Topic: What if you don't like the color? Just go with it?

[GroovieGhoulie]

I am currently going through a 750K3 my brother traded me, and it's in really excellent mechanical and cosmetic shape, but a minor issue has me curious. (Also, be prepared for more threads as I dig into it!  )

The LH sidecover is missing the bottom attachment lug, so my brother was using a zip tie to keep the bottom in place.  This bugs the hell out of me, (even though it's very unobtrusive), so I'm looking to replace the sidecover.

But then I got to thinking.  I've never really liked the color of the bike.  It's Candy Bacchus Olive, and it's just too dark and subdued for me.  It's a nice color, and in direct sunlight, looks good, but I figure, I'm on a '70s bike, I want a big, loud '70s color with enough metalflake to make a bass boat jealous.  Sunrise Flake Orange or Candy Gold were two of my favorite colors from the era.  The Olive is just too subtle.

Already sold my Candy Gold bike, and I've never had a Orange bike, so that was my original plan: find a set of Orange bodywork and tank to replace it with, so I could always return it to "stock" if I wanted.  But unless I find a deal, that's looking to be more than I want to put in the bike, and I don't feel like repainting it and losing the originality forever (I'm funny that way).  Again, it is in really excellent shape, apart from a few small dents in the tank, which I'm having pulled without trouble, (metal's not creased), and still keeping the original patina of the tank.

The painted tank and bodywork from Yamiya is out, (truly excellent, but too $$$), and I would wonder about "mission creep" where the brand new bodywork clashes with the otherwise original everything else on the bike, so then it leads to a slow total restoration, which is not the goal.

So what to do?  Just get the dents pulled in the tank and replace the sidecover with a like sidecover and go from there?  That's the cheapest solution, and one I do like, but man, I just don't like this color.  I don't know if I'll ever grow into it.

Or, somehow track down appropriate Orange bodywork and tank, and slap them on.  If I don't overpay, I can always resell later and recoup most of, if not all of my outlay.

Thoughts?

[Chachi]

Just to put in the mix... Low Pressure Mouldings in the UK make really nice replacement side covers in black. They are thicker/nicer than stock. More durable, etc. And I prefer a simple black side cover. So that is what I paired on my K3 olive. Kept original tank color and paired with solid black side covers. They are not painted black, just naturally solid black.

The black ties in nice to the olive tank, I don't think it would with the orange. I kept my original olive side covers for a future owner of the bike or I may part with them if I ever do something different with my tank. I'm all for keeping original paint - it's nice and many prefer/want it. But it's your bike and if you don't like olive, you don't like olive. You can always strip and go bare metal on the tank too (if you're into that). I *may* do that with my tank and pair that with black side covers.

http://lpmreplicaparts.com/products.html

[flybox1]

It'd be a shame to paint over the tank if the paint is still in good shape.
Find a tank/covers to paint as you like, or how about a nice Yamiya body set 
http://www.fb-stuff.com/fb-stuff-store.html

[RevDoc]

This might be worth checking for a tank & covers. Over on their Warehouse tab on the right side of the page.

http://www.mainecycleonline.com/

[Johnie]

Groove....I had the same thoughts about the olive green. Then I found this K3 with original everything and really ended up liking it. Maybe you should give this OEM paint a chance. Only original once you know. She looks really nice in the sun.

[chewbacca5000]

Maybe I can help

[GroovieGhoulie]

Sexy!  On my phone, so no long reply now , but thanks for all so far!  I might "grow into it", true. It's not a "bad" color. Just a little low-key. Lol.

I'm contemplating picking up a used/tired tank and bodywork and having it painted by someone who knows these old colors. Chewbacca, that is some SEXY stuff!  Your work? I figure someone on here can do it, or knows a guy, if I decide to go that route.

[carnivorous chicken]

Candy Bacchus Oloive is my favorite color -- I'm a 350F guy -- so I'd vote against a repaint if it's in good shape. Save 'em, and buy replacements in crappy condition and fix those up and repaint them.

[chewbacca5000]

Sexy!  On my phone, so no long reply now , but thanks for all so far!  I might "grow into it", true. It's not a "bad" color. Just a little low-key. Lol.

I'm contemplating picking up a used/tired tank and bodywork and having it painted by someone who knows these old colors. Chewbacca, that is some SEXY stuff!  Your work? I figure someone on here can do it, or knows a guy, if I decide to go that route.

I have a team of candy metal flake Elves that make everything look like Orange Christmas.  Keep the green take and buy and orange one for yourself.  One bike many looks.

[GroovieGhoulie]

That's starting to be the plan. Keep the stock bodywork and tank, since they are in like 95-99% shape, once the dents get massaged out. And then get a set of freshly painted bodywork that is in a different color.

Now the question becomes, does it look odd when you pair a fresh, brand-new looking set of bodywork with a frame, engine, forks, wheels, gauges, controls, etc. that have 42 years of honest wear and patina, but are still overall, say 90-95%?  That's a concern; that it'll look odd.

[chewbacca5000]

I got the solution to that that too.  As you can see from my pics I got a variety of orange body sets some with generous amounts of patina, and others that you will want to stare at for hours.

If you get the freshly painted set you can always shine other parts up as you go.

I can also provide you with pegs and other bits and pieces powder coated if patina is an issue.  I do all the work myself so overhead is low.  I do like the idea of Elves that paint for me though.  Maybe one day.

[Stev-o]

Maybe I can help

Dibs on the tank lower right!  Got matching covers?

[GroovieGhoulie]

Mr. Bacca, we will be talking later! 

Gotta run to class. Catch you guys in a bit.

[brandEn]

chewy you are almost as bad as Bill Benton! You have a nice stash. My K4 is going to get repainted and the more I see that Sunrise Orange the more I like it.... hmmmm

[chewbacca5000]

Maybe I can help

Dibs on the tank lower right!  Got matching covers?

You know I do!  It looked like Vietnam inside my shed painting up that tank!  Agent orange everywhere.

[Stev-o]

Maybe I can help

Dibs on the tank lower right!  Got matching covers?

You know I do!  It looked like Vietnam inside my shed painting up that tank!  Agent orange everywhere.

I figured as much!   Incoming PM...................