Gallery: 25 Crazy Custom Motorcycle Paint Jobs

Motorcycle: Yamaha Custom
Artist
Complex Says: We're honestly surprised Cerberus designs aren't more popular on bikes. The mythical three-headed dog that guards the underworld seems like the perfect choice to customize your ride. Still, it requires a skilled hand to make it look good, which it does here.

Motorcycle: Custom
Artist
Complex Says: Yes, they're flames...but they're tasteful, and we'll be damned if that candy tangerine doesn't pop right out of the photo. We're also sure it's got to be even more amazing in person.

Motorcycle: Custom Chopper
Artist
Complex Says: Satin silver with minimalist pinstriping. The paint plays off the builder's design, and the design heightens the effect of the paint. It's perfect harmony.

Motorcycle: Suzuki GSXR 1000
Artist
Complex Says: King Kong is an awe-inspiring subject, and this airbrush rendering looks like charcoal on the Gixxer's sides. Nothin' but skills.

Motorcycle: Suzuki Hayabusa
Artist
Complex Says: What we appreciate about this flame job is that it has that subtle, flickering quality that you see if you stare directly into the center of a fire. That blue-purple swirl also reminds us of smoke.

Motorcycle: Suzuki GSXR 1000
Artist
Complex Says: Again with the matte black. We know. But there's something about it that makes us think Batman. And Batman plus a sick paint job is one equation we can't argue with. The acid green accents on the rims plus vents help, too.

Motorcycle: Custom Redneck Engineering Bagger
Artist
Complex Says: This bike calls to mind the swooping lines of classic '30s automobiles. A lot of that's the build, true. But the paint job brings it to life. A modern classic.

Motorcycle: Suzuki Bandit 650
Artist
Complex Says: The problem with most reaper-themed bikes is that they're not stealthy enough. We don't know about you, but we think that being a reaper's not that different from being a ninja. Where's the intimidation if it's too obvious? That's why we like this Bandit airbrush job so much. You're riding along, all lalalalala, then suddenly OHSHITREAPER!

Motorcycle: Suzuki GSXR 1000
Artist
Complex Says: How serious is this? So serious they painted the windscreen, too. Those blue LED headlights must look ridiculous at night.

Motorcycle: Triumph Rocket III Custom
Artist
Complex Says: The Rocket III is a mad enough bike on its own. In the hands of Dusold Designs, that insanity reaches a whole other level.

Motorcycle: Kawasaki 900
Artist
Complex Says: We're not sure whether it's the Swarovski crystal bling or the martinis in these gargoyles' hands, but the deftly rendered green marblization on this bike really speaks to us.

Motorcycle: Yamaha FJR 1300
Artist
Complex Says: The sheer intricacy of this design tells us all we need to know about why it has won awards. Yet another one where we wish we could somehow show it to you from multiple angles. We're confident you could stare at this bike for hours and keep finding new things.

Motorcycle: Custom Trike
Artist
Complex Says: You think since you're not a kid, you're too old for a trike? Think again. The owner of this trike went into Hairy Designs with a load of photos of carnivorous plants, and this is what he got. Who'd wanna kill this weed?

Motorcycle: Kawasaki ZX10R
Artist
Complex Says: With so many shades of red to choose from, how do you know when you've found the right one? When it looks like this, especially with the chrome accents. The nicely placed and airbrushed skull art finishes this Kaw nicely.

Motorcycle: Custom Chopper
Artist
Complex Says: Any bike can have a snake, gator, or other snarling reptilian beast painted on it. The Predasaurus actually IS the beast, and it looks like it could eat us alive. We like that in a custom chopper.

Motorcycle: Suzuki Hayabusa
Artist
Complex Says: Many try to do awesome Predator-themed artwork. Few are this good. Oh, and it's for sale on Craigslist right now for a cool $23,000 if you want it.

Motorcycle: Suzuki Hayabusa
Artist
Complex Says: We wish we could show you all the panels on this bike, because they all have something cool to offer. Instead, we'll stick with this panel. But we'll also tell you that this shop did a fantastic Foxy Brown Gixxer and the best Incredible Hulk art we've seen. It's all in the store's gallery, in case you're considering a cool mural for your ride.

Motorcycle: Yamaha R1
Artist
Complex Says: Valentino Rossi has a lot of custom helmets. Seriously, if you ever look at AGV's helmet catalog, more than half of it is comprised of Rossi replica lids. This R1 owner wanted his R1 painted to look like his favorite Rossi replica helmet, and Cryptic Graphics did a fantastic job.

Motorcycle: Custom Chopper
Artist
Complex Says: We've seen lots of spider-themed bikes, and a few Spiderman-themed bikes as well. This chopper did the best job of looking like your favorite toy as a kid, but big enough so that you can ride it as an adult.

Motorcycle: Bourgets King Cobra
Artist
Complex Says: This one was a hard choice. No, not this bike--choosing only one Sinthium bike to put on this list. All the flames, skulls, and pinstripes begin to blend together after awhile. Sinthium's design ethic really sets it apart from the rest of the custom motorcycle paint crowd.

Motorcycle: Custom Chopper
Artist
Complex Says: Sometimes simpler really is better. Matte black can look amazing on bikes--especially when it's offset by something amazing, like a copper frame.

Motorcycle: Ducati Paul Smart Classic
Artist
Complex Says: We know opinion will be seriously divided on this one, but we can't resist. When Ducati released the Paul Smart Classic a couple years back, the original paint scheme was instant love for many, and with good reason. Thing is, if you own one, there are still too many that look just like yours. This owner decided to take cues from the styling and go even more retro, with great results. Buon idea.

Motorcycle: Yamaha XS650
Artist
Complex Says: Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is show restraint and match an old-school factory-spec paint job. Got a retro job you want to look brand new? Paintworkz knows how to travel back in time--without a DeLorean.

Motorcycle: Custom
Artist
Complex Says: You may have noticed that all the photos up until this point have been of complete bikes. This paint job was so cool, it made us break our self-imposed rule about only posting photos of complete bikes. If you think this tank is hot, you should check out the rest of the close-ups of the other bits of this bike at the Road Rage gallery. Ed, the artist at Road Rage, claims the late, great Frank Frazetta as his main influence. It shows--in the best way possible.

Motorcycle: Suzuki Hayabusa
Artist
Complex Says: Some say that riding your bike is the closest you can get to flying. With a Busa like this, we have to agree.