1970
Harley-Davidson XR750
Colours used
in this example.
Racing orange and Deep orange set the main colour direction. Softer background tones keep the motorcycle in focus.
Suggested pencil shades, not exact factory paint matches. Test colours on your paper before building richer layers.
Keep the tank inset lighter than its orange border.
Keep both racing plates and the shield emblem free of added lettering.
Layer grey first then deepen the recesses with charcoal.
Leave narrow paper-white highlights beside blue-grey shadows.
Follow the curved track marks with light earth-colour strokes.
Look a little closer.
Explore the details from different angles.
1980 XR750 left side
1980 XR750: orange-red tank and tail, black seat and chassis with black-and-white tank graphics. Later alloy-engine comparison.
Photo: Mike Schinkel · Source · CC BY 2.01980 XR750 right side
Opposite view of the same 1980 racer, showing orange-red panels and alloy engine.
Photo: Mike Schinkel · Source · CC BY 2.01980 XR750 front
Front view of the same 1980 racer. The orange-red tank and dark cycle parts are visible.
Photo: Chuck Schultz · Source · CC BY-SA 2.0XR750 display
Orange-red XR750 with black-and-white tank graphics and white side number panel. Year and team specification unconfirmed.
Photo: Thesupermat · Source · CC BY-SA 3.0XR750 at Goodwood
Orange-red racing XR750 with white numbered panels at Goodwood. Year and team finish unconfirmed.
Photo: PSParrot · Source · CC BY 2.0Factory racing colours
The National Motorcycle Museum documents the first XR750’s orange and black bodywork. Individual race teams used their own numbers and liveries.
- Racing orangeTank and tail
- BlackContrasting bodywork and frame
Screen swatches are a colouring guide rather than exact paint matches.
In the photographs
The gallery consistently shows orange-red tanks and tails with black seats and chassis, plus white panels on some racers. The first three views are a 1980 alloy-engine XR750, ten years later than the book model. The remaining race bikes have unconfirmed years and team specifications. Their graphics and numbers are not a fixed 1970 factory template.
- Orange-red
- Black
- White number panels
Visual colour guide only. These are not additional factory paint options.
In the coloured example
The orange tail fits the XR750 racing colour theme. The cream tank inset and pale number plates are creative choices; the museum documents orange and black bodywork for the early XR750.
Make the details count.
Leave the number plates and shield emblem blank.
Use alternating light and dark strokes on the V-twin cooling fins.
Follow the oval track curves with soft sienna marks.
Follow your curiosity.
Model history and further reading.