A matter of the utmost importance...

[Northernbiker]

Afraid that I'm going to have to side with those who say keep the silver. But I admit that I'm biased as that's what I have myself. A very classic colour for a BMW bike. The only other one that would tempt me is the Biaritz Blue - it is one sharp looking bike and I envy those of you who have one!

Chris

[mogu83]

I guess it comes down to, do you want to blend in with the crowd or stand out. Personally I would be rather upset if I was sitting at a light and had a bike that looked just like mine pull up along side me. As far as the shocks - I wonder how many people would go for the aftermarket shocks if they had black springs like the stock ones.

Here's a pic of a basically stock old Honda CB with an other than 'normal' paint job. Leather seat, lower bars and everything puffed up. I painted the frame gray and all the body work (including the chrome fenders) with school bus yellow and shot a coat of clear over it. The bike really turns heads and has put a couple of trophies on my shelf. As far as the quality of aftermarket paint, actually it has more shine than the old paints (big problem for the serious restorers) and it's sure a lot more durable (harder) than whatever BMW puts on these bikes (IMHO). Big problem with the new paints is their just too toxic for the average guy to use in his garage, the yellow bike was my last paint job.

[Acpantera]

I've been thinking of a flip/flop paint job that I once seen on an Arctic Cat ZL600 Y2K, it was green/silver/purple....WAY COOL. A different color from every angle you viewed it.

[Caroanbill]

As far as the shocks - I wonder how many people would go for the aftermarket shocks if they had black springs like the stock ones.

Hmm. Stock springs are grey. Wilbers come in blue with the option of black - I chose black ... what does that say about me?

Harry, your old Hondas are so very nicely done.

I've been thinking of a flip/flop paint job ... different color from every angle you viewed it.

Crystal Grey is already a flip/flop paint job - goes from a pale silver (classy) to a pale yellow-bronze gold (very classy) depending on the light and angle. This makes it both classy and hip. Doesn't it?

[mogu83]

Bill,
To me? You most likely wouldn't hesitate kicking it down two gears and gassing it in a turn.

But - I still think Beemers should be Black. Hopefully with tasteful white stripes. If I ever figure out how to do that (tastefully) on a R1200R I'll post pictures.

[Mollygrubber]

Hopefully with tasteful white stripes. If I ever figure out how to do that (tastefully) on a R1200R I'll post pictures.

You seem pretty handy mogu83! You'd probably do a fine job with a pinstriping brush... they make it look so easy on tv...

Nice Honda - is that a CB400F? Friend of mine had one of those in high school, my first high speed ride on that nearly cost me my life ("what is this countersteering crap all about anyway? I couldn't possibly need to know how to do that in my first 80mph corner..." - thought a little dirt bike qualified me as an experienced motorcyclist!!

[deilenberger]

As far as the shocks - I wonder how many people would go for the aftermarket shocks if they had black springs like the stock ones.

Hmm. Stock springs are grey. Wilbers come in blue with the option of black - I chose black ... what does that say about me?

And Hyperpro has purple springs - except mine, I chose the optional black springs. Goes better with my black/mit/white bike.

[mogu83]

[quote="Mollygrubber] You seem pretty handy mogu83! You'd probably do a fine job with a pinstriping brush... they make it look so easy on tv...
[/quote]
It's a CB550 with aftermarket exhaust, gave it to one of my sons a few months after it was finished. Tried striping, it was a disaster, came to the conclusion it's an art not a skill. You can either do it or you can't do it, you can't learn how to do it.

[celticus]

Something to think about is the resale value of your bike. I have more than a few friends who regret having painted their bikes a non stock color. Some regret painting bikes that don't really need painting because some folks want and will pay for original paint.
Another way to look at it is that it is your bike and you can do what you want with it.

Mark

[Tarmac]

Yeah... the orange to silver fade.

http://www.wunderlichamerica.com/mm5/me ... t_offset=4

[deilenberger]

Yeah... the orange to silver fade.

http://www.wunderlichamerica.com/mm5/me ... t_offset=4

That is pretty special:



I also saw one done in the smoke black/silver R90S colors - a bit more conservative, but equally stunning.

[Rocket]

Orange looks nice, but not sure about the pink letters on the tank.

Regarding re-sale value, when I was looking for my bike last May , Uk dealers were telling me that black is the most sought after colour, but they were rare in the second-hand market. (The R1200R isn't a big seller here because everyone goes for the GS,.. then have a big adventure ride to the supermarket and back!).
In fact, there were one or two black bikes in dealers showrooms but they were the most expensive (and out of my price range). Hence I bought a cheaper, silver model (which is actually very nice).

With this in mind , perhaps I should go for black - great colour and good for re-sale value. To make it individual I could add some subtle changes eg a couple of silver stripes towards the rear of the side panels (Ziobato -style) ....then add the Ohlins for contrast (they do look so cool).

One thing I forgot to add at the start of the thread, I usually change my bike every year. However, I am so impressed with the R1200R , there isn't another bike I 'd rather have so I 'm keeping it. The idea behind the change of colour is to have a different looking bike but the same quality ride.

[Rocket]

I guess it comes down to, do you want to blend in with the crowd or stand out. Personally I would be rather upset if I was sitting at a light and had a bike that looked just like mine pull up along side me. As far as the shocks - I wonder how many people would go for the aftermarket shocks if they had black springs like the stock ones.

Here's a pic of a basically stock old Honda CB with an other than 'normal' paint job. Leather seat, lower bars and everything puffed up. I painted the frame gray and all the body work (including the chrome fenders) with school bus yellow and shot a coat of clear over it. The bike really turns heads and has put a couple of trophies on my shelf. As far as the quality of aftermarket paint, actually it has more shine than the old paints (big problem for the serious restorers) and it's sure a lot more durable (harder) than whatever BMW puts on these bikes (IMHO). Big problem with the new paints is their just too toxic for the average guy to use in his garage, the yellow bike was my last paint job.

Beautiful job Harry. I have a real soft spot for the 400/4. During my teens (before I passed my bike test) my best mate had the F1 (blue) version fromn new and I spent many an hour as pillion. Loved that bike. That was the sweetest 4 cyl engine around for years. My other mate had an RD350 Yamaha. You can imagine the races we had. Happy days.

[lemonbuyer]

I think your paint looks lovely - get the Ohlins!

+1

Surely that is a better option? Ohlins will only increase in cost, paint less so when you get the next opportunity.

[lemonbuyer]

...Nice Honda - is that a CB400F? Friend of mine had one of those in high school, my first high speed ride on that nearly cost me my life ("what is this countersteering crap all about anyway? I couldn't possibly need to know how to do that in my first 80mph corner..." - thought a little dirt bike qualified me as an experienced motorcyclist!!

Off topic sorry, but couldn't resist...

I had a CB400F1 from new, the fastest colour (red) - Harry's lovely yellow Honda 4 is not one. Rocket - I also had a mate with an RD400 Yammie. We thrashed around the Bath area in the 77-79 period!

When I had my 400/4 I hadn't heard of counter-steering in the mid 70s, but it cornered just fine at a rate of knots

[mogu83]

It's a CB550. I never had a four cylinder bike so I wanted to see what the four cylinder buzz was like. Now I know, the bike is now sitting in the corner of my sons garage gathering dust.

[mickyt]

While waiting for the red light to change, when I took a test ride on a silver R1200R a bus driver next to me leaned out the window saying "now that's what a bike should look like" & "what is it?"
This has never happened to me on my black bike

regards mick

[Mollygrubber]

Funny you should say that - the only time I've ever had one of those "through the car window" conversations was the first time I rode my bike home from the dealer.

I guess it must have been very clean and pretty!

Hasn't happened since...

[dderrig]

Once you go black...........

[kay bill c]

Black with white stripe never out of style on a BMW