custom bike vs paint job?

[mimitabby]

I agree, if you love the bike except for its color, have it painted. you will have all the pleasure of seeing your new bike, and depending on how spectacular the paint job; you will be stopped by strangers admiring your bike!

[HillSlugger]

I love my silver Sequoia and my silver Allez because you can do great things with colored accessories. I also know how much you love red bikes. Paint it!

[divingbiker]

I think the seat stays and fork are bolted on, so they could be removed and only the frame would be painted.

What about decals? Do they go on before or after the clearcoat? I think powder coating involves baking, so I wonder if they burn up?

Can you get aftermarket decals? If yes, should I, or should I leave it nekkid?

I know so little about this...

(Love what you've done with the blue and red accents, Nicole.)

[7rider]

I think the seat stays and fork are bolted on, so they could be removed and only the frame would be painted.

What about decals? Do they go on before or after the clearcoat? I think powder coating involves baking, so I wonder if they burn up?

Can you get aftermarket decals? If yes, should I, or should I leave it nekkid?

I know so little about this...

(Love what you've done with the blue and red accents, Nicole.)

I think the rear stays are bonded (glued). I think the heat of a powdercoat oven may be ..um.. detrimental to your stays.
You might have to go to Specialized - via your dealer - for new decals. I think the order would be paint:decal:clearcoat. You don't clearcoat powdercoat....I'm talking "regular" paint.
Specialized sticers here...in red even: http://sporting-goods.search.ebay.co...QQsacatZ106953

[divingbiker]

I think the rear stays are bonded (glued). I think the heat of a powdercoat oven may be ..um.. detrimental to your stays.
You might have to go to Specialized - via your dealer - for new decals. I think the order would be paint:decal:clearcoat. You don't clearcoat powdercoat....I'm talking "regular" paint.

Yeah, I just went down to the bike room to look at a Sequoia, and I think the rear stays might be a problem. Have to ask the LBS what my options are there. Or maybe DebW knows? Definitely won't do it if I can't remove the stays and paint only the frame.

My sister said that my nephew did a motorcycle recently, and they did a shiny outer layer over the initial powder coat. Might not be called clear coat, but there's some option like that.

I'll just have to call my nephew and talk to him about it tonight.

[DebW]

Yeah, I just went down to the bike room to look at a Sequoia, and I think the rear stays might be a problem. Have to ask the LBS what my options are there. Or maybe DebW knows? Definitely won't do it if I can't remove the stays and paint only the frame.

Stays don't come off. Fork is easily removed, though. I don't know much about powder coating. But there are plenty of mixed carbon-aluminum frames around, so frame refinishers must be familiar with that issue.

[Zen]

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RED!

[Zen]

you can do great things with colored accessories.

And a dive trip a little closer to home?