Real Smoke – Project One ICON premium bike paint scheme

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire

Mind if we set your bike on fire? Project One ICON Real Smoke is a hazy, hand-crafted paint scheme that uses actual fire to trap smoke within the paint layers for a one-of-a-kind design you won’t find anywhere else.  

Popularised in the 80s and 90s, smoke designs aren’t new to cycling, but there’s no doubt that Trek Project One artists have perfected this unique look with flowy plumes of smoke that spread across the frame for a more organic aesthetic. Currently two Real Smoke paint schemes are available – Campfire and Heather Fog. 

While Campfire entices with all the toasty vibes of hanging with friends and roasting mallows, Heather Fog is inspired by those early morning rides with ellusive low-hanging fog and the subtle glow of the rising sun.

Available on all Trek premium road bike platforms.

The process

Requiring an open flame to perfect that sultry, smoky design, the Project One team had to get creative when it came to finding a safe place in the paint shop to implement the Real Smoke process.  

The solution? Build a “dedicated smoking room” in the Project One factory. 

The new space keeps the fire and smoke away from other paints and materials and gives Project One designers a designated area to practise and master the art of carefully rotating each bike’s frame over open flames to get that smooth, smoky look. Replicated, but never exactly duplicated, this intricate process always renders a one-of-a-kind design that makes every Real Smoke bike different from the next.  

All ICON Series paint schemes