Why are modern components black?
02-03-20, 03:23 PM
#51
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Why are hifi components black? Why are so many cars black these days? I trace this whole "black is the new silver" thing back to Darth Vader. When he appeared, black suddenly became cool. I think it's been way overdone though. The biggest problem with black is that the second it gets dirty it looks terrible.
02-03-20, 03:48 PM
#52
Junior Member
It's a proven and obvious fact that black components are faster than silver components.
Red components are even faster than black components.
Red components are even faster than black components.
02-03-20, 03:58 PM
#53
Member
Ah yes....BLACK bikes. I ordered an extra large Cannondale R600 frame at an LBS in the mid 90's to have them build a road bike for me. The ONLY color that size was available in was all black. I hated the color and the limited choice but wanted that frame and couldn't afford a factory repaint. After many years of not riding, I finally repainted a few years ago and began riding again. At least the components at that time (Shimano RSX) were all silver. Bikes don't present with much surface area to view anyway.....why not a more visible, interesting color?
02-04-20, 02:04 AM
#54
almost like new
Black is the new black is the new black. We at KMC are told this every year and thus, continue to make more durable black chains. Our current color stable includes about 10 different blacks...yes, different blacks.
02-04-20, 10:56 AM
#55
Senior Member
This is a little bit of an aside, but it should be noted that black anodizing as done in the 70s and 80s (mostly) is a more labor intensive and expensive process than paint or powdercoat, at least on an industrial scale. Parts need to get pretty much just as prepped as they do for final polishing in order to be anodized. There's going to be handwork. Paint on the other hand can cover up a lot of sins. Take parts right out of the molds, clean 'em off, spray.
02-04-20, 11:22 AM
#56
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02-04-20, 12:23 PM
#57
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Black is the absence of color, and I have no idea why it isn't called white, which most people think is the absence of color. Some art teacher taught us that, and I have no idea if she was right.
I did ride with 20 other folks on Sunday. Nary a polished part in the whole mix. I saw at least 5 Trek WSD frames that differed only in small stripes and bottle cages.
I did ride with 20 other folks on Sunday. Nary a polished part in the whole mix. I saw at least 5 Trek WSD frames that differed only in small stripes and bottle cages.
02-04-20, 05:01 PM
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02-04-20, 05:42 PM
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Disagree.
Just picked up a 2019 Accord Sport with the 2.0 turbo.
The engine is a detuned Type R at about 250ish hp.
Handles great, stops great, looks great. imho
Plus, at close out prices, was a real deal.
So far it's a hoot to drive and the 80+ year old inlaws love to to ride in the spacious bike seat.
FWIW I had a bunch of British and German sports cars in the 70s and 80s.
TR6's, 2002's, and even a 1990 BMW 5 series with a rodded M engine.
I wouldn't trade one of them for this beast.
02-04-20, 05:46 PM
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The only comment here that caused me to pause, and think. Interesting. Could it be they were made out of tubing rather than bar stock, forged, etc.?
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02-04-20, 06:52 PM
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Black makes you look skinny !
If you have a black bike use yellow or red cables . There are many components that you can change color. Red saddle , yellow bar tape . colored tires and wheels. No reason you have to keep it stock and boring.
If you have a black bike use yellow or red cables . There are many components that you can change color. Red saddle , yellow bar tape . colored tires and wheels. No reason you have to keep it stock and boring.
02-04-20, 07:11 PM
#63
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The trend seemed to coincide with the stealth fighter as well. I think that had more to do with "cool" than Vader.
02-04-20, 07:35 PM
#64
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Not many people know this, but Vader actually rode a pink cruiser.
02-04-20, 11:25 PM
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Originally Posted by SurferRosa
My deanodized and polished parts stay shiny with one exception, the seatposts. They all cloud up after a month or two. ... But it's weird the seatposts do this.
As for the OP's question, we can trace it all the way back to the '60s. Rothko painted it and Jagger sang it. The epitome of cool, I suppose. I, too, prefer polished alu and chrome and nickel.
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Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Last edited by scarlson; 02-04-20 at 11:36 PM.
02-07-20, 03:12 AM
#66
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https://www.renehersecycles.com/pred...for-the-2020s/
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02-07-20, 12:50 PM
#67
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Rene Herse believes that silver will be back in the next ten years!
https://www.renehersecycles.com/pred...for-the-2020s/
https://www.renehersecycles.com/pred...for-the-2020s/
Not saying he's wrong
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Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
02-07-20, 01:19 PM
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