Monday 30 November 2009

Virtual paintshop.

The time has come to paint my pride & joy and I'll start sending out parts soon. The frame, along with the soon to be new triple trees, will be powder coated matt black. The back wheel gloss black. The thinking behind this is that a subdued colour scheme for the chassis will form a nice backdrop for the tank and seat unit.

I guess I could go for a really edgy paint scheme that will be truly memorable, and set it apart from all other street trackers. Something that would really stand out from the crowd. But that was never the point of this bike. I fell in love with the style of flat track bikes, and I want my bike to be instantly recognizable as a flat/street tracker – even if I've chosen a modern motor and modern brakes and suspension. I also wanted to incorporate something of the Husqvarna heritage from the time when a Husky was THE bike to have if you were a motocrosser or enduro rider. That's where the logo comes from incidentally. It's the same logo that was on Steve McQueen's personal Husqvarna bike (sans the black outline)

So this is where I am at the moment (see image). It may change somewhat, but it will resemble this Photoshop composite with the two-tone red and contrasting white panels. Trust me when I say that I've tried every conceivable combination of Husky/ruby red, black and white:-). The ruby red will get a subtle flake treatment, the whites will be solid.

5 comments:

  1. Marcus_of_MarcusMotoDesign30 November 2009 at 23:52

    Wow, that is beautiful!

    Can't wait to see it in real life!

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  2. Looks great - you've made some really inspiring progress.

    Why not paint the tank more like the old Husky - include the polished panel as well as the logo??

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  3. Yea polished panels is the way to go !
    Looking good steve .

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  4. Thanks for the suggestions about the polished panels á la old school Huskys.

    The problem is the shape of the tank. It has a tear drop shaped "strengthening bulge" on the side that precludes a polished panel.

    Had I known what I know now, I would have had a custom tank made. It not terribly expensive... Maybe on the next one:-)

    /D

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  5. what about polishing the entire side panel with the classic white outline, and put the husqy logo on the polished part? maybe in black. then you recognise the classic husky in it and still have something special

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