Topic: Trying to sort out a logo

[JP]

Truth be told, I think Cheapo would spank me in a buildoff- but at least I have a bike that I could use and I'm willing to try something.  I'm just starting with these old honda's and I am super stoked about monday.

What's happening monday, you say?  Well, I have very little time to work on these bikes- and 11 bikes to push out!!!!!  So, on Monday I will be hiring my first employee.  That's right, I'm in the big time now, I will be going down to the street corner downtown to higher me a worker for the day

Hopefully we will be able to disassemble three bikes, clean up the garage, maybe sandblast a little, and in the end I'll still have all my tools
JP

[Klark Kent]

I liked the idea of the "waitress" holding a tray with something more motorcycle related on it.  I am not one to sy no to a pitcher of beer, but I get a better feeling from something like the waitress upholding a serving tray with something like a quart of 10W-40 with a straw in it on top.

On another note, this is starting to sound a lot like an album cover and less like a logo.  Its a great scenario, but it may be more info than a logo needs.  Could we get back to the idea that simple is iconic and an iconic logo is more effective than a clever scenario.  I also think that sice you have dubbed it Custom Cafe you should use the "cc" initials as a displacement double entendre - maybe in the logo, maybe somewhere else.  simple associations like that, like the goggles and and such cheapo talked about is what you are going for.  Maybe save the hot-ass for promotional photos of your finished bikes.

Looking foward to seeing the design though
-KK

[Jeff]

Klark is on to something here.

As I was reading this thread, I thought of a hottie waitress wearing an outfit like she would wear at a drive in, but everything shorter , and instead of roller skates she's have on old school motorcycle boots; ones that would go up kind of high, maybe just below the knees. She'd also have on a shorty open face helmet, with goggles... on the lid, not over her eyes. She'd have a tray, and I was originally thinking food, but the oil is a great idea. Right behind her would be a cafe bike.

It could be illustrated simply, even maybe in just one color, so you could use it in multiple places. Think more like a one color comic book illustration and less like photography. But Klark suggesting it would end up like an album cover has some merit.

I then thought of the 10w-40 that he mentioned. A quart of oil today is in a plastic bottle. But if you're building old school bikes, your logo should reflect that. You could use an oil can as the basis for your logo. Something like this (borrowed from google images):

FWIW, I'm a graphic designer/web designer for the last 6 years.

Jeff

I liked the idea of the "waitress" holding a tray with something more motorcycle related on it.  I am not one to sy no to a pitcher of beer, but I get a better feeling from something like the waitress upholding a serving tray with something like a quart of 10W-40 with a straw in it on top.

On another note, this is starting to sound a lot like an album cover and less like a logo.  Its a great scenario, but it may be more info than a logo needs.  Could we get back to the idea that simple is iconic and an iconic logo is more effective than a clever scenario.  I also think that sice you have dubbed it Custom Cafe you should use the "cc" initials as a displacement double entendre - maybe in the logo, maybe somewhere else.  simple associations like that, like the goggles and and such cheapo talked about is what you are going for.  Maybe save the hot-ass for promotional photos of your finished bikes.

Looking foward to seeing the design though
-KK

[JP]

I am deffinately digging Klarks idea also.  Maybe an old style can with the spicket already jabbed into it.  I will deffinately get multiple drawings with the helmet-boot ideas on and off.

[ElCheapo]

??

[JP]

Sorry Elcheapo, just not diggin' it.

[ElCheapo]

then keep the one you have 

[JP]

I'm trying to figure something out, hopefully what I've been discribeing will come out nice.

BTW, what does your "No label" mean?

[ElCheapo]

It is the name of my motorcycle club..... No label as I and the other riders are not brand specific and that in each of the riders minds we must remain #1 if we are to be of any use in our life.

[Uncle Ernie]

I've been looking at Bou Haus style lettering lately- block letters.  Was thinking of a wheel cut in half with bold block letters saying "No Name Cafe" .  Hey we're brainstorming here.   I also thought of the same type but ACME MOTOCYCLES. Maybe a little chipped/cracked so it looks like it's carved from old stone.  Motocycles is the way some older brands like Indian spelled it- without the "R".
Look at lots of ads from magazines in the 30s and 40s; maybe go the other direction; Special imposing style type that arches across the top- "JP Motorcycle Fabrication" and then in smaller type get a bit fancy/loquacious; Fine hand crafted contrivances for auto two-wheeled locomotion for the discriminating gentleman.
Going to bed now with apologies