Milford-Haven based D-Sign Studio turns its considerable talents to adding a little more character to an already characterful Harley Davidson motorcycle…

It may be urban myth, or it may be completely true, but it’s said that the value of the merch that’s sold around the living legend that’s Harley Davidson is considerably more than the retail value of the ‘bikes the company sell. If that’s true, it’s quite an arresting factoid because Harley sells a lot of motorcycles. 

As you’d expect of a company that’s achieved legendary status in its own lifetime, Harley Davidson owns some major-league intellectual property which, at one time, included the sound its bikes make, and, of course its logo. Being part of popular culture, Harley’s logo features in lots of art forms and it exists in great variety even within the company’s own branded portfolio. It’s an odd dynamic in branding terms. Something that’s obviously so valuable being worshipped in individual homage and, at the same time, abused beyond belief!

Some of that sentiment, or, more accurately, most of it, rubs off on the bikes and owners. Even before a Harley rolls off the showroom floor, steps are usually taken to distinguish it from the next identical model out of the factory door. All manner and means of embellishment in the shape of accessories then sit on the bike, much like jewellery. Then, and only then, it becomes your Harley, not just a Harley.

Some owners take it further still. Custom paint’s not unknown of course, and a few even make it to the the doors of Milford Haven based D-Sign Studio. Jonathan Dudley and the team there don’t bat an eyelid these days and why should they? They worked the D-Sign magic on everything from tug boats to excavators, drift cars to, well, Harley Davidsons.

On this occasion its was a Street Bob that came thumping up. Very much a member of the fists-in-the-wind breed of Harleys, this particular example was a vision so black it practically exerted its own gravity, with touches of smouldering orange defining that timeless logo. The owner wanted it a bit blacker still and suggested something to balance the tank graphics. 

JD and the crew at D-Sign reached for a roll of Metamark MM-CC Colour Change Vinyl in black and began their work by hiding a bit of the chrome still on view. The upper fork stanchions above the bike’s convoluted gaiters was covered, so too was a mudguard stay that was calling a bit too much attention to itself. Even a little condiment like that achieves a lot and it transformed the bike. 

Next, a skull device was designed and printed on Metamark MD5 and then applied to what would, in Harley history, have been the oil tank but now contains the battery. It sets up a really tasty diagonal balance with the logo on the tank and speaks out of the black with just enough authority to get the point across. It was always a pretty muscular and moody looking bike. Now it looks like it’s been on the protein shakes and hitting the gym. D-Sign Studio does this kind of thing and does it well.

Needless to say, the client’s happy and why wouldn’t he be? Summer’s coming and the bike’s based in a stunning part of the country way over there in West Wales. 

Sunnies on, and get your motor running.

We don’t normally do a PS on an article like this, but it’s worth mentioning that our IT & Telecom Support Guy, Dan who’s based in our Woking Marketing HQ wants one of these bikes so badly, it’s painful to watch.