I bought my 2007 V-Star 1100 in March 2007.. my first bike. Because I was puchasing it brand new, my color options were Cerulean Silver or Black Cherry. I didn't hate either color, but I didn't love them either. My decision was made easier though, because on the day I went to actually buy the bike, the Black Cherry was the only color they had in stock. SOLD!!

Over the course of the next year, my bike and I got to know each other and we had a great time exploring the back roads of Washington. We went over Chinook Pass a few times, we went to Mt. St. Helens, we even went up to Anacortes for the Oyster Run.

I'd been making changes here and there... handlebar risers, floor board extensions, new exhaust, running lights, highway pegs... and while I was completely in love with my bike, I just thought the paint didn't fit. It looked.. well, boring.

So, I got on the internet and starting looking at custom paint jobs. Over the course of a few weeks, I took an idea here, an idea there.. until I had a pretty good concept of what I wanted. Now.. who's gonna make it happen for me? I found lots of places online that could paint my bike for me, but I wasn't thrilled at the idea of shipping bits and pieces of my baby across the country and trusting it's fate to some faceless person.

I was on the Spring Opener website, and an ad caught my eye... "Malone's Motorcycle Painting".. with a LOCAL phone number! I emailed him, and within a day we were sending ideas back and forth, talking on the phone about specifics, and getting the concept sorted out.

The end result is actually a bit different than what we'd started out with, it morphed and changed as we went along.. and there were a few bumps along the way, as you'll see... but Malone was very patient with me, and more helpful and creative than I'd anticipated. There were some challenging aspects for him, as well... he'd never worked with lace before, or used the technique that created the look we were going for.. but I think you'll agree he's done a magnificent job.

A note for those who come after me:

If you're thinking of having your bike painted, I really encourage you to find a LOCAL painter who is willing to work with you to get the job done right. Is the painter going to really listen to you and are they going to bring your vision to life, or are they going to tell you what they're going to do? Is he/she willing to make changes as the project moves forward, or is it a case of "We're doing it this way and once I start there will be no modifications."? If you're unsure of exactly what you want, will he/she be able to use their own creativity to offer suggestions?

Some things to ask a potential painter:

• Ask for photos of jobs they've done.
• Ask for references.
• Ask if they're willing to photograph each step and consult with you before proceeding.
• Ask if you can drop by and check out the progress periodically.

Malone has done all of the above for me, and it really made the whole process better for my state of mind. Painting your bike is a very personal thing.. it reflects who you are and what you like. Whether it's flames and skulls or daisies and hearts, it IS a big deal when it's your own.

Click on each photo to view it larger, and you'll find a link to Malone's website at the bottom of this page.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to !