Beating a dead horse - are matte finished here to stay?
08-20-20, 11:22 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Beating a dead horse - are matte finishes here to stay?
Maybe it’s because as a kid I remember a new bike being associated with “shiny,” but it feels like going on a decade and I still haven’t fallen in love with the matte finish trend. At least, I thought it was a trend. Bike shopping again and for 2021 I see lots of matte finishes once more. Taste is subjective, so I don’t knock anyone’s matte bike, or them for liking it. I’ve seen some I thought looked nice, but am I just a dinosaur for loving a clean glossy finish? (And don’t even get me started on gloss metallic!). So are matte finishes here to stay?
(And yes, the thread title should say "finishes," not "finished.")
(And yes, the thread title should say "finishes," not "finished.")
Last edited by Plainsman; 08-20-20 at 11:28 PM. Reason: Typo in thread title
Likes For Plainsman:
Likes For swifty:
Likes For znomit:
08-21-20, 03:14 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The banks of the River Charles
Posts: 2,028
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease, 2020 Seven Evergreen, 2019 Honey Allroads Ti, 2018 Seven Redsky XX, 2017 Trek Boon 7, 2014 Trek 520
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 695 Post(s)
Liked 910 Times
in
487 Posts
No, eventually all the matte black carbon frames with matte grey logos on the down tube will crack and be replaced by the next finish trend. I predict iridescent purple with metallic reflective logos.
08-21-20, 04:51 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,512
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20806 Post(s)
Liked 9,448 Times
in
4,666 Posts
Nope. After owning one, people will learn what a (relative) pain in the ass they are to keep clean and the demand will go down. My previous bike (Domane SL5) was matte and I wouldn't get a matte finish again (unless every other spec on the bike was exactly what I wanted and I was getting a screaming deal).
Likes For WhyFi:
08-21-20, 05:09 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,455
Bikes: Salsa Beargrease XX1, Trek Eqnuinox 9.9 SSL, Trek Madone 6.9 ,Trek District Carbon, Trek Boone7, Trek Fuel EX9.0,Trek Fuel 9.5, Trek Rumblefish Pro, Trek Remedy 9.9, Trek Equinox7, Trek District Belt
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 578 Post(s)
Liked 82 Times
in
45 Posts
Love matt finish 4ever matt
__________________
Trek Fuel EX9.0 Trek Fuel EX9.5 Trek Equinox 9.9SSL TTX Trek Madone 6.9 Pro Red Project One, Trek Boone 7, Trek Rumblefish Pro, Trek Remedy 9.9, Trek Carbon District
Trek Fuel EX9.0 Trek Fuel EX9.5 Trek Equinox 9.9SSL TTX Trek Madone 6.9 Pro Red Project One, Trek Boone 7, Trek Rumblefish Pro, Trek Remedy 9.9, Trek Carbon District
Likes For trekmogul:
Likes For Moe Zhoost:
08-21-20, 07:37 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: VA
Posts: 1,437
Bikes: SuperSix Evo | Revolt
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 733 Post(s)
Liked 815 Times
in
414 Posts
I'm sure they'll stick around, but there are still some nice glossy/metallic paintjobs out there. Giant has some great colors, love my gloss metallic orange, which will be replaced soon with gloss metallic rosewood. 
08-21-20, 08:01 AM
#10
Senior Member
I learned my lesson: My new bike on order, when it eventually arrives, is Celeste green.
08-21-20, 08:07 AM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The easiest bike I ever had cleaning wise was just like the easiest car - gloss gray/silver metallic. Hides it all. Only have one matte bike in the family. Matte black. Looked good new, but seems to stain/splotch so easily (my wife’s bike). I clean it, but some spots still have not come out.
08-21-20, 08:15 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,512
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20806 Post(s)
Liked 9,448 Times
in
4,666 Posts
I tried to tell myself that the matte finish wasn't that bad, but the first time I washed my current bike (glossy silver/red) was the last nail in the coffin - wet it, wipe it, done. No special cleaning solutions, no elbow grease, no fuss, no wasted time.
08-21-20, 08:22 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Hollister, CA (not the surf town)
Posts: 1,734
Bikes: 2019 Specialized Roubaix Comp Di2, 2009 Roubaix, early 90's Giant Iguana
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 641 Post(s)
Liked 1,517 Times
in
549 Posts
I'm generally a function over form guy but when I was looking at bikes last year, about the only absolute requirement I had was that it not be matte. As mentioned, it's a pain to keep clean and to me it just looks cheap.
Maybe someone will be able to measure that here is a microscopically small amount of drag due to the matte finish and no one will want it anymore.
Maybe someone will be able to measure that here is a microscopically small amount of drag due to the matte finish and no one will want it anymore.
Likes For Ogsarg:
08-21-20, 08:30 AM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
i'm generally a function over form guy but when i was looking at bikes last year, about the only absolute requirement i had was that it not be matte. As mentioned, it's a pain to keep clean and to me it just looks cheap.
Maybe someone will be able to measure that here is a microscopically small amount of drag due to the matte finish and no one will want it anymore.
Maybe someone will be able to measure that here is a microscopically small amount of drag due to the matte finish and no one will want it anymore.
Likes For noodle soup:
08-21-20, 08:49 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 8,922
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,882 Times
in
998 Posts
I'm generally a function over form guy but when I was looking at bikes last year, about the only absolute requirement I had was that it not be matte. As mentioned, it's a pain to keep clean and to me it just looks cheap.
Maybe someone will be able to measure that here is a microscopically small amount of drag due to the matte finish and no one will want it anymore.
Maybe someone will be able to measure that here is a microscopically small amount of drag due to the matte finish and no one will want it anymore.
Likes For noodle soup:
Likes For fietsbob:
08-21-20, 01:07 PM
#19
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,908
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10397 Post(s)
Liked 11,850 Times
in
6,067 Posts
I love my glossy red Battaglin, glossy blue Ritchey, and matte electric blue Canyon. I don't find that the matte blue is any harder to keep clean. I do find the matte black stripe on the top of the top tube shows all the dried-up sweat spots, but I betcha a glossy black would do the same.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
08-21-20, 02:01 PM
#20
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,948
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6176 Post(s)
Liked 4,794 Times
in
3,306 Posts
They were here in various forms for quite a while. Maybe more popular than ever at this current time.
Sort of the same thing as chrome, gold finish or oil-rubbed bronze bathroom fixtures. Then someone throws brushed nickle into the mix. They all have different moments of popularity.
Sort of the same thing as chrome, gold finish or oil-rubbed bronze bathroom fixtures. Then someone throws brushed nickle into the mix. They all have different moments of popularity.
08-21-20, 04:48 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,595
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 608 Post(s)
Liked 352 Times
in
225 Posts
Matte should go the way of the dinosaur says the guy who owns two matte bikes currently. When I had my custom handmade bike painted, it certainly wasn't matte.
08-21-20, 05:49 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,890
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4789 Post(s)
Liked 3,915 Times
in
2,546 Posts
The easiest bike I ever had cleaning wise was just like the easiest car - gloss gray/silver metallic. Hides it all. Only have one matte bike in the family. Matte black. Looked good new, but seems to stain/splotch so easily (my wife’s bike). I clean it, but some spots still have not come out.
08-22-20, 09:10 AM
#25
Full Member
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 425
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 167 Post(s)
Liked 291 Times
in
163 Posts
My Trek is shiny red, needs a quick wipe clean after every ride and I like its appearance a lot. My Wilier is not matte, is appears that way however because it has no paint at all. It is easy to clean too. The bikes contrast nicely - flashy, shiny and understated, bare, polished (not shiny) carbon.
