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Why is so much bike branding super extra? (aka Logo explosions!)

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Why is so much bike branding super extra? (aka Logo explosions!)

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Old 03-17-19, 01:02 AM
  #1  
jade408
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Why is so much bike branding super extra? (aka Logo explosions!)

It feels like so many bikes and bike components have really really loud logos. What's the deal? What happened to subtle and undercover?

It seems like each component has to scream and shout the brand at you. Example or Example 2. This bike has 2 on the fork we can see. This one is hurting my eyes...or is it the eye doctor chart.

Yes, I understand people want to brand their stuff, but do we need 6 logos on every frame. Components labeled with the brand and special features. Fonts so huge you can see them from the satellite images.

When did all of this change? Did the new crop of bike branding and marketing people want to relive the logo-ridden 90s?
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Old 03-17-19, 03:50 AM
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Make sure you stay away from team edition bikes! kinda a where's waldo.. how many Lapierre logos can you count (mind you, on just one side of the bike showing)?

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Old 03-17-19, 05:55 AM
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My belief is that there's only so much "new" stuff you can do to a bike to draw in buyers. So the manufacturers change up what they can to give bikes a new look. I have seen a number of trends cycle through over the years. Color and badging are two of them. I kinda like that Lapierre.
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Old 03-17-19, 05:58 AM
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Buy anybody's bike and you are a free rolling billboard.
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Old 03-17-19, 06:16 AM
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Now that's one busy chainstay! Someone should paying the owner of that bike to display all that advertising.



I will admit that advertising decals have their place ... and that's covering up paint chips, dents and scratches.
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Old 03-17-19, 07:18 AM
  #6  
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PlastiDip will hide them
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Old 03-17-19, 08:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Sy Reene
Make sure you stay away from team edition bikes! kinda a where's waldo.. how many Lapierre logos can you count (mind you, on just one side of the bike showing)?
I don't know about consumer bikes, but for competition, I assume the manufacturer wants their logo visible in any sort of photograph or video of their product in action; from a tight close-up to a long shot of a pack.

Personally, I prefer a tasteful, understated identifier.
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Old 03-17-19, 08:35 AM
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It's just the way of things in a capitalist/consumer culture. Witness how auto manufacturer logos have gotten much larger on cars over the years. My 1996 Nissan Pathfinder has a much smaller logo than any new Nissan. The new ones look like they're about 8" across.
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Old 03-17-19, 08:36 AM
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Originally Posted by ctpres
Buy anybody's bike and you are a free rolling billboard.
That's why debadging is a thing.
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Old 03-17-19, 08:43 AM
  #10  
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I would just like a nice two color fade paint job without, or very little logos.
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Old 03-17-19, 09:23 AM
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Logos, or lack there of, and my ability to remove them drives a significant portion of my buying decisions. IMO, the beauty in a bicycle is in it’s simplicity. Logos rarely add to the beauty of the finished product, and in most cases distract like so much graffiti.


-Kedosto
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Old 03-17-19, 09:35 AM
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Marketing , you are an uncompensated Influencer, you know...
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Old 03-17-19, 09:59 AM
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If my '03 LeMond was destroyed in an explosion, and all of the frame sections were blown apart, it would still be easily identifiable -- because the name LeMond is plastered on every single tube that comprises that frame, and on most of 'em it's plastered on twice -- once on each side.
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Old 03-17-19, 10:52 AM
  #14  
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That lapierre is giving LOOK a run for their money.



Not visible, also says LOOK on the heatube, top of the toptube, bottom of the downtube, back of the seattube, and insides of the seatstays. That's at least 14 LOOKs. That Lapierre though, I'm thinking 16+.

I should be thankful my Cervelo only says it's own name 5 times, and my Ritchey just four.
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Old 03-17-19, 11:28 AM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by DrIsotope
That lapierre is giving LOOK a run for their money.



Not visible, also says LOOK on the heatube, top of the toptube, bottom of the downtube, back of the seattube, and insides of the seatstays. That's at least 14 LOOKs. That Lapierre though, I'm thinking 16+.

I should be thankful my Cervelo only says it's own name 5 times, and my Ritchey just four.
Should say look away.
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Old 03-17-19, 05:24 PM
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one of my fave brands was the old nashbar, many of their bikes had no logos, but well specked.
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Old 03-17-19, 05:55 PM
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I would think materialism is why,

Logos, badges, decals, stickers & painted on graphics (the worst) could be a lot better if the OEM provided an economical source for procuring replacements/templates when the original one is beaten up.
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Old 03-17-19, 06:20 PM
  #18  
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I don't care about fancy logos or fancy paint jobs.. My bikes are stealthy black with logos removed.
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Old 03-17-19, 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by jade408
It feels like so many bikes and bike components have really really loud logos. What's the deal? What happened to subtle and undercover?
Still can be done.

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Old 03-17-19, 06:58 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by oldnslow2
Still can be done.

One should not have to resort to black on flat black to keep the logos in check.
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Old 03-17-19, 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Aubergine

One should not have to resort to black on flat black to keep the logos in check.
I chose black, but Trek offered a "minimal logo" option on all of their colors.

BTW, this is my previous bike, so you can see why I opted for minimal.

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Old 03-17-19, 07:42 PM
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I'm not normally fond of huge branding on anything but doesn't bother me on a bike. Especially if the bike is a true work of art built by craftsman. It's your baby, be proud!
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Old 03-17-19, 08:02 PM
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Originally Posted by hillyman
I'm not normally fond of huge branding on anything but doesn't bother me on a bike. Especially if the bike is a true work of art built by craftsman. It's your baby, be proud!
On my previous bike I was stopped at a red light when the guy in the passenger seat of the pick up truck next to me said "that sure looks like an expensive bike". At that point i took off in the opposite direction and made a few quick turns and went inside of a supermarket. I had a few other people comment that the bike looked expensive.

So when I replaced it I went for satin black and minimal logos so it looks like a rattle can bike from Walmart.
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Old 03-17-19, 08:05 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by Aubergine

One should not have to resort to black on flat black to keep the logos in check.
yeah, an effectively murdered out flat black bike is close to less appealing than an over-locked bike.
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Old 03-17-19, 08:43 PM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by hillyman
I'm not normally fond of huge branding on anything but doesn't bother me on a bike. Especially if the bike is a true work of art built by craftsman. It's your baby, be proud!
I like fancy paint and clever branding and even blingy head badges. But giant letters isn’t doing it for me.

Shamrock Bikes is really clever.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvIF3u1g...on_share_sheet
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