Spellscape

Hi all

I have simple question if frame is scratched In what case you not repainting vintage bike (NOT counting just because you want new colour scheme)?
When is better to just to left it as is? (but maybe changing decals)

P!N20

Collectors of vintage bikes value the original paint over a few scratches. The mantra is, "it's only original once."

Sometimes it might be an iconic colour, like Molteni orange or Pinarello red, but more often it's just the appreciation and respect of the original intent.

In fact, 'patina' and 'beausage' have entered the lexicon as something to be admired.

That's not saying you can't paint your bike - you can do whatever you want with it, but we certainly favour re-paints that are sympathetic to the factory finish.

jdawginsc 

If most of the paint is good, a few scratches...polish
If most of the paint is good, a few scratches, moderate amount of rust...evaporust, then polish
If it is mostly rust, many scratches and the paint is nearly gone...ride and laugh at the people laughing at you!

Or send it to me!

John Nolan 

The only bike of mine that I'm tempted to repaint is my Marinoni, and that's because a previous owner repainted it.

Spellscape

Ok, let's be more specific
This is my Motobecane D2
I'm thinking on polishing it, maybe correcting paint on scratches.
Also thinking on replacing some decals - they will cover some big scratches

geeteeiii

Aslong there is no danger of structual rust damage, and if its not rattle canned or just brushed on floor paint, its good in my book. Anything original to me is worth way more.

But it is pretty annoying when some of my friends always ask why i ride my junky looking stuff more when i got some nicer restored bikes sitting in the shed.

Just as crusty as i like them:

JackJohn

Agree, to me, original is always better. Scratches and other imperfections are less relevant vs keeping the original look, a good polish and anti-rust layer to protect and make it shine should be ok. However, if paint is really bad (or recouloured by previous owners) or rust is advanced and you need to go for a repaint, go for quality products (professional painting or diy specific cans) trying to stay as close as possible to the original look (decals included) if you can.

AJI125 

TL;DR: Coming from someone who tried and failed a home respray, I personally would keep as is unless you plan to have someone else do it. Clean it up best you can, and take a hard look. As jdawginsc said, if it's much rust, especially internal when you look in the tubes, consider Evaporust. Also make sure you could be happy with whatever quality or color you end up with if it has any importance to you.

I have a Bianchi I'm pretty sure I'm going to get powdercoated, maybe wet painted (it'll be time to decide when I finish working on my other projects). Agonizing over getting either the right celeste or satin black (came in both, mine was black before I messed with it). It's paint was similar condition, a few spots maybe as big as a penny or nickel of exposed steel, real mild surface rust if any. Nicks here and there on the decals, some peeling decal corners. Good candidate for a real solid clean, de-rusting where needed, and waxing (as several on here told me, go figure). Instead I stripped and home sprayed it. I tried to be careful, but I bungled it up (not my cup of tea, should've known better). I regret stripping that paint every time I look at the frame hanging in the garage, or the bin of parts waiting to go on, since late spring last year. I also regret all the time I spent working on that, as I have limited time I want to spend on projects, and wasted many an early weekend morning outside stripping, sanding, prepping etc. That could've been many happy miles riding! YMMV...

SJX426 

@Spellscape - IMHO your bike is not a candidate for total respray. Maybe the second description that @jdawginsc described. My perspective is mine. I have several bikes that have at least if not more abuse shown that will not be refinished. I don't have any real collector bikes as in rare. They are desirable but not high end collectables.
Some look OK from 25 feet, which is ok. They look like they are original with the Patina.

Then there are the ones someone thought would be better rattle canned. They are definitely candidates for re paint. I have 4 of those. Two were original paint but had either significant flaking of the paint or severe rust runs under the paint. 3 are somewhat desirable by others.
P9201315 on Flickr
P9201316 on Flickr
P9201317 on Flickr
P9201318 on Flickr
P9201319 on Flickr
P9201320 on Flickr

Looks pretty good from this perspective:
1983 Colnago Superissimo on Flickr

daverup 

For me, in every case so far. I have quite a few older bikes, most have some scars from years of use. I'm not looking for bikes that are rusted badly or most of the paint is gone. I have cleaned up and applied new decals, and done many touchups or touchup improvements.
In the end, I'm interested in riders more than museum pieces. Cheaper, and I don't mind leaving them in a bike rack at a pub.
Some bikes I just like the color,

Markeologist

Original paint AND decals are also highly prized as they confirm the pedigree of the bike. Look how many posts we have here on C&V asking for help in identifying a frame. Its easy to repaint and then put new decals on a frame that may not accurately reflect what the bike actually is. Keep the original paint AND decals and just ride it.

jiangshi

If you want to try your hand at repainting, this is a good project for it. It’s your bike do what you want with it. If new decals, please make them be as close to the original as possible.

Thalia949

I have two bikes that could be candidates for a repaint, I view both a little differently -

My Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra has 30 plus years of scrapes and scratches, the worst of which is a lot of bare steel showing on the underside of the fork legs. But there is no rust anywhere and the scratches look like wear and tear over the years. So, I will not paint this one as it looks normal. it is also my Eroica bike so I wouldn't want to ride fresh paint through gravel roads.

My Master PIU is in better shape except for some rust bubbling under the top tube due likely to water and sweat leaking into the cable routing holes. I may eventually paint this one in order to save the frame from any further damage.

It all depends on the bike and whether new paint will preserve it for me.

Wildwood 

Original paint + decals (or visible ghosts) make it more attractive - for me.

The way I look, my bikes would have to be almost disintegrated to draw the attention from the rider.

jonwvara 

I'm not repainting it in every case. Years ago, when I first became interested in old bikes, I had three different bikes professionally repainted, and regretted it all three times. You can always think about repainting, but never get around to actually doing it. That's a practical approach that keeps your options open.

Insidious C. 

Spellscape, in general the paint on your Motobecane still looks very nice. A few small chips and scratches don't hurt appearance much.

Andy_K 

There are a lot of factors, but in most cases it comes down to what you want to do and why. Repainting, by any means, very rarely increases the resale value of a bike and almost never increases the value by the amount that it cost. This is true whether you're talking about a do-it-yourself rattle can repaint or a professional restoration. So that's the first thing you need to accept -- whatever you do should be just for you.

Very few bikes are such classics that you should avoid repainting if that's what you want to do and you're willing to accept the cost. The next owner might prefer original paint and decals, but unless the bike is rare and special there's no reason that has to matter to you.

When I'm thinking about repainting or powder coating a bike, I think about whether the bike in its current condition would be more special to someone else than it would be to me with new paint and decals. If so, I usually try to find a new owner for the bike. Otherwise, if it will make me happy I consider it.

Spellscape

For me its not about reselling for sure. I'll see what it will be with this Motobecane but I think I'll just polish it and cover scratch marks if possible. As for my Union - it will be repainted . This way I'll see what it will be like. Anyway last one can be even upgraded with modern groupset IF needed.

Kabuki12

Depending on the bike, patina can be a good thing. I have a 1972 ItalVega that I resurrected after being left in a field for many years in a beach town. It was rusted beyond what I would normally attempt. There was just something about this bike. I got it cheap so the Campy stuff that was there was worth more than I paid for the bike. As I disassembled it I realized that under the rust was a very nice bike that had been chromed prior to paint. I spent a year of and on scraping and then steel wool with mother’s polish . A lot of the paint is now worn through with chrome showing and the chrome that was originally polished has pitted. The bike came out looking so cool though. It rides the same as my bikes that are cherry so I don’t mind.

Andy_K 

That's a nice looking bike! Have you posted any pictures of the full build?

gaucho777 

Unless there are serious rust bubbles under the paint that are going to compromise the frame, the original paint generally stays as a personal rule.

Not repainting this one:.

daverup 

It's in the Wrenching thread for now.
https://www.bikeforums.net/21926788-post4099.html

SJX426 

Picked this Pinny up back in 13.
P1000922 on Flickr

Some might say border line or leave it with the Patina. I didn't. It looked too rough and gone.
P1000916 on Flickr
P1000930 on Flickr
P1000940 on Flickr

Glad I stripped it.
P1010764 on Flickr
P1020862 on Flickr

Cleaned up well.
P1020836 on Flickr

Couldn't wait to try it out
P1020897 on Flickr

It will go to my daughter once she has a place to store it. Although it is shown with Superbe Pro, it will like get DA 740x treatment.

Likely will become the blue version. It has Record on the steerer. Now I know why!
87_Pinarello_Veneto on Flickr

John E

I remember when Charlie Harding started selling Harding brand bikes in his shop near UCLA. I never did get the full story on the connection.

John E

I plan to keep the original paint, warts and all.