
Srinath.

wait which paint job the current one or red one> the current one is cracked and the tank is dented plus its starting to rust a little inside this tank I bought it like new !  Ive wrecked 3 times hopefully im wrecked out for a little while lol

[The Buddha]

The red and white ... leave that alone.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Susuki_Jah]

The red and white ... leave that alone.
Cool.
Srinath.

the only thing about the bright colors like the red and white is , it makes it look like a little kiddy bike or somthing like a little toy. I think the darker colors make it look more sinister haha and ready to ride.

[SmartDrug]

I don't want to sound like a hater, but it's a '91 that's in pretty rough shape, save your money for a nicer/newer bike if you want to look the part.  There's nothing better looking than an old haggard GS500, they have character that is without peer.  Modern sportbikes, once they get dropped, due to the cost of plastics, are generally "totalled" by insurance companies and sold for parts.  Most people don't bother getting full coverage on $1000-2000 bikes and therefore the GS is somewhat exempt from this phenomenon, because of this, GS500s are one of the only bike that you see on the road with left over accident damage.  That's cool as hell, they wear the scars which show that someone loved riding enough to risk life and limb and even after being down, the rider loved the bike enough to patch her together again, truly a beautiful sentiment that lends remarkable amounts of credence to our love for the sport of motorcycling. 

Any amount of money you spend on making that thing look nicer asthetically will be a sunk cost, you'll never see a dime of it again.  So instead of dropping $200-500 on a paint job, invest in something, wait until next winter, cash out and buy a copper SV650... problem solved.

My $.02.


Cheers to scarred up old GS500s!!

[Susuki_Jah]

I don't want to sound like a hater, but it's a '91 that's in pretty rough shape, save your money for a nicer/newer bike if you want to look the part.  There's nothing better looking than an old haggard GS500, they have character that is without peer.  Modern sportbikes, once they get dropped, due to the cost of plastics, are generally "totalled" by insurance companies and sold for parts.  Most people don't bother getting full coverage on $1000-2000 bikes and therefore the GS is somewhat exempt from this phenomenon, because of this, GS500s are one of the only bike that you see on the road with left over accident damage.  That's cool as hell, they wear the scars which show that someone loved riding enough to risk life and limb and even after being down, the rider loved the bike enough to patch her together again, truly a beautiful sentiment that lends remarkable amounts of credence to our love for the sport of motorcycling. 

Any amount of money you spend on making that thing look nicer asthetically will be a sunk cost, you'll never see a dime of it again.  So instead of dropping $200-500 on a paint job, invest in something, wait until next winter, cash out and buy a copper SV650... problem solved.

My $.02.


Cheers to scarred up old GS500s!!

I understand your point , but I will not be spending over 200$. I have a friend who custom paints.  Its not so much a return im looking for on the bike its just for personal smiles.  the bikes structure has not been touched as far as laying it down goes and it runs  great! the bike has been taken care of very well , always gets the expensive  synthetic oil and is properly taken care of.  the bike has a few dents but thats why I bought new stuff for it. other than that the bike will look virtually new after im done with it . after I took off all the cosmetics and headlight and tank there was no sign of laying it down. I already put money into new sprockets and chain along with a slew of other things so in my mind it truely would be a waste to not paint it.

but I still may go with leaving it alone. after all its about the ride I could care less what it looks like .

thanks for the input you my sway me to practicality yet.

[Bullit]

In my opinion (you asked for it) I think that differing shades of grey/silver/black would look very cool.  The motor being gloss black and flat silver frame, painting the bodywork charcoal grey with lighter grey to silver accents would look great.  You could also implement the logo form your post, on top of the tank ahed of the gas cap would be good, leaving the sides free for artistic stripes or designs.  To me, red is so overdone, that it just blends in, not to mention that it is a Honda color.  I hope this helps, I've gone through this a few times before, it's exciting and frustrating at the same time.

[3imo]

I love the vintage red and white look. 

[scratch]

Stick with the red until you need to repaint.

Otherwise, I don't know why you can't go with gunmetal grey with the copper.  Gunmetal topside with copper sides/stripes.

Take the existing paint scheme - all that is red becomes gunmetal gray, the white becomes copper, and the current grey stripes become white stripes.  Slap your Hap Arnold symbol on top.

[Susuki_Jah]

Stick with the red until you need to repaint.

Otherwise, I don't know why you can't go with gunmetal grey with the copper.  Gunmetal topside with copper sides/stripes.

Take the existing paint scheme - all that is red becomes gunmetal gray, the white becomes copper, and the current grey stripes become white stripes.  Slap your Hap Arnold symbol on top.

well the only thing I figure is the parts are all off the bike now so I could easily have them painted rather than draining the tank and doing all that again. but I dunno yet I might slap the red on there and see what it looks like. its just red is so flashy and I hate flashy.  unless its a ferarri even then I like clean solid paint jobs

[scratch]

Then don't do red.

You reasoning is sound.  Have everything painted the way you want it before you put it on the bike.

[Zack]

Here's my input for what it's worth: Keep your silver frame. Keep the dark wheels (gotta love 'em).  Paint the plastics under the seat and the tank gunmetal grey/silver. There will be an excellent representation of black to silver hues and it'll look uniform, but contrasting. I'm a huge fan of keeping paint schemes simple and uniform... nothing makes me queasy quite like a civic with green and red bodywork    Also, I feel like red is reserved for Ducati 996s... but do what makes you happy!

The good thing is you have the option of trying out the red/white combo once you get it. If you like it, keep it. If you think you can do better, you have a buddy who can hook up a sweet paint job.

I've got plans for my E, brushed down to the steel on the tank with paint matched plastics, all cleared over with high gloss UV clear.

[CirclesCenter]

Red/White/Gray FTW!

[ledfingers]

i'm painting my bike within about a week or so and i'm going with a dark metallic gunmetal, then i'm doing blue pearl in the first couple layers of clear, and i'm going to do a slightly ghosted stripe in silver.

[Susuki_Jah]

I think I will go with the gun metal paint again with a copper pearl so when the light hits it it shows a copper sheen. I will be puting the airforce logo I posted on the gast tank with the star over the gas cap. 


Ive ruled out the red because it would bug the crap out of me to right the bike with so much graphics on it.

[3imo]

wanna trade?
  I have 95' plastics in decent condition, the tank is ok, I think.
  I won't be home for another two weeks.
  if you can't wait I can arrange for a friend to break into my garage and take pics.

It'd be a shame to destroy that vintage look.

I'll pay for the shipping.  what say you?

[3imo]

I found a pic of the tank, it is dented. click HERE

The plastics are not scratched, just faded by the sun.

I doubt you wanna dinged tank, but I can be hopeful.  What say you?

[Susuki_Jah]

well I didnt think 1991 was vintage yet lol. but Im going to stick with the parts I ordered they are in very good condition and that is what I bought them for. sorry I cant help out more

[3imo]

no biggie.