Cycolinks · Personalised clothing
Use a sharp, well-lit photograph that shows the entire motorbike. A side-on picture makes the shape of the wheels, tank and tail easiest to read. A gentle three-quarter angle also works when the bike is clear in the frame. On the personalised motorbike T-shirt page, choose the shirt colour and size, then upload one JPG or PNG up to 10 MB.
Start with the angle that shows what makes it their bike
A side-on shot is the easiest starting point for a custom motorbike silhouette T-shirt. Walk a few steps back and hold the phone roughly level with the bike, near the height of the tank. Leave space around both tyres, the handlebars, the mirrors and the tail. The outline reads more clearly when the two wheels are visible and the camera is level.
Choose a three-quarter view when a feature you love reads better from there, such as a distinctive fairing or headlight. Move only far enough around the bike to show that detail. From directly in front, the front wheel can hide the rear wheel and the bodywork can obscure the frame. A steep angle from above can make the tank dominate and the wheels look very small.
If you have a choice of sides, look at both before picking. A distinctive exhaust, fairing shape or exposed engine might make one side recognisable at a glance. If the handlebars are turned sharply and hide a detail you care about, use another photo with a clearer view.
Give the outline some breathing room
Daylight in open shade is a good place to start. It helps you see the edges of a dark motorbike and avoids the glare that can wash out chrome or light paint. The important thing is the separation between the bike and whatever is behind it. A pale wall can help with a dark bike. A darker, quiet backdrop can work for a white or silver bike.
Check the gaps around the wheels, forks and bars before you upload. A second bike parked directly behind yours can merge with the outline. A person standing beside the handlebar can obscure the mirror. In a favourite ride photo, a tyre cut off by the bottom of the frame is a good reason to look for another shot from the same day.
Open the photo on your phone and zoom in on the wheel spokes, bars and tail. If those edges turn into a blur, choose the original image from your camera roll or ask for the full-size file. Screenshots and pictures forwarded through messaging apps can lose the detail that was visible in the original.
Choose the source photo, then check the shirt size
Pick the photo that shows the version of the motorbike you want on the shirt. A touring bike with panniers has a different outline to the same bike stripped down for a weekend ride. If the luggage, screen or tail tidy is part of the look you love, pick a photo where it is visible. The finished design is a simplified illustration drawn from the uploaded image, so the silhouette and distinctive shapes matter most.
For a gift, try to get a photo of the recipient’s actual motorbike. Ask someone who rides with them for an original shot, or look through your own photographs from a ride together. A generic image of the same model can miss the modifications that make their bike immediately familiar to them.
On the product page, pick the shirt colour and size first. Compare the size chart with a T-shirt that already fits the person if you can. Then upload one JPG or PNG up to 10 MB and check that you selected the right file before adding it to your basket. Cycolinks adapts the artwork to contrast with the chosen fabric, so the colour of the print in an example may differ from the version you order.
Run a quick check before ordering
- Can you see both wheels and the ends of the bike?
- Are the edges clear when you zoom in?
- Does the picture show the side or angle you want on the shirt?
- Did you select the right shirt colour, size and image file?
A phone camera is enough if the photograph passes those checks. If your favourite shot is dark and you have another with a cleaner outline, use the clearer image. Keep the original file so you can find it again if you need to refer to the order.
Ordering for a particular occasion? Check current shipping and made-to-order delivery information for the destination before you buy. For other photo and name-based gift ideas, see Personalised Rider Gifts and Motorbike Gifts for Riders. If you’re shopping for someone who wears their love of motorbikes away from the road, the motorcycle gifts for women guide has more ideas.
