Why do bicycles generally come in so few colorways?
10-24-18, 07:12 AM
#26
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Look at the automotive industry. Lexus/MB/Audi etc. I never noticed until my parents lived in Singapore for a while. The Asian cultures are driven by the need to blend. If you do not blend in certain cultures you can have reprocussions. Therefore, the black car or white care are neutral and considered to be safe and empowered at the same time rather than being odd or counterculture. A great deal of our industry comes from that region so it doesn't surprise very much that it follows. However, the other trend I observed having started into the sport in the mid 90s boom of colors(GT, etc) is that when carbon fiber became popular it was also popular to leave it bare to show it off. Carbon black became a sign of development and bright became left behind. Even what wasn't carbon was painted to look like carbon in some cases(silly). In cities drab is the thing to have for obvious reason. If you are paying big bux for something, make it less of a catcher.
That said, I never stopped liking bright blues or yellows. My mtb's last paint was to look like a 2001 Gt team and it's next is going to be Mustang Grabber blue with accents. Colors are trending back slowly. The new Trek catalog(I work at a trek dealer) actually has some colors this year like 'VOLT' green and 'Radioactive' yellow.
That said, I never stopped liking bright blues or yellows. My mtb's last paint was to look like a 2001 Gt team and it's next is going to be Mustang Grabber blue with accents. Colors are trending back slowly. The new Trek catalog(I work at a trek dealer) actually has some colors this year like 'VOLT' green and 'Radioactive' yellow.
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10-24-18, 10:44 AM
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I can't tell you how many customers at the bike shop where I work have turned down an otherwise acceptable bike because it's green or whatever. Boring as they are, the subdued charcoals and greys seem to be the least offensive to most buyers, simply because they don't make a statement. I do see that changing a bit lately, however. Several of the Salsa and Kona gravel bikes and the Surly Bridge Club, among others, are breaking with the monochrome strategy, with good results and strong sales. The pendulum always swings, unless it's titanium!
10-24-18, 12:43 PM
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10-24-18, 12:50 PM
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It's all about inventory. If a bike shop has 2-3 brands and each one has 2-3 models, and there are at least 4 sizes, that is 16-36 bikes if you have one each. For 2 colors that doubles it. Triple that for 3 colors, etc.
With shops struggling to survive as it is, they wouldn't be able to stock more than one or two colors anyway.
With shops struggling to survive as it is, they wouldn't be able to stock more than one or two colors anyway.
10-24-18, 12:52 PM
#31
Fredly Fredster
Black or Charcoal bikes don't bother me at all. I would like to eventually get a yellow or orange bike... but I never seem to have those options when buying a new bike of any type.
10-24-18, 12:53 PM
#32
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I'd been mulling the idea over but spending $300 to get the color I want doesn't seem very appealing and it just doesn't feel right pulling out some spray paint lol
I'm assuming this is your first adult bike?
I don't think the color will matter too much because like most people that buy a hybrid it will get ridden for about a month and then hung up in the garage. I'd recommend getting a fun bike to ride (and it may come in a better color too
)
I don't think the color will matter too much because like most people that buy a hybrid it will get ridden for about a month and then hung up in the garage. I'd recommend getting a fun bike to ride (and it may come in a better color too
)
10-24-18, 12:54 PM
#33
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10-24-18, 01:07 PM
#34
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This is sadness. I have never bought a bike that is my first color choice. It's always been: "I hate all the available colors...which one did I dislike the least. I reckon the reason is the cost of setting up multiple colors in the factory. It's probably much much cheaper to setup to spray a 10,000 bikes all of one color. Than have 10 colors colors for 1,000 bikes each color.
It wouldn't be so bad if the colors they picked weren't so awful. That green is everywhere and its the last color I'd get for a bike since its a trend and will forever mark your bike's era. I have no issue with selling the trendy colors as long as you always sell the basics colors as well.
Last edited by KraneXL; 10-24-18 at 01:20 PM.
10-24-18, 01:12 PM
#35
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Lowering costs... to hold price point ..
as shown , want a custom color strip the bike down and hire the job out..
Highest end of Trek's CF Race Bike frames offer a range of color options. FWIW..
as shown , want a custom color strip the bike down and hire the job out..
Highest end of Trek's CF Race Bike frames offer a range of color options. FWIW..
10-24-18, 01:15 PM
#36
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Why is it colorway and not livery?
10-24-18, 01:18 PM
#39
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I actually learned this term a few years ago and now I use it whenever I can 
10-24-18, 01:19 PM
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@Smokeage If you wanna DIY there's the Spray.Bike paint which is made specifically for bikes. They're used by squid.bikes to make some really interesting paint schemes.
10-24-18, 02:04 PM
#41
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I'm assuming this is your first adult bike?
I don't think the color will matter too much because like most people that buy a hybrid it will get ridden for about a month and then hung up in the garage. I'd recommend getting a fun bike to ride (and it may come in a better color too )
I don't think the color will matter too much because like most people that buy a hybrid it will get ridden for about a month and then hung up in the garage. I'd recommend getting a fun bike to ride (and it may come in a better color too
)I put about 4000 miles on my FX 3 in about 4 months. The damn thing kicks ass on the roads especially uphill, and is a blast to ride. I got my road bike about 6 weeks ago and put about 1200 miles on that, definitely faster by a little bit, but I alternate between the two. The only thing my FX 3 gets hung up on is my work stand.
All hybrids are not created equal.
10-24-18, 02:48 PM
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I would highly encourage you to look into something like a cyclocross or gravel bike then.
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10-24-18, 02:50 PM
#43
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I put about 4000 miles on my FX 3 in about 4 months. The damn thing kicks ass on the roads especially uphill, and is a blast to ride. I got my road bike about 6 weeks ago and put about 1200 miles on that, definitely faster by a little bit, but I alternate between the two. The only thing my FX 3 gets hung up on is my work stand.
All hybrids are not created equal.
All hybrids are not created equal.
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10-24-18, 03:39 PM
#44
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https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...x-ltd/p/22103/
Salsa has been introducing new colors lately. Look at the Vaya and Journeyman. They still limit their bikes to 1 or 2 options per year though.
https://salsacycles.com/
10-24-18, 04:03 PM
#45
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I'll be honest here.... Color is important to me. And a lot of bikes lack good color in my opinion.
And what a difference a year makes. For example, due to new technology, last years model may look fantastic but has "old" tech. And then the current year model with the new tech looks like crap. Hate it when that happens.
And what a difference a year makes. For example, due to new technology, last years model may look fantastic but has "old" tech. And then the current year model with the new tech looks like crap. Hate it when that happens.
10-24-18, 04:22 PM
#46
☢
I'll be honest here.... Color is important to me. And a lot of bikes lack good color in my opinion.
And what a difference a year makes. For example, due to new technology, last years model may look fantastic but has "old" tech. And then the current year model with the new tech looks like crap. Hate it when that happens.
And what a difference a year makes. For example, due to new technology, last years model may look fantastic but has "old" tech. And then the current year model with the new tech looks like crap. Hate it when that happens.
10-24-18, 07:59 PM
#47
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IMHO, Scott and Specialized have the best color schemes. But, they change every year so it's a crap shoot.
2 samples here that I like...
2 samples here that I like...
10-24-18, 08:09 PM
#48
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10-24-18, 08:14 PM
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Trek sells the FX LTD which has better colors (I like the green).
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...x-ltd/p/22103/
Salsa has been introducing new colors lately. Look at the Vaya and Journeyman. They still limit their bikes to 1 or 2 options per year though.
https://salsacycles.com/
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...x-ltd/p/22103/
Salsa has been introducing new colors lately. Look at the Vaya and Journeyman. They still limit their bikes to 1 or 2 options per year though.
https://salsacycles.com/
Very nice work!
10-24-18, 08:19 PM
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It's all about inventory. If a bike shop has 2-3 brands and each one has 2-3 models, and there are at least 4 sizes, that is 16-36 bikes if you have one each. For 2 colors that doubles it. Triple that for 3 colors, etc.
With shops struggling to survive as it is, they wouldn't be able to stock more than one or two colors anyway.
With shops struggling to survive as it is, they wouldn't be able to stock more than one or two colors anyway.
Looking at something like the Specialized Sirrus line, the shop only need stock a few models, as the frame geometry will be the same.
We just need Specialized to have more colours that the shop can order in for someone who has done a test ride on a black Sirrus and feels that a Sirrus works for them.