I just repainted my bike satin green, however I left the headlight shell black thinking it would look good matching the frame. Everyone that sees the bike though thinks it looks a bit silly.

So I shall put the question up to you.

Should I leave the headlight shell black, or should it be painted to match other componants?

I'd leave it alone. With the black on the upper forks, it flows to the headlight and down to the frame. Looks sharp.

Now you need to go get it dirty!

Yeah if you are not going to paint the upper shock tubes leave it black.

I vote for the black headlight as well. It gives balance to the overall appearance.

I like that color green, what brand and what shade is it ?

thanks for the replies, I was thinking keep it black aswell.

In regards to the paint, it is krylon outdoor spaces satin moss #2902 from Sears.

Paint color combos are always a personal choice. Belive me, if you changed it, you would then find buddies who didn't like that change either. Are you wanting to please them or please yourself? The back contrasts just right and looks like a better combo than the green would, in my opinion. However, my opinion isn't squat. Make up your own and go by it. Forget the razz from buddies, as they know not what they preach. Enjoy what you have done and ride.
Nice job. Looks cool.

Hey... I've never seen the bench seat with the teardrop tank... looks quite ok....

Hmmm....




Dub

Leave it like it is.

Looks like a million, I love it.
Andy

That's the way mine was painted when I got it. I personally like the way it looks, so I vote to leave it. Although, as others have said, yours it the only opinion that should matter.

I like the black striping, by the way.

Micheal

I´ll have to say that´s a kick-arse paint job and the black head light looks great.

I think the teardrop tank and bench seat looks kick-arse too.

A kick-arse bike is my conclusion...

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I took it out on the road today for the first time since the paint/engine/exhaust work and it feels like a brand new bike. I can't emphesize my satisfaction with the fishtail mufflers from Ural Zentral any more, the mufflers and custom downpipes are first class and sound amazing. Before the fishtails I had the old baseball bat style mufflers which made the dnepr sound like a sewing machine, but now it sounds like its got some muscle, but not obnoxiously loud.

Christian,
Great looking bike.. Just the right color too...
Looks "factory". I gotta ask- was it painted with spray cans or a gun? It looks perfect! If it was cans, you can't tell- again looks like it was done in Kiev....

Take a bow Sir!

SB#3

Hey Christian, the bike looks superb! Whenever you have a chance, take some better photos of the bike in the sunlight. That should really show the color on it.
I am actually working on an MT16 myself. It's totally in parts now and while Ken is working on the final drive (it only looked good from the outside) I am working on sanding and repainting. Krylon is what i am going after as well. Found a few distrubitors that sell it for quite a great price.
Love your color, leave the light black. I think it perfectly follows the tubes and frame. I am leaving my frame black as well. Hope to see that bike in person! By the way, i remember that you had issues with that motor. How did that go? Give the rest of the story! .... unless i missed a post or two :)

LIKEY!!

What did you go thru to paint it? Totally stripped down to bare metal? Any filling? Can or gun?

everything was sandblasted, frame powdercoated everything green was just primed then shot with a spray paint straight from the can.

Very elegant. The bench seat and teardrop tank do work well together. Who´d have thought that? And how come thet went away from the teardrop tank to the ugly creations that they have now?

Christen, Looks great, so I started looking for the 2902 Krylon, drove to sears (40 miles), Wausau Sears don't sell paint no more, OK, spent about 3 hours on ebay, Google, and other weird sites who have people working for the phone company I'am sure, finally called Krylon Company, and they told me there was only two places in Wisc where they had shipped any, and one place was a Ace Hdwe distributor in La Crosse, 160 miles away. Called them and bingo, They have 5 cases, Called the local Ace Hdwe, and they have a case coming for me at about 30.00 for six cans, The ace Hdwe pn is 1261031 if you want some from a local dealer....Kermi will be proud of all the green machines I'am sure ....Ken

That ain't a proper '42 Studebaker-lend-lease-russian-army-truck green, but it will do in a pinch if'n that's all ya gots....

Nice paint job in any case.

Froggy is gonna get painted this next year one way or the other. I have acctually been considering doing a brush job on him rather than using my HVLP gun. Saves paint, can be done in small sections AND it woul have that authentic field look. I dunno, maybe....

;-)
kermitski

Oh Ken, should have sent me a pm, I would have gladly sent you a case gratis and saved you alot of trouble.

SB, I understand your feelings on the DNEPR toaster tank. The first thing I did after I took delivery of my dnepr was give away the tank in favor of the teardrop. And the fact that the bench seat works with the teardrop just goes to show you how timeless its design is.

I like it!!!

Having one bike with the teardrop tank already, i started to really care for the ugly duckling toaster tank. I don't know, there is something special about it. I can't call and MT motorcycle beautiful, but it's very purpousfull and that tank adds to it. But the bike does look good with the teardrop as well. Goes to show how diverse these bikes are - not just in its usefulness but in looks as well.
Christian, did you do powdercoating yourself or had it done at a shop?

I had the powdercoating done at a shop, no way I could fit the frame in my kitchen oven.

Can that tank be easily mounted to an 05 Tourist and if so, where can I get one or more specifically, what is the proper name for this tank make/model/year?

thanks, Mac

I have no idea if it will fit a ural, however the tank is from a k-750. I am sure there are ways to modify either frame or tank to make it work.

I have a BMW Hoske tank, knowing full well that I can't out run a lot of bikes, with that I can out last them all....humprh ..... Kermi, If you paint Froggy next year, you may well create an aphrodeziac for frogs, they are sure to plug up the Illinois river....and that may be construed as a terriost act....Unless you hold a bar-b-que at an appropiate time, I shall make my self available, to help you out........Ken

I just picked up my first Ural last night and the tank is the one thing that really looks wrong on this thing. I have just started to look for a tear drop sytle tank like the Dnepr and CJ750 has so if anyone has done it, I would like to know how also.

Regards,
Greg
98 Tourist

Strip it down and re-paint it like that the new granny china edition.

CJ750 tank goes straight on.