Scratch Free Bikes After 1 Year Plus
08-27-18, 04:19 PM
#51
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I repainted both of my commuting bicycles recently. I scratched the fork on one of them not less than 24 hours and I didn't even ride it yet.
08-27-18, 04:43 PM
#52
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A brushed titanium finish goes a long way to keep things looking good. A scotch bright pad takes care of most blemishes easily. On another bike I was replacing a broken shifter with shiny new one. After retaping the bars, I knocked it over and put an ugly gouge on the new lever. Some things just aren't meant to be unblemished.
08-28-18, 10:27 AM
#53
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On family rides, I load all the bikes together into the back of the van. They all got most of their little dings and scratches from my loading and unloading. I agree with a lot of the earlier posts - this just makes them look like they're being used.
08-28-18, 12:04 PM
#54
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I used to worry about trivial crap like scratches, but who cares it's just stuff, it's meant to be used.
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08-28-18, 12:13 PM
#55
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08-28-18, 12:38 PM
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If it doesn't get scratched up your not riding it hard enough. My MTBs alloy frame came so scratched up I decided to strip it down and polish it over winter.
08-28-18, 04:04 PM
#57
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I don't know my primary road bike is 8 years old, most people think it's new. It has some minor scratches yes but you have to look close to find them. I touch them up and polish them out when I can. That bike gets ridden tween 100 and 200 miles a week for the last 8 years. I don't really think it's that hard to take care of your stuff.
08-28-18, 04:07 PM
#58
Non omnino gravis
Must be nice. I can't imagine that being even remotely possible, so it must be nice.
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08-28-18, 04:35 PM
#59
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Scratches is precisely why I chose titanium for frame material. I have a Habanero Cross frame and there are zero scratches on it. Since it is brushed instead of bead blasted, should a rub mark be found, it can be rebuffed with an abrasive pad to match the original finish. Painted frames cannot be saved so easily. Go Habanero and leave your worries behind.
08-28-18, 06:53 PM
#61
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08-28-18, 09:02 PM
#62
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Paint quality varies quite a bit across my bikes.
My Cannondale fat bike has very soft and thin paint and wears down easily - a light cable rub has worn away the top coat.
My Specialized CrossTrail has an amazing paint job that wouldn't look out of place on a high end car. Silky smooth deep lustre paint and a tough gloss lacquer.
My Cannondale fat bike has very soft and thin paint and wears down easily - a light cable rub has worn away the top coat.
My Specialized CrossTrail has an amazing paint job that wouldn't look out of place on a high end car. Silky smooth deep lustre paint and a tough gloss lacquer.
08-29-18, 11:20 AM
#63
Senior Member
Here's a couple of photos of the paintwork from my Cannondale Fat CAAD 2. I realise it's an 'army green' paint so is not glossy - more of a matte/satin finish, but the paint is very soft and thin.
And here's a couple of photos of the paintwork on my CrossTrail.
The paint on the CrossTrail is a lot better than the paint on the Cannondale (specifically talking only about the bikes that I own).
And here's a couple of photos of the paintwork on my CrossTrail.
The paint on the CrossTrail is a lot better than the paint on the Cannondale (specifically talking only about the bikes that I own).
09-03-18, 11:41 AM
#64
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I intentionally leave mine scratched up because it makes them less appealing to steal.... IMO I clean off obvious garbage on the brakes/rims after a rain ride but that's pretty much it.
Had a bike stolen as a kid and have been conscious of it ever since.
I know a guy who paints his bikes a gaudy messy flat black so t looks like cr*p to reduce the chance that it gets stolen.
Had a bike stolen as a kid and have been conscious of it ever since.
I know a guy who paints his bikes a gaudy messy flat black so t looks like cr*p to reduce the chance that it gets stolen.
09-03-18, 05:36 PM
#65
Senior Member
My second bike was so scratched up I took a different shade of blue and it ended up looking like a blue roan horse after its been in a fight and the hair grows back a different color. I called it blue roan. The bike I have now only has a few, the worst where the basket rubs. I haven't crashed it, (yet) but it has fallen over a few times. Had to put a new shifter on it for the back. Worked out for the best as the guy working on it Tim put a smaller new derailer? Chain wheel? on it and I now have a really low granny gear.
Makes going up hill a breeze. Takes longer but knees are happier. Comes in handy also going against a strong wind. And for parades where you go really, really, really slow.
Makes going up hill a breeze. Takes longer but knees are happier. Comes in handy also going against a strong wind. And for parades where you go really, really, really slow.
03-20-19, 04:45 AM
#66
Senior Member
Scratches, dings, dents, simply screams loudly I don’t care about taking care of things I spend money on. It also says I don’t care about leverage in a sale if should I ever decide to sell it. Is a bicycle in excellent condition and well cared for worth more when selling than a scratched up bicycle? In my experience yes. Just an observation, and simple math.
So what is the upside to selling or giving away a dinged up, scratched up bicycle other than patina? Let the rationalizing continue.
So what is the upside to selling or giving away a dinged up, scratched up bicycle other than patina? Let the rationalizing continue.
Last edited by Patriot1; 03-24-19 at 11:37 PM.
03-20-19, 06:41 AM
#67
Non omnino gravis
My Ritchey is scratched, dinged, and dented, and I am extremely fond of that bike. It’s scratched and dinged because it’s 2 years old and has 13,000 miles on it. It’s living a life. The idea of a pampered “shelfer” bicycle makes no sense to me.
Also, there are a select few of us that don’t give a damn about resale. My bike fits, and I genuinely enjoy riding it. Why the hell would I sell it? I’m gonna rock it ‘til the wheels fall off.
Also, there are a select few of us that don’t give a damn about resale. My bike fits, and I genuinely enjoy riding it. Why the hell would I sell it? I’m gonna rock it ‘til the wheels fall off.
03-20-19, 07:55 AM
#68
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3 years and over 14k miles and my main commuter workhorse has zero scratches, dings, or nicks. Zero. It is also quite possibly the cleanest, best maintained bike you’ll ever see. Aside from any possible tire and brake pad wear the bike looks brand new. Well, the saddle and bar tape show a little wear too.
The point I’m trying to make is that the possibility exists that a bicycle can be very well used AND very clean and damage free. I’m not ashamed to say I dote over my bikes. I take pride in their performance and condition. It’s not something everyone can do or is even interested in doing, but I doubt I’m alone in this.
When I sell a bike (and I buy/sell a lot) I’m able to get top dollar because of my diligence. Again, many may not really care about resale value (or admit they do) but it’s one of the payoffs for the effort.
To each their own.
-Kedosto
The point I’m trying to make is that the possibility exists that a bicycle can be very well used AND very clean and damage free. I’m not ashamed to say I dote over my bikes. I take pride in their performance and condition. It’s not something everyone can do or is even interested in doing, but I doubt I’m alone in this.
When I sell a bike (and I buy/sell a lot) I’m able to get top dollar because of my diligence. Again, many may not really care about resale value (or admit they do) but it’s one of the payoffs for the effort.
To each their own.
-Kedosto
03-20-19, 08:13 AM
#69
Non omnino gravis
<checks subforum> Yeah, some of us don't stick to the streets. My rims look like they've been in rock throwing fights, because they have been in, well... rock throwing fights. You want dings and dents? This is how you get dings and dents...
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03-20-19, 09:29 AM
#70
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My wife and I have the same attitude about our wedding bands.
The last new bike I bought had a scratch on the top tube BEFORE I bought it. It didn't really bother me. Over time, the chain side wheel stay has taken some knicks. I had to take a dremel tool with a sanding wheel and then wire brush to smooth out the damage on the black barend handles from one crash, so that's a nice silver reminder. There's stone knicks on the down tube. I just wash the bike every now and then and throw a coat of car polish and wax on it and I'm content with how it looks.
The paint on my Black Lightning is like that, so i guess it a "feature" of Cannondales. Honestly, sometimes I think it scratches and knicks if you just look at it too intensely.
The paint on my Black Lightning is like that, so i guess it a "feature" of Cannondales. Honestly, sometimes I think it scratches and knicks if you just look at it too intensely.
03-20-19, 09:51 AM
#71
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While I don’t have closeup pics, my powder coated bike was nearly scratch free after 3 years and bike rack parking. I saw one tiny scratch at some point.
03-20-19, 09:55 AM
#72
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It's about the paint quality on your bike and how careful you are to not do something to scratch it. I've had a couple of Trek's and a LeMond that would get paint chips if you breathed on it too hard because the paint was so thin. My 2011 Focus has almost 20,000 miles and looks virtually brand new. You would have to use a magnifier to see any scratches.
03-20-19, 10:04 AM
#73
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I'd say 90% of my bikes' scratches come from locking them up to various metal objects. Definitely a "life's too short to worry about" thing for me.Usually scratched within 50 miles' riding by me.
03-20-19, 01:24 PM
#75
Senior Member
The Habanero Cross bike has zero scratches going into it's third season. Brushed titanium. Perfect for the scratch-less look! Love it!