Tattoo Idea
 

I'm slowly becoming addicted to tattoos, and I've been wanting a large back/shoulder piece for a long time now. However, I'm not going to get it until I'm certain, so in the mean time I'm thinking of a smaller one to quench my tattoo lust.

I loves me some motorcycles, and I've been riding them as long as I've been driving a car, so I thought a cool tattoo would be-

4
3
2
N
1

going down the side of my left ankle, about 3-4 inches tall. Anyone think this is as cool as I do? Anyone think it's a bad idea?

For those that dont know, that's the gear shifting pattern on most bikes, operated by the left foot.

Why not draw it in Magic Marker, and walk around with it like that for a couple of months, and see what the reaction is?

q - Shouldn't that be one down/four up?

lots better than FTW, at any rate

Clod said it.

-not only to see what the reaction is, but see if you think of different versions you prefer. Great ideas sometimes take time to develop.

I love good tats, but I was never keen on words or letters in any shape except in memorial. Your idea is unique.

It is only one down because you start in neutral. Your 4 up passes you through neutral from one to two. If you don't go back to neutral then it becomes just up and down.

neh...neutral feels like a half gear on the way up. Most bikes are 5 speeds. HLJ has it right.

My bike is 5 speeds.
1-up = from one to two.
2-up = from two to three.
3-up = from three to four.
4-up = from four to five.

agreed. the space between gives us the saying, "one down, four up." but the tat he's describing is a shift pattern.

5
4
3
2
N
1

is a more accurate depiction....

I would agree with that.

Yeah, that's exactly what I meant, though I did have to go out to the garage to confirm this pattern.

ok, now that we're agreed, I think it would be a cool tattoo. as long as you ride barefoot.

Well. I've seen worse motorcycle tattoo's. The suggestion about wearing it for awhile is a good idea. I stared at my drawing for my first tattoo for about 5 years before committing. No one has to like or "get" my tattoo's which is why they are rarely seen, and in (mostly) hidden places.
If you think it's cool and it means something to you, make sure you are going to like it for a long time, and the rest of the world be damned.

I've got: P R N D 2 3 on my knob.

don't flatter yourself. your knob isn't big enough to fit all that.

My first and most recent bikes have been four speeds, actually. Of course some bikes are 5 and 6 speeds, too. But I've been used to the four speed so that's what I'd get. The most important thing is that people understand the idea.

Merc - That's why I'm a bit shaky on the idea, is that I don't like letters or numbers either, but I think it's more of a picture than just numbers. Dunno, I'll think about it some mo'

You could always start with a three-speed, then add one gear whenever you feel you need a new tattoo.

I think PRNDL is more fun.

Anybody else remember Lisa Douglas pronouncing it "prinandle?"

I think you should do something more radical. Frame the bits in something.

Get "L - T - F - C" on your right fingers, and "E - S - U- K" on your left, between fingernails in mid knuckle....saves time and money.

Completely OT, but just off Old Street roundabout (East London) there's a fast food shop that sells Fried Chicken, Kebabs, Fish. The large sign just reads, "FCKF" which I always read as Fuck Off and it always cheers me up immensely.