i appreciate all the replies. i think i am going with the scout's suggestion. i'll hit up the auto paint guys and have a look through the color cards in direct sunlight. i've been there before when i had another bike painted. even though in my experience those color swatches can be slightly off from the actual paint color - it remains the closest approximation possible. and... it is still better than car hunting i think every manufacturer has a color that comes close. just today on my way to work i saw a few opels that are close.