DougG

I was talking myself into getting a new bike this fall and from research had one pretty well picked out. The 2015 model was very nice-looking, but they were long gone, so I was looking at getting a 2016. At the dealer, I asked if he had information on the new ones yet and he did have it on a dealer-only web site. I remember making the comment, half jokingly, that I really didn't care what color the bike was "as long as it isn't flat black." Well, he gave me a funny look and then showed me the 2016 version: flat black with gloss black lettering!

So what is up with this trend, which I thought had more or less run its course? Maybe it's a generational thing since I don't like flat black wheels on cars either, and in fact tend to associate flat black with primer. I don't think that the color of a bike is really a safety visibility issue, but do I really want a bike that's painted like a stealth fighter?

Anyway, I was disappointed enough that it cooled off my new-bike fever and made me reconsider the whole thing. In the end I decided that there was nothing in the potential upgrade that would be worth $3K over keeping my current bike for a couple more years and that's what I'm going to do.

Retro Grouch 

I never thought that I cared much about bike color either but, as I write this, I've got 6 personal bikes: 3 black and 3 red. I think that I might be seeing a trend.

Looigi

What color is your current bike?

Barrettscv 

My two carbon bikes are unpainted. I'm pleased how nice they look. I'm not sure I would want flat black, but loud, billboard paint jobs are really ugly. YMMV.

chasm54

I have a matt black carbon bike, and a black steel tourer. I also have a pink and white road bike and a Bianchi green fixie. I don't give a hoot about the colour of my bikes. It makes absolutely no difference to their function, and I don't hang them on the wall.

fietsbob

Perhaps if you Fly to the next Taipei Bicycle trade show you can ask someone involved with the actual Production of

and painting the bike frames as per their customers stipulations in the contract that they wrote with said manufacturer.

miss kenton

I have had three road bikes - white & red, aqua metallic, and blue & royal blue. I was/am pretty indifferent regarding the colors. However, I really like the elegant look of my glossy black Trek Cocoa.

GlennR

Personally I like a black bike. My last one was screaming "hey look at me" and I was tired of it.

bruce19

I've always been a fan of black and gray bikes/cars/motorcycles. IMO a bike/car/motorcycle has to be something you like looking at.So, whatever speaks to you is what you should have. Oh, and Italian.

BigAura

Black is the new orange!

BobbyG

Custom powder coating...? PRICING

GlennR

Trek has a a custom program called Project One. One of the option is the paint where you can have a number of choices.

There are solid colors and custom paint.




Personally, i'll keep my black bike.

sail

I've been shopping lately, lot of black and lots of multi graphics ugly. Bike I'm getting is either steal me first orange or white, I'm waiting on the white.

volosong

I'm hating the trend of black bikes from all the manufacturers. I will NOT purchase a bike in that color scheme, and have let dealers know. I was lucky to score the last 2015 cross frame from the national distributor in primarily white with red and black trim. The 2016 frames are black, and I told them that I would not buy one. In a way, the trend is good because it is putting a dampener on my N+1 addiction.

OldsCOOL

I like glossy black with a gold metallic base.

Hill-Pumper

I am not a big fan of the flat black look myself, but that is what I ended up with. Strangely I have not been able to get my first color choice on my last three bikes. Still, I ride them because they bring me more joy then not riding what I want. See my examples below of my second color choices.

lphilpot

My bike (a 2012 model) is satin dark blue. While the color is functionally irrelevant, I also don't personally care for matte/flat/satin finishes. I don't like a garish paint job, but a glossy finish would be really nice. Alas, current trends seem to indicate it's not likely, for a while at least. I guess I like the classic look: glossy frame, silver/chrome spokes, wheels and other hardware. Same goes for clothing: no "explosion in a paint factory" look, but not dull, dark black, either.

AverageJoe2.0

I like solid colors with a minimum of graphics. For road bikes, any color as long as it is black. For touring or off road I like red, though I have to admit that the metallic forest green on my 1990s Trek 820 has its appeal. I saw a bike done in custom metallic bronze and it looked great. Might have to reconsider my black obsession for the next roadie. I'm also a fan of the classic silver alloy and SS rims and fittings.

qcpmsame 

I'm in the "no flat-black bikes" camp, the boring murdered out, with the extreme aero wheelsets, is getting old. My CAAD 10 is the light blue with orange socks on the forks and stays (Gulf Oil Racing colourway.) Personally, the beautiful old school solid tube coloring with panels on the seat tube,and the down tube, and the same color as the panel for the head tube. Should have chromed lugs with short points and chrome socks for the stays and forks. Only one that I have found, aside from a bespoke custom build, is the Tommasinni Techno, or one of their off the shelf semi-customs. I guess I'll be digging up a C&V frameset and building it up myself.

Bill

Dave Cutter

Color does matter..... when it comes to bicycles.

I bought a new bike last year and almost pasted on the deal when I realized my limited color options (I really wanted a red one). And more recently I bought a vintage steel Trek I didn't need but couldn't past on because it was such a pretty... Yellow and blue.

I think the stealth look for bicycles is a lot like stainless kitchen appliances. Some trends last much longer than ever predicted. Kids riding BMX bikes today... are going to want a stealth color scheme on their road or mountain bike.... 20-30 years from now.

tclune

My comfort bike is matte black and I didn't give it a thought. When I got my touring bike this year, it came in a lovely forest green and I delight in its appearance. So I guess it matters to me more than I had thought.

mapeiboy

I see nothing but black bikes on the road from major brands .

mapeiboy

Continue from the last post . If I am going to fork out that much money for a bike these days it better be something bright and cheerful -- like my Colnago EP in Mapei color .

Biker395 

I think it's a little bit of a backlash from all of the gaudy paint schemes of the years prior.

As for me, I kinda like the stealthy black color (or lack thereof). You can always accessorize with handlebar tape, tires, anodized parts in the like to highlight whatever color you like. I love the carbon fiber look of my Scott CR-1, but I really wish they left all of the damn pin striping off. It would look better without it.



What I DON'T understand are all the black jerseys about. Yesterday, we were riding in weather that was easily 100+ degrees, and a lot of the people out there were wearing black (!) jerseys.

Screw that. I don't care what's in style ... I try to pick jerseys that serve the required function of the day, whether it be visibility (if the planned route is on busy roads), warmth or coolness.

McBTC

There's black and gloss black and fat black and then there's satin b l a c k...