2008 Ridgeback paint job?

[Kobi]

I recently bought a 08 Ridgeback. Seems to be a paint job that is not one I have seen before. One owner bike, was told it was a BD paint job. Is there way to identify the paint level on this? Thanks Guys.. Kurt

Added note: Under the front edge of the front fender and the under the rear edge of the rear fender is a sticker with BDR0012 G, and a QC
stamped next to it. My serial # is 0012. No signs of wet sanding or added clear to any panel. No dirt, fish eyes, nibs and the paint matches the frame dead on. 1150 miles when I got it. The stickers don't look like they ever got wet! Makes me think BD.

 

[pknowles]

That doesn't look big dog to me, of course I have been wrong before.

 

[pauldeepsea]

That doesn't look big dog to me, of course I have been wrong before.

Custom paint job ...

 

[Biker Babe]

I agree. Doesn't look factory.

 

[Brew]

Looks custom to me also:

 

[Billy the kid]

Looks like stock BD yellow and somebody has added the airbrushed faces on it.

 

[Kobi]

Could it have been done at Big Dog? Did they do any On-Off paint jobs? I've been all over this bike and can not see any signs of added clear on this thing. My first thought was it was added. Until I looked close and heard the original owner claimed it was from BD.

 

[Brew]

If BD would have painted that, there would be some kind of lines or flames or something more... Just saying, I've never seen a paint job from the factory with a theme like yours. Yours is defiantly custom, not factory...

 

[ChoppaNoob]

There used to be a pdf on the bdm site that had most of the paint schemes in it. I think it's come down now. Maybe someone downloaded it and can tell you for sure..

 

[FrankBDPS]

Last year at a gathering I met a guy from Dover,Ohio which is just south of where I live. He was on a K9 not sure what year. When he ordered his bike he sent A sketch his daughter had drawn for him out to the factory. Some one very talented out there painted that sketch onto his tank. He told me that was an option Big Dog offered at the time. I did not get any pics of the bike. He said he would own it until his last breath because it was so special to him. So yes there are some one off factory painted bikes around.

 

[Kobi]

I assume the painters at BD were allowed to be creative on a few bikes. Would seem like a waste of talent to paint the same designs all day. BD had some of the best looking paint jobs for a production bike builder. Seemed more like a Custom builder to me. I can't find any signs of added air brushing.

 

[airbrush-ed]

I think remember a particular artist that had a style similar to this. I was once asked to do the same "stretched face" theme. We did jobs all the time that weren't necessarily in the book. I would say it's factory.

 

[Kobi]

Thanks, Ed. Coming from you makes me feel is indeed Factory. I am sure there were a few of these One-Off Factory Custom Jobs. I would think there would be a lot of requests for custom jobs. I wonder how BD figured the added price for the custom painting?

 

[hootmandingo]

I remember that paint job. One of the female artist did it. the paint shop foreman let the little head think for a big head. An let it pass just cause she would wear skimpy clothes. I could tell you all the dirty secrets around that place. sometimes the quality of the bike came down to if it was Monday or Friday. Tuesday through Thursday you usually had a good bike. heaven help you if you got a Monday or Friday bike.

 

[bearman]

I like it. looks good.

 

[pknowles]

That doesn't look big dog to me, of course I have been wrong before.

And this just proved the point

 

[mzinna]

Don't care if it's Big Dog or not... I like it... Nice paint job.... good looking bike:2thumbs:

 

[Kobi]

Having members like Ed and now Hooter as part of our Forum is a great thing. The amount of information these guy have about Big Dog and their production methods is a real asset to the members. These guys really laid down some paint!!! Masterpieces in my opinion. Think about it, other than solid color bikes, every one was unique, no two identical. I wonder who painted the solid color bikes? I can't imagine BD having these guys painting those. :2thumbs:

 

[hootmandingo]

it was definitely a process. you had 6 guys in bodywork department, 4 base painters, 1 who just ran the paint room, 3 clear coat guys, 23 graphic artists. 3 prepping surfaces for graphics. 8 guys cut and polished, 3 pinstripers, 4 quality control guys, the paint department Foreman. in the paint department alone. and I watched it dwindle down to 7 guys. Then 2. Then........... with nothing I could do. but enjoy the time shared. living a true moment in history.

 

[Flashburn396]