Motorcycle Graphics: Airbrush, Decal, Or Good Ol' Paint?

"Andrew P. Collins" (andrewpcollins)
07/28/2014 at 16:13 • Filed to: custom, two wheels good, motorcycles

I'm about to start a new motorcycle build (to be detailed later), but something I'm really looking forward to is a gas tank graphic. Without giving too much away, it's going to be an animal. Can anyone help me decide what the best application format would be?

It's an older bike and the look I'm going for is "irreverence," so the retro-goofiness of airbrush look would be pretty perfect, but I'm not sure it's going to be worth the coin (full disclosure, I haven't priced it out yet.) Straight-up painting, which is I think how the graphic above was applied, seems enticing too for higher fidelity to realism.

Would love to get y'alls opinions on the merits of getting my animal airbrushed onto the tank or having some company make a kickass decal of a .JPG.

Image: Motorcycle graphic I saw at a meet once

DISCUSSION (26)

bob and john > Andrew P. Collins
07/28/2014 at 16:15

air brushing is expensive, what I say you do, get a decal, and then clear coat the decal.

JR1 > Andrew P. Collins
07/28/2014 at 16:16

I don't know man the airbrushing from counting cars is drop dead gorgeous might be worth the price

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Andrew P. Collins
07/28/2014 at 16:20

Learn to airbrush yourself, or get a decal and clear over it.

CAR_IS_MI > Andrew P. Collins
07/28/2014 at 16:28

If you go decal, make it a full tank wrap, otherwise it will look cheap IMO (like lets just put a sticker here....)

Personally I would say airbrush would look best, but its also probably the most expensive.

6cyl > Andrew P. Collins
07/28/2014 at 16:39

Kinja'd!!!

Agrajag > Andrew P. Collins
07/28/2014 at 16:40

Hand painted like your example. If you get it airbrushed it will look like it was airbrushed.

Andrew P. Collins > 6cyl
07/28/2014 at 16:46

Holy guacamole that is serious.

Andrew P. Collins > Agrajag
07/28/2014 at 16:46

Wonder what the cost on that would look like.

Andrew P. Collins > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
07/28/2014 at 16:55

Nah, I'll never get to the point where I'll trust myself to do it right. It's gonna have to be outsourced.

Andrew P. Collins > Agrajag
07/28/2014 at 16:58

I'm actually not against it "looking airbrushed." Part of me even likes the idea. Guess I've just got to go to some artists and see what's what.

Racescort666 > Andrew P. Collins
07/28/2014 at 17:27

Vinyl wrap would definitely be your cheapest option. All of the race cars are vinyl wrapped but for something as small as a gas tank, it shouldn't be too expensive. Also, the vinyl shops I've worked with sere super easy to work with. You can email them pictures and they can load it into their software.

Side note, I love pinup/nose art on stuff. Little bit of history: the Navy had actually banned the practice at one point but then repealed the ban because the artwork tended to improve morale.

ly2v8-Brian > Andrew P. Collins
07/28/2014 at 17:30

That is one awesome graphic.

Andrew P. Collins > Racescort666
07/28/2014 at 17:39

I like the pinup style too, what I'm trying to execute with this project is kind of that style, but a lot, well, sillier.

I almost worry a wrap would be too photograph-like... I am looking for a bit of "exaggeration"/artisticness.

uofime > Andrew P. Collins
07/28/2014 at 17:50

go with painting or airbrushing, which ever style you like, then use your internet publicity to get the artist to do it for free!

lingenfelter > Andrew P. Collins
07/28/2014 at 19:49

I don't know if you can wrap something like this without a lot of distortion. Regardless, a wrap seems like cheating if you're looking at an older bike. Newer/race bikes are a place where vinyls are expected but I wouldn't go there with a classic.

Dsscats > 6cyl
07/28/2014 at 20:05

That takes some INSANE talent.

Aaron James > Andrew P. Collins
07/28/2014 at 20:31

The artist makes a huge difference, you can wind up with excellent airbrush work or the kind of work you get from a guy in a tent at the beach.

Kinja'd!!!

Agrajag > Andrew P. Collins
07/28/2014 at 22:48

I've no idea what someone who does this for a living would charge. I'd probably ask $400 if someone asked me. For whatever reason, airbrushing makes me think of shitty van art.

Kinja'd!!!

Philbert/Phartnagle > CAR_IS_MI
07/29/2014 at 08:20

I agree, a full tank wrap would be the way to go and it has the benefit of being the easiest to replace or change if you wanted to do so. The things they can do with wraps these days is amazing and I'd almost bet that they can make one that looks airbrushed if that's the look you want.