Beating a dead horse - are matte finished here to stay?
08-22-20, 01:37 PM
#26
Senior Member
My previous bike was white, and it hid the white or light gray limestone dust from the path well.
My current bike is black... Total polar opposite! I just breath on it and it gets dusty.
My current bike is black... Total polar opposite! I just breath on it and it gets dusty.
08-22-20, 02:21 PM
#27
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Shiny bikes are over rated.
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08-22-20, 05:01 PM
#28
Senior Member
i miss the days when bikes excited me, this new style in not my bag,, i think about how nice the thin tube pins or nags with master works on paint looked early 90s,, this new flat black thing holds nothing for me... they all look alike to me save the script on the down tube,, just glad i have my Schwinn and my vortex... that style will never come back... but at least i have those to inspire me.. but we like what we like.
08-23-20, 12:04 PM
#29
Senior Member
I can't stand how quickly my matte finish bike gets dirty, even with cleaning it after every ride. Going to eventually have it repainted in a gloss color.
08-23-20, 05:13 PM
#30
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I've been looking at a lot of bikes lately. Some matte bikes look like they have a consistent matte finish. Others, I can see the seams and where the tubes come together in the carbon fiber layup. I know that the super crazy light Specialized Tarmac has some lightweight paint magic going on, and you can see the seams. But I've also noticed the seams on non-super bikes, like the mid price-point Canyons. I don't know, just not a fan of seeing the seams - looks a bit unfinished to me, but that's my personal preference speaking. No right or wrong answers in this thread, all opinions. I did look at a Trek Emonda this weekend as well - one of the best looking paints on a stock bike I've seen. I know that when I finally sold my trusty Trek, after about 12 years, the paint didn't even look worn or faded, and I put many many miles on that bike. Maybe they just don't paint them like they used to? I do wish frame painting was not so pricey (but these guys are artisans, they deserve to get paid for their craft for sure). Finally found the bike I've been looking. Right size, right component spec, mfgr I trust, good shop, price I can afford - but I'm just struggling to make myself love that finish.
Last edited by Plainsman; 08-23-20 at 05:21 PM.
08-24-20, 08:55 AM
#31
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Matte black has it's place, on a hotrod, on a bike it's just boring. Especially when you can have colors like this. 
08-24-20, 11:59 AM
#32
Senior Member
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.
08-24-20, 12:09 PM
#33
Senior Member
But seriously... Have no scientific evidence of this, but in my opinion, gloss paint resists scratches and stains better than matte, and I would venture to say it is less affected by UV rays. Overall, gloss paint is more durable and lasts longer.
08-24-20, 01:11 PM
#34
Senior Member
Interestingly enough I like matte finish on bicycles and some motorcycles (my current motorcycle has matte finish and I love it) but I absolutely cannot stand it on cars. Cars with matte finish I just scoff at and think they are hideous, go figure. I think it is here to stay, as I am seeing more and more of these matte finishes around where I live at least.
08-24-20, 01:25 PM
#35
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Pearl Cerakote finish.
08-24-20, 01:55 PM
#36
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Oddly enough, I've found the exact opposite to be true. The matte frames I've owned have looked newer longer than the glossy frames I have.
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08-24-20, 05:02 PM
#38
Senior Member
To me, how the bike looks is a distant second to how it fits and rides. I just got a bike that has a style and finish that I don't really care for (matte black, with sloping top tube and dropped seat stays)... but I DON"T really care! I love my bike. A bike is a tool, and doing it's job WELL is paramount!
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08-24-20, 06:27 PM
#39
Senior Member
I ride my bike a lot more than I look at it.
I save my admiration and effort on a car or two and even that is getting to be a pain.
That being said... I'm not as fan of patterns, stripes, emblems, multiple colors, even logos on the bottom frame or wheels. Go clean! I do care even less about someone else choice.
I save my admiration and effort on a car or two and even that is getting to be a pain.
That being said... I'm not as fan of patterns, stripes, emblems, multiple colors, even logos on the bottom frame or wheels. Go clean! I do care even less about someone else choice.
Last edited by u235; 08-24-20 at 06:45 PM.
08-28-20, 08:17 AM
#40
Junior Member
Interesting how the matte look has caught on with bikes, but not with cars. Most prefer a shiny car to a dull one....I certainly do.
08-28-20, 03:49 PM
#42
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I read somewhere else that rubber debris from tires didn't stick to the matte finish as much as with regular. Since those little marbles stuck all over the car mess with the aerodynamics, they want to minimize that. If that is true, that would make a lot more sense than weight.
Given the difference in surface area between an F1 car and a bike, I would not think there would be much weight savings.
I think it's mostly about marketing. Do something different to get people to buy something new. In a few more years, something else will come along and they'll make up some new reasons why everyone has to have it.
08-28-20, 03:52 PM
#43
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I read that Red Bull claimed to save a whole 500 grams using Matte paint. A bit over a pound. Since the minimum weight requirements for F1 cars has increased the last few years, it doesn't seem like that would be a factor.
I read somewhere else that rubber debris from tires didn't stick to the matte finish as much as with regular. Since those little marbles stuck all over the car mess with the aerodynamics, they want to minimize that. If that is true, that would make a lot more sense than weight.
Given the difference in surface area between an F1 car and a bike, I would not think there would be much weight savings.
I think it's mostly about marketing. Do something different to get people to buy something new. In a few more years, something else will come along and they'll make up some new reasons why everyone has to have it.
I read somewhere else that rubber debris from tires didn't stick to the matte finish as much as with regular. Since those little marbles stuck all over the car mess with the aerodynamics, they want to minimize that. If that is true, that would make a lot more sense than weight.
Given the difference in surface area between an F1 car and a bike, I would not think there would be much weight savings.
I think it's mostly about marketing. Do something different to get people to buy something new. In a few more years, something else will come along and they'll make up some new reasons why everyone has to have it.
Nothing to do with aero, or marketing
08-28-20, 06:13 PM
#44
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I just bought a frame that comes in any color you want as long as it is matte black. It is very hard to find frames for tall people, so function wins out this time.
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08-28-20, 06:58 PM
#45
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There is a Nissan 350Z in my area that has one side of the car murdered out matte black and............camo on the other side. Split down the middle from front to back. 
08-29-20, 08:33 AM
#46
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Mix that with some green tweed with tan highlight interior and it will be another hit.
08-29-20, 04:49 PM
#48
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It is a Velo Flyer, formally Dixie Flyer. It is a track frame. Fitting on a track bike is slightly different for the sprint type events. Saddle position is, generally, as close to the bottom bracket as you can get, so it has the effect of shortening the the tt length. My current setup looks like this
The seat is slammed back and I am using a 150mm stem. This frame has a 59.5 tt the new frame has a 62mm tt. I am hoping to be able to move the seat forward and use a shorter stem and better position on the bike.
The seat is slammed back and I am using a 150mm stem. This frame has a 59.5 tt the new frame has a 62mm tt. I am hoping to be able to move the seat forward and use a shorter stem and better position on the bike.
08-29-20, 09:50 PM
#49
Junior Member
My matte black bike is relatively easy to keep clean...or else I don’t know what clean is for a bike (this could be the case). I want my next bike to be titanium so this will not be as much of an issue.
09-03-20, 12:42 PM
#50
Junior Member
Even helmets are in matte finish. I can’t see a reason for them being matte other than to market something new. So if you have a matte bike, you should match with matte wheels and matte helmet....I guess?
Last edited by hrdknox1; 09-03-20 at 12:50 PM.