Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Unbranding affecting value of frame?

Recently bought an 80s pogliaghi (the one with the fugly decals, not the real nice old ones) and am thinking of striping everything and repainting it. Question is, will this considerably affect the value of the bike?

I'm thinking of getting rid of all the braze-ons too.

don't get rid of the braze ons... especially if you're concerned about retaining any value or use. leave them on, build it up with gears, and get a real track bike.

is there any indication of the maker in the lugs, or fork crowns, or seat stays, etc?

The only way it would matter is if you were going to sell the bike as mint, or to a collector. If you plan on riding it alot... I would do what makes you happy. All my bikes have nude tubes. I just like the look. Makes me happy.

The only way it would matter is if you were going to sell the bike as mint, or to a collector. If you plan on riding it alot... I would do what makes you happy. All my bikes have nude tubes. I just like the look. Makes me happy.

i dont agree.. you are at the top of a slippery slope.. if you are concerned about braze onns and decals.. its just a matter of time before youre lusting for track ends and no water bottle holes.. pass the bike on and buy a track bike instead of destroying a classic

My other concern is the amount of paint chips and rust spreading accross the frame (paint chips under the dowtube the size of quarters!). I really love that frame and don't want to see it all rusted and sh*t.

dremeled off braze-ons makes me cry.

it's like ripping the wings off a bird.

-blank frames will positively definitely have less resale value when sold, but how much will it be worth to you now ?
i've seen countless 'mystery builder but definitely 531' and 'i think some guy told me it was a colnago' type frames go for way less than they would've if their provenance was known (even with damaged transfers)... actually this is a pretty good way to get a good quality frame for a bargain price..
-consider the value of having a versatile bike... down the road, when you find a frame you like better than this one, maybe it will be valuable to you to have the potential to convert it BACK into a road bike..
-i've found rust to be a really minor problem... my px10 had terribel (ie nonexistant) paint and it never rusted.. i was careful to clean it up after riding in the rain and i usually switched to another ride in the salty winter...

-lastly, consider where the bike will go when it's no longer your's.... some guys operate under the ideal that they don't exactly own their bike but are instead holding on to it until it's time to pass it on to the next guy...
a good steel frame could last a very long time...

dremeled off braze-ons makes me cry.

it's like ripping the wings off a bird.
Dremel??? I've been going about this all wrong!!! I knew the 50 grit sanding disc on my Milwaukee grinder was a little tough to use!!!

thats why i dont remove my soma decal

The answer is simple:

- If you bought the bike to sell, keep the badges.
- If you bought the bike to ride, do whatever you want.


One answer seems a lot more fun than the other.

The more frames get ruin, the more my frames will be worth! So please grind and strip away.....THANK YOU!!!!!

The answer is simple:

- If you bought the bike to sell, keep the badges.
- If you bought the bike to ride, do whatever you want.


One answer seems a lot more fun than the other.


Hmmm.... I bought the bike to ride, but I agree that keeping everything offers more versatility. I think I might keep everything on (including original chipped paint).

thanks everyone for the advice.

i dont agree.. you are at the top of a slippery slope.. if you are concerned about braze onns and decals.. its just a matter of time before youre lusting for track ends and no water bottle holes.. pass the bike on and buy a track bike instead of destroying a classic

I was only talking about removing the stickers. I 100% agree with your other points. Chopping a frame will lower its value.

Recently bought an 80s pogliaghi (the one with the fugly decals, not the real nice old ones) and am thinking of striping everything and repainting it. Question is, will this considerably affect the value of the bike?

I'm thinking of getting rid of all the braze-ons too.

I would so post pics...

i had a similar issue.

i had to melt out a stuck seat post, then my frame was left partially burnt with the decals slightly charred too. i liked the decals on the bike i did this too (it was mostly a pragmatic issue). so i was just going to get decals made or buy new decals.

but i didn't know if i ever wanted to sell the bike if i could get what the bike is likely worth (as a side note, it was a 3rensho... yeah i know. yeah i know).

I would so post pics...

Will do shortly, when it is built up... Awaiting hubs, cranks and seatpost (and maybe a old modolo brakeset).

Here is a picture taken the day I bought it (and found out the seatpost had a wierd rail attachement and didn't work with my b17).

Today I scored a NOS American Classic seatpost for 10$ at my lbs that is now on the naked frame.

i knew ugly pog decals was an oxymoron.. that thing is ruling so hard!

i knew ugly pog decals was an oxymoron.. that thing is ruling so hard!
definitely. leave it geared, ride it tons, and get a track frame.

i knew ugly pog decals was an oxymoron.. that thing is ruling so hard!
Word! Even without the drivetrain photo, I want to keep it as is.

what was the deal with the seatpost rails ?
were they too narrow or something ?
what kind of seatpost was it

strange decals, but i would listen to the rest of these dudes when they say keep the gears!

what was the deal with the seatpost rails ?
were they too narrow or something ?
what kind of seatpost was it

It was a Kalloy 27.0mm and had adjustments for wider rails (not rail width, but the space between them).

strange decals, but i would listen to the rest of these dudes when they say keep the gears!

Sorry, I'll be fixing this thing as soon as the hubs arrive.

thanks for the advice though (I'll definitely keep everything on, in case I decide to gear it back).

Good boy. That thing is too handsome to strip down.
The paint looks really nice from that photo, can't you do something with the rust and touch it up with nail polish or something?

Good boy. That thing is too handsome to strip down.
The paint looks really nice from that photo, can't you do something with the rust and touch it up with nail polish or something?

Unfortunely, there are quite a few chips (and a few big ones). It would be to hard to paint over and have it looking half decent. This bike has been riden alot.

I'll post a few pics soon.

so just ride it! you bought it to ride...right?