Topic: Red or Black frame

[cobra2411]

For a little while after I got my bike I thought it was supposed to have a red frame because a PO did such a good job with it. I wasn't real sure I liked it but it's been growing on me like a good fungus will... 

Anyway I'm doing a lot of work to the bike right now to get it ready to ride this spring/summer and the issue of painting the frame came up. I'm concentrating on mechanical items right now and was going to leave the cosmetic for later but I do have the bike pretty far disassembled right now (exhaust and swingarm off, tank and seat will be off soon and I'm going to be pulling the forks off...) so it wouldn't be hard to paint the frame and do a pretty good job.

A friend of mine says I should rattle can the frame semi-gloss black to make the bike look more "Normal". Like I said the red is growing on me and my original thought was to leave it alone. There's a chance I'll be changing the seat (Corbin gunfighter) this year and at that time I might repaint the tank and cowl. I'll have to see how work goes... I was fortunate enough to make some good money plowing this winter that I wasn't expecting.

Anyway now I don't know what to do. I'm really starting to like the red frame / 77 F colors...

Here's a pic of my bike and a photoshopped black frame version... What do you all think? Commit to the red, paint it black or leave it alone for another year?

[Roach]

the red does look a little out of place IMO

you will need to pull the whole thing apart to properly paint it or powder coat it.

so if your striping it down pull the motor so you don't get over spray

[nomad]

the red does look a little out of place IMO

I'd have to agree with that.  A more subdued red may work, but personally, I'd stick with the black.  But in the end, do what you want... you're going to be the one riding it.

[markb]

My opinion, black.
Mark

[singedebile]

the one thing i like about a painted frame is that it says that you have taken the bike apart and put it back together. Im not a big fan of the red, but I think a more subtle color might be good.

Given the colors on your bike now, maybe a subtle dark grey would look good, add a bit of a tech/mechanical look to it without the bike looking stock or like a 'race' bike (only places i can 'forgive' a super bright frame color).

Give yourself the 'reward' of making the core frame of your bike no longer look stock. If it was dark grey most people wouldnt even notice, but anyone that knows these bikes would know the bike has been completely rebuilt and the owner is likely far from an amateur.

[DYSKORD]

If your going to repaint the tank minus/replace w/ red decals then red. Otherwise I think black looks better with the stock color scheme on tank. I would repaint the tank with gloss black and matching red scallops with the red frame and black swing arm.

[wannabridin]

The red would look good if done with the wheels too... But then the tins would need to be painted differently.  If you already have a teardown planned, go for black w/o touching the tins. 

[cobra2411]

the one thing i like about a painted frame is that it says that you have taken the bike apart and put it back together.

I guess that's what's really got me with the red - not so much the color but the quality of the job. Someone took the bike apart and really put some love into it before it became the basket case that had one fender in the grave when I found it.

I'm kinda digging the charcol grey idea... If I go with the corbin seat I could get dark gray welting (piping) on the seat to tie it all together. Hmm...

But I guess I'm the only one who kinda likes the red...  

Oh well - when I first saw it I thought it was hideous... Like I said it's growing on me like a fungus...  

[nomad]

You may not care for this look, but a silver/ black bike with a few red accents like this one looks pretty damn cool IMHO.

[bollingball]

Man that is like my wife asking what color she should color her hair there is no correct answer. I don't care what anyone likes about my bike it is mine. But if you care paint it pink

[ekpent]

Who has a silver-gray- aluminum frame pic

[Kong]

This is just my opinion.

Unless you have a spectacular looking frame, one that is really the focal point of the bike, then do not make it stand out as if it were such a part.  Use color to accent what is best about your bike, and if it just has a stock frame with a few brackets cut off and maybe ground smooth, maybe not, then that is probably not the part of your bike you want to draw the most attention.

[singedebile]

"I'm kinda digging the charcol grey idea... If I go with the corbin seat I could get dark gray welting (piping) on the seat to tie it all together. Hmm..."

that sounds perfect

[ekpent]

Off Topic-But prostitutes in Mexico used to wear red shows--Old timer 

[cobra2411]

Off Topic-But prostitutes in Mexico used to wear red shows--Old timer 

So what - you're saying I look like a Mexican Hooker riding that bike? 

 


 

[ransack]

Black over red IMO.

You can make the red work with painting a few other things, like the tank, forks and few other pieces.  Red right now just looks really bad against all the worn paint and styling. 

[Gaither]

Cobra

Half the fun of these ol' bikes is having 'em just the way that suits you.

So, when you finally decide, just do it your way!

[736cc]

CB750 frames are really ugly to begin with; less attention you bring to them, the better.

[Ryan6838]

i like the red. fresh black on the tank with the graphic in red to match frame and some more red accents.

[wannabridin]

ugly as these frames CAN be, they aren't that bad.  especially when you do a nice offset color.  i'm going to do mine with a red frame and wheels and white tins.  i like the ways these look, especially the 2nd bike.  red wheels match the frame SO nicely!!  that with some polished bits and cast iron paint, MMMMMM!!!

[camelman]

I like some color in the frames, although when you go that route it seems like you really need to balance out the "noise" in the rest of the bike.  Solid colors for the tank and seat really smooth the whole effect out.  Color-coding the wheels is a good effect if you just stick with the rims, or possibly just a strip of color on the rims.  Color coding the hubs can be a bit too much and I think it looks a little cartoonish (not to offend anyone else's tastes of course).

The nicest looking examples I have seen are bright or loud frames with silver/gray/black/white tank and seat.  There are always others that look nice, but going with muted colors on the rest of the bike can really make the frame stand out.  If you make too many parts really loud, then it takes away from whatever you are trying to bring out.

Color examples I like are sienna frame with silver tank, celeste green frame with white or silver tank, and the like.

Camelman

[Stak66]

off topic again...
Nomad, you're killing me. Where is the build thread for that bike? I have barely begun my F and now I need to start another project. Damn this forum!

Stac

[ddanz27]

I like the black myself!

[nomad]

off topic again...
Nomad, you're killing me. Where is the build thread for that bike? I have barely begun my F and now I need to start another project. Damn this forum!

Stac

Here's the direct link for it... http://blog.derestricted.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/cb750scrambler1.jpg

http://blog.derestricted.com  It's obviously somewhere on this site, but there are a lot of links there.  I found it by just randomly clicking links looking for tail lights.  I have no idea of how I first ran across it.  But, I have the habit of saving pictures of bikes I like for ideas/ inspiration... a lot of them I couldn't tell you where they came from.  Sorry I can't be of more help.  

*EDIT - I finally found the builder's site.  Translated into english - http://www.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Frocket-garage.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fcb-750-scrambler.html&hl=en&ie=UTF8&langpair=it%7Cen&langpair.x=13&langpair.y=4&langpair=it%7Cen

Scratch that - it looks like the builder is "Franz Garage."  I can't find a website for them.  Everything is a link to a link to a link to a link...    More pictures: http://dogsville.es/2011/02/honda-cb-750-by-franz-garage-scrambler/

[swellguy]

One of the bikes I did used silver metalflake. It looked great, especially when compared to the dark body parts. But one speck of dirt on the frame and the whole thing looked dirty. And covering up chips with auto touch up paint is a pain. I'd never do another silver frame.

Black is cheap to do - especially for powdercoating, lets you run all sorts of lines, hoses and plastic ties without being too noticeable and is easily touched up with either a brush or spray can. Plus it cats as a nice base for any special finishes and paintwork you've got.