Originally Posted by
smasha
If I'm understanding you correctly, are you saying that a beater franken-bike, or a bike that looks like a beater franken-bike, is less likely to be recovered than a bike that can be identified by make/model? That's something I hadn't considered. If that's the case, then a "rust" paint-job may not be what I want.
Originally Posted by
smasha
This has me thinking... Maybe just a splotch of orange or blue spray-paint to make the bike easier to identify?
Maybe even make it not ugly, but just conspicuous?
You're getting the right idea. If you give all the signals that a bike is already stolen. It has lower than zero value. It is open season on whatever the thief wants. The thief knows the risk of actually stealing the bike was already taken & it is now safely unreportable, black market, off-grid & no one is going to waste time or resources on worse than junk. Busy cops, honest people, concerned citizens will actively avoid seeing it. Else, confront their own feelings on societies ills. Besides, it's homeless owner will understand that nothing in life is permanent & will get over it.
This is too far in the devaluing direction.
A splotch or 2 of paint, tastefully done to identify it, however that's a different story. That would be an easily identifiable defining feature.
I think the goal should be something respectable, utilitarian, working-class,
something owned, but nothing compelling & enough locks to deter opportunistic thoughts.