The Trouble Chronicles - Defining the Vision
Meet Trouble
Trouble is a 2003 Honda Shadow VT750DC. Purchased as a starter bike for myself, she earned her name for the issues she caused after I acquired her. We knew she had issues, as she continuously died while test riding her during purchase, resulting in us having to call back-up to trailer her home instead of riding her home as originally planned. What we didn't realize was that her attitude was more permanent than a short quirk.
With some testing, we came to the conclusion that the carburetor was not working properly. We replaced the gaskets, installed the proper jets, and got a better air filter. After that, most of her attitude revolved around the fuel tank vent line, causing her to wet herself after a decent ride and fuel refill, and the realization that her fuel was being constricted due to the fuel pump not working properly. Emphasizing more how fitting the name Trouble is for her.
Despite her attitude, I very much enjoy the bike. While it was intended to merely be a starter for myself, one to practice and refine my basic skills on, then simply sell, the idea of permanently keeping her solidified more and more as I rode. She is my original comfort and, whether or not I upgrade to a more powerful bike, I like the thought of having a bike to fall back on. With that idea came the desire to give her a "facelift".
Honestly, I am unsure where the thought to go steampunk came from. I have enjoyed the aesthetic for as long as I can remember. The blend of brass, copper, and gold is beautiful with various textures. And the ability to recycle pieces and parts in ways they weren't originally intended opens a vast horizon of customization. With steampunk being the chosen vision, now the question was: what style?
Weathered
While the design looks dirtier than anything, it still has an appeal. You just have to use your imagination a little more! The Verdigris Copper creates a beautiful patina among brass, bronze, and copper. You can also reuse the Rust Iron color as a way to detail the various areas, making it look worn and scuffed from age.
The idea of the Weathered Steampunk comes generally from the '54 Bel Air in our garage, but a little more extreme, like the one pictured below. The wear in the paint gives it a story as though it has survived the most difficult times. And that resonates with me as someone who has had a traumatic past. Plus, the little pop of blue is exceptionally nice as it is one of my favorite colors!
Our 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air.
An aged 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air.
Standard
The look of the Standard Steampunk is clean, with subtle wear as though the metal had been freshly hammered. The bright brass detailing is absolutely gorgeous and complements the burnished, aged details very well. The colors create a beautiful contrast with the bright accents, warm tones, and black details.
I also like how this design will blend well with dark brown leather. So I will not have to look directly for black leather items like the seat or possible bags. That allows me to have a wide variety of options rather than a small variety or only custom options, as the aftermarket options for Honda are already slim.
Luxury
The Luxury design is clean and elegant, with a matte-black base and glossy-gold pinstriping. With the bright, shiny accents of brass, bronze, and copper, it definitely gives a luxurious aesthetic to the motorcycle. Making it feel expensive. It gives a level of femininity to something that is generally classified as aggressive and masculine.
Though an argument can be made that the Luxury design doesn't scream Steampunk, it is still a beautiful combination of the prominent colors used within Steampunk design. My only quarrel would be that instead of Espresso Leather for the seat and possible bags, I would use black leather to tie into the base.
The Final Choice
When going through the designs, it came down to two: the Standard and the Luxury. Both appealed to me greatly, which made it difficult to choose. Ultimately, I decided to move forward with the standard steampunk design as I wanted something with more color and the ability to look a little worn (but not as heavily as the Weathered). Especially considering my husband has a matte black '06 H-D Night Train and I have a matte black '06 H-D Dyna Street Bob as well. So, having something that stands out against what we already have is the goal.
My husband's 2006 Harley-Davidson Night Train.
My 2006 Harley-Davidson Dyna Street Bob.
Now that the design is set, the hard part begins. Given how I tend to harshly compare things while shopping to ensure I am purchasing the best product at the best price, I won't be surprised that when shopping for parts and paints, it won't be any different. But, at the same time, how big is the market for parts for my bike in the colors I want? Surely there is not much out there for Brass, Copper, and Gold parts!
What style would you have picked? Would you have also chosen the Standard or gone with the Weathered or Luxury instead? Take the poll below to let me know! The Trouble Chronicles will continue!
Which style would you have picked?
Weathered Steampunk
Standard Steampunk
Luxury Steampunk
