Topic: Indicator panel color

[Big_e78]

I've only seen black or gray replacement indicator panels. Mine is more of a brown color (as seen below). Is this just a faded black one or was there really a brown color?

[thebearded1]

My 75 550 has that same style background, kinda fake wood grain brown

[ekpent]

Used to seeing that(woodgrain) on the 750 also. Stock look.

[CycleRanger]

I believe originally the panels were black, perhaps anodized? based on how most of them fade to brownish.
The repros from Yamiya are black or silver.
The placement and labeling of the lights also change in 74 or 75 as well.

[Big_e78]

The brown woodgrain lack of availability from yamiya is also what made me wonder this.

[CycleRanger]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the brownish "wood-grain" appearance is the result of fading over the years.
Although the faded color is not altogether unattractive in its own way.

I think we expect fake wood grain because these bikes were made in the 70's, the decade of all things wood-grain!

[nancy]

Hey...I had no idea my mahogany dash was a fake fake! Are you sure? It really does look like woodgrain finish to my eyes.
Mark

[Deltarider]

You snobs! Anyone with a marble dash?

[SohRon]

No "woodgrain"... all of the panels were originally "Japanned" black (like these OEM panels), which fades to a funky brown color. The woodgrain effect is due to the fact that the bare panels were brushed before the image was applied. If you're interested in making your own decal to put on marble or whatever, or to renew that faded brown panel, let me know as I have artwork for several different styles...

[ekpent]

Hmm thats interesting,now I got another thing to check out when I make it down to the shop. Gotta see if I still have a blackie.

[Big_e78]

No "woodgrain"... all of the panels were originally "Japanned" black (like these OEM panels), which fades to a funky brown color. The woodgrain effect is due to the fact that the bare panels were brushed before the image was applied. If you're interested in making your own decal to put on marble or whatever, or to renew that faded brown panel, let me know as I have artwork for several different styles...

Do you have a website or price list for these?

[CycleRanger]

Do you have a website or price list for these?

http://www.yamiya750.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=144_72&sort=20a&page=2

I've seen them from other vendors as well.

[SohRon]

No "woodgrain"... all of the panels were originally "Japanned" black (like these OEM panels), which fades to a funky brown color. The woodgrain effect is due to the fact that the bare panels were brushed before the image was applied. If you're interested in making your own decal to put on marble or whatever, or to renew that faded brown panel, let me know as I have artwork for several different styles...

Do you have a website or price list for these?

Not for those... They're the original stamped panels with raised diamonds and Honda logo and, unfortunately, are no longer available; I got those from ebay and restored the bases. Yamiya and others sell repros, but they're screened onto a flat plate, so no raised logo or diamonds; also, they don't appear to have the "Highbeam" plate, just the early "Beam" plate. Better than nothing, I guess.

I've posted these in the Tips & Tricks section, but I'll repeat them here; This instrument panel artwork is suitable for making decals or for printing or silkscreening. The images have been created at 300dpi, so specify a finished image size of 69.51 x 34.37mm to insure they come out to the right size (click on the pic to open it up to full size).

The "Highbeam" panels were used from 1975 on; the "Beam" panels being used on earlier models.










While these aren't vector images, we're not reproducing the Mona Lisa here and these work just fine for the purpose.

[Big_e78]

No "woodgrain"... all of the panels were originally "Japanned" black (like these OEM panels), which fades to a funky brown color. The woodgrain effect is due to the fact that the bare panels were brushed before the image was applied. If you're interested in making your own decal to put on marble or whatever, or to renew that faded brown panel, let me know as I have artwork for several different styles...

Do you have a website or price list for these?

Not for those... They're the original stamped panels with raised diamonds and Honda logo and, unfortunately, are no longer available; I got those from ebay and restored the bases. Yamiya and others sell repros, but they're screened onto a flat plate, so no raised logo or diamonds; also, they don't appear to have the "Highbeam" plate, just the early "Beam" plate. Better than nothing, I guess.

I've posted these in the Tips & Tricks section, but I'll repeat them here; This instrument panel artwork is suitable for making decals or for printing or silkscreening. The images have been created at 300dpi, so specify a finished image size of 69.51 x 34.37mm to insure they come out to the right size (click on the pic to open it up to full size).

The "Highbeam" panels were used from 1975 on; the "Beam" panels being used on earlier models.










While these aren't vector images, we're not reproducing the Mona Lisa here and these work just fine for the purpose.

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

[Magilla]

I have two stock panels for a 76 CB750k and they are both faux wood grain. Not faded black.

[SohRon]

   Here's an interesting pic that might help some of us understand this better. I bought this dash clamp off ebay, and it demonstrates just what happens to these panels; the PO affixed a sticker to the panel after it had begun to fade to the "woodgrain" color everyone is so fond of, and it continued to fade after the sticker was applied. I've managed to peel away part of the sticker and you can see just how this happens (unless you're suggesting they made a "two tone" panel, to match the woodgrain effect? Just how many different styles of these did they make, do you think?).



Fact is, they all started out black and deteriorated from there! No woodgrain, no two-tone; just black. 

[oldbob]

Ron,

Looking at the photo of your replacement 550 frame, it seems that the VIN tag had faded to pretty much the same brown. I think it is safe to assume that the VIN tags were not wood-grained, not even in the 70s.

Bob

[SohRon]

Ron,

Looking at the photo of your replacement 550 frame, it seems that the VIN tag had faded to pretty much the same brown. I think it is safe to assume that the VIN tags were not wood-grained, not even in the 70s.

Bob

Good point, Bob.

[bjbuchanan]

I have to go with magilla my indicator panel isn't faded and has a clear woodgrain pattern on it. It seems almost too good for faded paint, its very clear

[CycleRanger]

Here's a nice bird's-eye Maple and another in the always-popular distressed barn wood.

 

[SohRon]

I have to go with magilla my indicator panel isn't faded and has a clear woodgrain pattern on it. It seems almost too good for faded paint, its very clear

Let's see a pic! Look closer at your woodgrain panel, and you'll see that the effect is purely coincidental. The panels are wire brushed before the image is applied; when they begin to fade, the material on the surface fades faster than the stuff in the cracks, leaving the "woody" effect.

Here's a nice bird's-eye Maple and another in the always-popular distressed barn wood.

CR, I have never used this before, but I believe the situation warrants it: ROTFLMAO! 

[CycleRanger]

How about bamboo? Seems appropriate.

[SohRon]

Routed Teak