need site logo ideas

I like them both but I'm more inclined to purchase the motor one. It is just neat. Of course the tuning forks is easier but why go that route? That's why we love our bikes.

 

I sure appreciate everyone's enthusiasm over the logos I created! If you all decide that one or the other version is what you'd like to use, I'd be more than happy to tweak one to specs for the website...in fact, I'd be honored.

SnoSheriff, feel free to use either image as you wish.

I also have a new website in development dedicated exclusively to the XJ650RJ. It will detail my experience with the model, both back in the day and as I currently ride, repair and restore my latest Seca. There will be no forum or board, as my site will merely orbit this one, not compete with it. Hope to have it up soon.

Again, thanks for the compliments.

Regards,
Furyus

 

Here is something I have been working on. I grabbed a couple of images off the net for this, but can perhaps find better ones if need be.



OR this



If either of these is close to what you want, let me know and maybe I can tweak it some.

 

better , better, but

you should get rid of that

white car in the back!

 

How's this? Better?

 

------------ Original Message <2006/05/02 23:13:23> ------------
> >1:
> >2:
> >3:Other Inquiries
> >5:WeAre
> >6:Zilla
> >7:North America
> >8:United States of America
> >9:
> >10:xj700xnATgmail.com
> >11:
> >4:
> >Policy Question:
> >Curious what Yamaha's normal policy is, on the use of the tuning fork
logo. We would like to incorporate the tuning fork logo into our website
art/logo.
> >Thank you for your assistance.
================================================
Dear WeAreZilla,
Thank you for your inquiry of 2006/05/02.

Regarding the tuning fork logo, it is a symbolic graphic element of Yamaha brand and also very precious property for us. Accordingly we regret to say it is not allowed to use by third party.

Your kind understanding would be highly appreciated.

Yours faithfully,
Webmaster
Yamaha Corporation (Head quarters in Japan)

The return address of this mail is a dummy one.
For further inquiry, please return to the "Customer Support" on the
website.

The URL : http://www.global.yamaha.com/support.html
==================================================

Well, it never hurts to ask, but it is what I expected.

I have a feeling their logo is being used a LOT more then they'd like. I also think the use of their logo on a site such as ours, would bring absolutely no repercussions from Yamaha. The main concern for a company like Yamaha, is that you don't use their symbols to sell a service or product that is not theirs. Of course "officially" they have to say no.

My 2 cents.
Z (not a lawyer)

 

What about taking the large XJBIKES Dean did and instead of the reflective texture insert the silhouetes. You could probably get the Maxim, Seca, X and Turbo in there.

 

I also believe that the reply you received was a reflection of the request you sent. Wording is everything. Looking over your request, I noted you didn't mention what the site was about and how many people use it. These topics may well be the catalyst to bring about the desired outcome. Remember, it's all about the bottom line and the more customer base you can offer, the better your odds.

 

Another try, with no tuning forks.

Regards,
Furyus

 

ok slammojo u r getting there!
can u do the bikes un silhouetes?
or just 2 colors like black and white
ir some other nice printable color!

How's this? Better? yes

 

Yes, Robert, that was a very careful consideration when I put in my query. I chose brevity, anonymity, and generalities. I merely asked what their "normal" policy is.

If it came down to "officially" asking, the whole game would change. I'm very familiar with the tact and politics of making such a request.

Z

PS: I didn't think to ask if "XJ" was registered too.
PPS: I would never "officially" ask without asking first. ;-)

 

I like this one too. Nicely done.

 

One of the problems is that xjbikes.com is long and narrow...

I wonder if we could arc it a bit... or put XJ in large letters and banner bikes.com below it... unfortunately it would could be misinterpretted.

I'm quietly thinking as well.

Another possibility - a line outline of the front wheel (inward spiraling spokes) with xjbikes.com simply wrapped around the top half making up the tread portion... or even done like the dunlop white lettering on the sidewall.

 

A really quick sketch of the previous idea I had... trying to capture the swirling wheel the full url and keep it simple enough it could be etched on metal or stamped on a shirt.

Of course I'd replace the swirl with a photoshopped front wheel stylized to black and white and smoothed... and the lettering would be redone to a more sidewall appropriate font.

 

Think they'd mind if we used exactly the same logo, but replace the tuning forks with wishbones?! 8O

Sure, that just goes to show my creative genius. :roll: I'll be sitting on the sidelines again, rooting for my favorite.

Z

 

Zilla, I can see I'm rather short sighted. Regarding your earlier post concerning correspondence with Yamaha, I had assumed (yes, I know what that means and I earned those stripes) that your question was your first endevor at communicating with the company (or any company for that matter). Your subtle approach fooled me. I apologize, I did not mean any disrespect. I, however do not understand the logic behind being vauge initial contact, what is the strategy? I'm confused, I would have been very direct. Please help educate me.

 

My primary concern was NOT representing myself as the owner or administrator of this site. I did not ask permission to inquire at Yamaha, and from that point the only way to go was vague and incognito.

Secondarily, I sometimes have the nasty habit of approaching tasks from what appear to be reverse angles. If I, with permission, were to earnestly ask for rights to use the Yamaha image as part of this web site's logo, I would not have gone that route. And especially not now, since I know it will only get me the webmaster, who is in the habit of giving canned statements that any monkey would be able to guess. Also, I have a tendency to come across as naive, which I think sometimes gets better results. Honey, instead of vinegar.

Personally, I think it is worth pursuing. This site represents this particular brand, and these particular models in a very positive light. The site is purely about volunteerism and support, where it is desperately needed, on an older, classic Yamaha product. What harm would befall Yamaha in using their icon?

No offense taken. I know we are all here to ask, help, and give, the best way we know how.
Z

 

Well said comrade, I see the light. Grandad used to say you get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar, nice to see this timeless wisdom is shared by fellow members. Zilla, you are truely well versed and clever, I'm glad to have you here spreading the wealth. I have much to learn (I just pray the brain cells don't loose cohesion sooner rather than later, I want to enjoy the knowledge a while). I agree this icon is well worth the effort, it could reap benefits for them (not to mention us!). Peace to all.

 

More work done...dig it?

Regards,
Furyus

 

Nice! They both have excellent qualities, I'd be hard pressed to choose.

 

I...can't...stop...must...sleep...

 

Looks like we have another graphics guru in our midst. I like the first one of the last two. Simple but effective.


IMO, some of the previous ones using the tuning forks, while being very good, don't seem to me to reflect the true XJ status. To my knowledge (and feel free to hassle me if I am wrong) the tuning fork logo never appeared on an XJ bike in any form other than an internal stamp on some moulded parts and of course on the box that all the parts came in.

My choice of a common denominator with most XJ's wouldbe the tank badge. Would be hard to incorporate into logo's stickers etc though.

 

hmm u calling my bike old??

 

How about 3D?

 

you get what you wanted... let me know what you think.

 

Again you produce great work, I'm jealous. Wish I could imagine such things. Would you be able to whip up something with a decidedly XJ appearance? The previous examples included the swoop exhaust, swirl front rim, and the motor profile. Would you be able to whittle something out of those? I believe, and this is just me talking, that the desire for the logo is to have something that is readily identifiable as an XJ component (I'm still just wondering how to make the oil pump into something but there is no doubt someone here will surprise me).

 

I took a quick stab at it.




Also, here is a larger one in the png format...

http://www.derma-life.com/temp/xj.png
Just click to see it.

Hope ya'll like it!

 

Incase the yamaha logo is not wanted, although it is obscured, I have made a logo without it.


I think it would make a cool sticker too.

 

Kinda funny in a humorous way. I like the subtle smile!

 

Thats what I intended, thanks Robert.

 

I like a couple of things about this one. It's got the tuning forks which I like. I also like the shape of the XJ, looks almost oriental.

I wonder if woot could do some sort of treatment to this idea to get the same type of image he made here:



That would make for a lot cheaper production of most of the merchandise.

 

I'd like to have someone who does graphic art knock-off some rectangular, tuning-fork shadowed, samples with the whole site lettered across the front in stark contrast to the background ... with XJBikes ... two colored in the custom font (like the home page) and the "dot-com" in a vivid, type font familiar to everyone. White; perhaps.

 

I used photoshop to do it - it's just a bit of playing with colours to get what you want and then using the 'stamp' tool... it's handy for making t-shirts because you can reduce it to just one colour...

I can do more at mostly any time, but I'm not sure it's the right road... I'll try anything once... or twice

 

Just a thought,how about an engine graphic or a line drawing of the engine set in the middle of somthing like Roberts avitar, I say the engine because its the one thing that looks the same across thel XJ range be it Seca or Maxim. Pictures of the engine could be taken off the xjcd and put on anything, what do you think?

 

With all the beautifull work that's been submitted, I'm almost embarrased to present the following graphics. They're very simple, mostly to adhere to Sno's guidelines:

The colors are arbitrary, but the ".com" is intended as the typical blue link color.

Z

 

Another set with tuning forks. (No-no, I know.)

Z

 

Yet another set with a bike shadow background borrowed from xj650maxim82. Thanks.

Z

 

Sweet! I like Zilla's print. Very well done.

Rob

 

Here's something I just slung together, I know I'm coming in here LATE as all can be, but:
http://xjbikes.com/coppermine/displayim ... pos=0.html

Photo description: "Quick image search on google of a seca and maxim frankensteined together with MS paint. With better software and source photos it could be more 50/50 without one bike predominating."

 

Dr. Dolittle would like a word with you.

 

HA! I remember that thing from the original movie. Now that you have said it, I can't unsee it. Luckily I've come up with some word art that I think isn't terribly shabby as far as a rough idea. Then again it looks like this subject has been moot for ages so I'm probably just entertaining myself at this point!

 

A few months ago I made reference to my working on a side project. I kinda got away from it, but I'm back to it now and I want to get some input on it. And in the process, I'm resurrecting this ancient thread!

So, regardless of if SnoSheriff ever sees this, let alone adopts it, I'd like to make an updated logo/badge for us XJ guys. I have access to some laser etching machines, and I'd like to make up metal badges that we can add to our machines to show our XJBikes.com community pride. The part I'm hoping SnoSheriff will see and like is that I want to charge for these badges and have part of the proceeds go to pay for our site hosting. I suppose even without him knowing, I could just take the income and donate it to his paypal account. Anyway, on to the logo.

It took me a while, but I realized what we all had in common visually was the basic look and shape of our engines. So I stylized it and reduced it down to some basic lines. I want to use that as the centerpiece to a badge-like layout.



What I want is some input on what kinds of embellishments and/or emphasis this needs: should there be a banner, what words go on it, do we like or hate the "Est. 2005" part, does it need more text to balance it... you get the idea. I'm ready to listen to all suggestions, though I probably won't use all of them. This is just me testing to see which way the wind is blowing. Have at it, and thanks!

 

I like the first logo (XJ Bikes ribbon above the engine). Not sure how detailed it can be, but what about adding the YICS lettering on the crank cover? I realize not all XJ's are YICS equipped, only the good ones...

 

BaldWonder, nicely done! I like the top one. Maybe the "Build - Repair - Share" could curve around the bottom. Nice summary of the community spirit here.

 

I had considered it, but kept it out because like you mentioned not all bikes had it. Also, when shrinking logos, details like that just turn into a muddy mess of pixels (or ink). The only way it wouldn't be muddied would be if you made it more pronounced. I'd prefer to avoid that, since YICS isn't a central messaging point regarding the community here. And just to be on the safe side, it helps avoid copyright issues on wording that's probably trademarked.