I am asking your opinion - so please share your thoughts --

[Wingsconsin]

Below you will find 2 pictures of my 1983 GS850GL -
The first one is typical of the way it looks today.
The second picture is a crude mock up (using paint program) of what I COULD do to it.
I ahve the opportunity to have the doors of the saddlebags painted to match the side panels and the tank.
My reservation is two fold...
1) Does it look good ? (Your opinions matter)
2) Is it worth it ? This one is a good question but I will answer it for you and respect your opinions if you care to share-
--Affordable ? - I am already upside down on the bike - having more invested than I could sell it for.
--I have the money and am getting a reasonable deal for custom paint matching with strippig
--I plan on keeping this bike as a daily rider for some time as it is in really great condition.
--When I purchased the saddlebags I did so thinking the door shape matched the tank and side covers and that this was/is an option.

Ask any question or post your thoughts please - I know the picture mock up is amatuer - but look past that.

[Charlie G]

1-Does it look good-Your bike looks good without the extra paint. Sometimes simpler is better.

2 Is it worth it-I don't think there is any real gain in looks. I don't think it will look bad. Maybe a bit busier.

P.S. The black and chrome bags with the rack are an improvement to the looks of your bike. The black and chrome works as it is.


cg

[hampshirehog]

I'm with Charlie. I reckon the black and chrome (and polished alloy) set off the blue very nicely as it is. Adding a bit more blue would in my opinion unbalance the look.

[Guest]

as it is the bags kind of disappear, which is kind of nice, i think. looks lighter.

[Brendan W]

I agree. Bike looks great as is. The bags disappear into the background. Bringing them up would imho make the thing too fussy and to an extent hide a great looking bike.

[posplayr]

saddlebag.jpg
I think you can make it work if you do not over do it. I would first start off with figuring to do a tough coat on the lower 1/3 of the saddle bag in a flat rubber like texture and then reduce the side of the blue bag detail so that it does not out scale the gas tank.

Also the tank side colors have a great line and the last thing you want is some cookie cutter shape on the bag to contrast with that. It needs to resemble and follow from the tank likes. Note how there is a horizontal line at the bottom of the tank and two skewed lines on the side cover. I would pick a lower line for the tail that was somewhere between the tank and the upper cover, probably above the chrome detail on the bag. That would get the side down in proportion to the tank and flow much better.

Some custom script lettering with a name or some other topic would add enough detail to make it look like it all goes together. I would not be afraid of adding details just don't use a bug red brush full of red paint. As you ey wonders and pics up detail it adds a lot of interest. Blaring items do not have the same style.

[Dogma]

I'll add another vote saying it's probably best as-is. Pos is on the right track adding less blue, but it still doesn't sit right with me. I just don't see a shape for blue on the bags that will look good.

Maybe reverse the blue and black on the bags? The border needs to echo the tank though, instead of following the door's profile.

[posplayr]

I'll add another vote saying it's probably best as-is. Pos is on the right track adding less blue, but it still doesn't sit right with me. I just don't see a shape for blue on the bags that will look good.

Maybe reverse the blue and black on the bags? The border needs to echo the tank though, instead of following the door's profile.

I think in this case as in others "less is more"

[Guest]

I say go for it the way you are originally thinking, but I would go to a vinyl shop and get a wrap. They can match just about any color and if you decide you don't like it, off it comes.

[Steve]

I think an extra touch of blue would be good, I like Posplayr's first picture.

Rick's idea of doing it in vinyl is good, too.

.

[habsdoc]

I like just the black, because it just makes the bags blend in better and almost disappear.

[waltergs1000]

hard bags are very comfortable but also a little not nice, I say let it all black and maybe move a little more forward to compact the whole, I have done so. Maybe I paint too black chrome logo. I also added fork gaiters to balance blind eye with the back, I like result

20151025_093549.jpg

[DimitriT]

It's all up to what you want. But if it was my bike I'd ride it like it is.

[dpep]

I think the paint on the bags looks good. It blends them in with the rest of the bike. Since it is your daily ride, why not make it something you think is spiffy regardless of what others think? I suppose if it were unanimous to forgo the paint that might give you pause; but as you can see opinions vary. And yours is the only one that really matters.

I tend to agree with Posplayr's suggestion to reduce the area of coverage. I personally would not want the bag to show more paint than than the tank in the side view. And the vinyl suggestion is a good one also if you aren't fully certain it is the way you want to go or if there is the possibility you may want to later sell the saddlebags or move them to another bike.

As to whether it is worth it, only you can answer that question. Since you don't plant to sell it, how it might affect sale price (very little) is not relevant. Does the increased satisfaction you will draw from your bike merit whatever costs are involved in the addition? That is pretty much the question we all have to ask any time we consider improvements to these old bikes.
...

[mikerophone]

+1 on leaving as is, but also agree that if you do go blue, less is more, like pos's first mockup. Even though you can paint and stripe for cheap, vinyl should still be cheaper although not as durable if the paint work is prepped properly.