General Cycling Discussion - Yay or Nay? Decals on bike frame.

So the time is getting near that my bike will be done. The frame is being built up right now. I still have time to let the LBS know if I should have the factory decals put on or not.

The bike might be a target for those who know what it is. But the decals are so plain that it doesn't really make the bike look tacky. Not sure if I should have it "labled" or not.

Well, provided you take precautions (NY-style bike lock et al) I don't see what harm it can do. Then again, I am more partial to the "clean" look of no or very few decals.

Good gracious, I forgot to include a pic of the bike!

http://www.ltmracing.com/productos/moots/vamoots_large.jpg

I'd leave them off. A Moots isn't a run of the mill Trek or Specialized, but why be a billboard? Especially when it can draw the wrong kind of attention.

Yeah that's what I was sorta thinking, Raiyn. But I figure the decals were so plain..........

Good thought though! Thanks for your input. :)

decals all the way...I say

Yeah that's what I was sorta thinking, Raiyn. But I figure the decals were so plain..........

Good thought though! Thanks for your input. :)
Anybody who's thumbed through "Bicycling" knows what a Moots is. Sure that doesn't mean anything to a crackhead, but to a "shopper" style thief that's an open invite. Besides stealthy is always cooler than blaring billboard

SBW, you could always "split the difference" and opt for decals on the stem and seatpost only if you select Moots titanium for both of those components. The only way decals will truly remain on the bike for any length of time is if you have the frame clearcoated. Unprotected, the decals will eventually chip and/or pull off.

The only thing Moots is the frame. After spending my savings on it, I had to go way low in the component groupo.

I don't even think the frame is clearcoated, is it?

Anybody who's thumbed through "Bicycling" knows what a Moots is. Sure that doesn't mean anything to a crackhead, but to a "shopper" style thief that's an open invite. Besides stealthy is always cooler than blaring billboard


Yes. That is true. I might call him tomorrow.

I don't even think the frame is clearcoated, is it?
He means after the stickers are put on.

Yes. That is true. I might call him tomorrow.
I wasn't trying to scare you, but if I had a choice, (that didn't involve repainting or scratching them off) I wouldn't want them.

He means after the stickers are put on.


Ah okay got it. I'm a little tired. My eyes are zoning.

But yes, I'm considering having them leave it off. The only tell tale sign would be the head badge and maybe the drop outs. Moots has strange drop outs.

Ah okay got it. I'm a little tired. My eyes are zoning.

But yes, I'm considering having them leave it off. The only tell tale sign would be the head badge and maybe the drop outs. Moots has strange drop outs.
Headbadges (http://www.headbadges.com/)are cool. Regardless of who's they are.

Theft risk isn't going to change, as that bike is very obviously gorgeous regardless.

Are you nuts? I would *LOVE* to have the opportunity to refuse being a riding billboard.

For my personal taste, I would almost always opt to avoid brand name decals... I did buy a set of decals for my 1955 Schwinn, but as long as I know what a bike is, I don't need the equivalent of clothing tags showing on my bike.

Now, if you christen your bike with a specific name THAT is a decal I would put on... Or maybe a favorite short saying, or a charity, or a bikeforums.net URL...

I used to know a guy who covered his Litespeed with decals. Mostly bikini wearing anime chick decals, but it looked cool.

As for factory decals, why on earth would you do that? Better to do your own.

IMO- decal-less looks better

The opportunity to have a decal-less bike is one of the many charming things about my current build I'm working. No logo.

That being said, I'm pondering going to this (www.edecals.com) site and having perhaps a custom decal MADE for the frame. I just need to figure out what to have it say...

Perhaps simply "Banzai".

Decals are for noobs. If you're going to put decals, do something novel or unique. Maybe put your name in the top tube or something.

Nay to decals.

Go with just the "vamoots" one.

Now, if you christen your bike with a specific name THAT is a decal I would put on... Or maybe a favorite short saying, or a charity, or a bikeforums.net URL...

+1. Come up with a cool name or saying and go to a local sign shop. They can make vinyl decals in any color or font you want. I found a shop near me that did two bikes for around $20.

Go with just the "vamoots" one.

I was thinking the same thing. I went very low key with the decals when I had my Serotta repainted recently. Serotta on the downtube only, S's on the headtube and one centered on the seat tube. With your Moots, I'd go with something even more low key or completely blank.

Yeah, unfortunately my Crosscheck's labels aren't clearcoated and now they're peeling off and it looks TERRIBLE!! I'm going to take a few hours here soon and peel the rest off, but it's not the easiest process (I've tried a little already). So, unless you'll be riding only when it's nice out (water seems to cause the Surly decals to bubble a little) and planning to never ever bump it against anything, and if you REALLY LOVE the Moots decals, then go for it. Otherwise, I'd also totally vote no.

Hmmmm...How about a simple decal of a pink lilly like in your avatar. Seriously.

I would just pick ONE location and get rid of the rest.

Yeah, unfortunately my Crosscheck's labels aren't clearcoated and now they're peeling off and it looks TERRIBLE!! I'm going to take a few hours here soon and peel the rest off, but it's not the easiest process (I've tried a little already).
Actually that's GOOD news for me. Makes my job easier on the next build. Have you tried heating the decals with a hair dryer or heat gun?

I just went through the same choice. I went with the bike name because it is from a small builder and I figured anyone who knew the name would be able to see bike for what it is was even without decals.

As for decals/stickers I hate them. To me they look cheap even when clear coated. The frame builder painted their name (and my name) on my frame. Very cool!

A lot of reasons not to put the decals on.....Hmmm. You all have a lot of good ideas for alternate decals. Thanks!

Yeah, given the choice, I'd opt out of decals as well. The Moots decals are much more subdued than a lot of bikes, but all of that pretty bare titanium needs to remain as uncovered as possible!

I removed all the "Seven" lables from my frame and placed one with my signature on the top bar. Unless your name is "moots" I say get rid of them. You own the bike, so your's should be the name on it.

The posted image has 5 visible decals on a single side- it goes well into 'tacky' territory.

No decals. Someone sufficiently into bikes has a good chance of guessing it's a Moots anyway, and IMO understatement is way classier than riding a billboard.

I agree with Ritehsedad- a custom decal would be much nicer.

PS: I'm also having a Ti MTB frame made at the moment. No decals, no headbadge. Though I did consider having one of the old Airborne Vargas stickers put on the TT :D

I personal would leave something along with the headbadge that says MOOTS. I'd be proud of it. I don't know how big a company MOOTS is but not everyone has one.

Be proud of it. You worked hard for it.

As far as theft goes- I don't know where you live and ride but chances are you are not going to let it out of your sight anyway.

I was thinking the same thing. I went very low key with the decals when I had my Serotta repainted recently. Serotta on the downtube only, S's on the headtube and one centered on the seat tube. With your Moots, I'd go with something even more low key or completely blank.
+1, but I'm one of those theft-paranoid folks. Also, I've never been fond of logos.

i would cover it with Garbage Pal Kids stickers....really. Or just leave it plain.
Sometimes plain is just better.

...Not sure if I should have it "labled" or not.

Well, it depends on the decals, doesn't it? If you like them, go for it! If not, who else should get to say?

I tend to be a bit whimsical with my own - I printed some myself & had them clear-coated onto my frame. They looked better than "factory" decals and were unique!

I'd be unlikely to put factory decals on mine. If they want me to advertise, they should pay me - not vice versa. In any case, I'd be interested to see what you end up doing. Please post photos! :D

i would cover it with Garbage Pal Kids stickers....really. Or just leave it plain.
Sometimes plain is just better.
Damn I remember those when they first came out 20 years ago. If they're still printed on paper and not a vinyl or foil substrate I'd skip them. Heck I probably have a box of them back at the 'rentals

Damn I remember those when they first came out 20 years ago. If they're still printed on paper and not a vinyl or foil substrate I'd skip them. Heck I probably have a box of them back at the 'rentals

now im gonna have to go buy a pack and see what there printed on!
now they gotta be like $3 a pack probably. What did they used to be...50 cents or something.

I like a clean look without decals.

I'd leave them off. A Moots isn't a run of the mill Trek or Specialized, but why be a billboard? Especially when it can draw the wrong kind of attention.


I'm not convinced a billboard proclaiming "Moots" is going to attract anyone who wouldn't otherwise recognize a Moots bike anyway even if it was sans decals.

Run-of-the-mill street scum will swipe whatever bike they can get quickly & discreetly. Provided your Moots is secure (and btw, if you lock up a Moots outdoors & leave it unattended you're an idiot, but that's another issue) they're not going to waste any additional time with their bolt cutters and hacksaw just because it says "Moots" on it, they're going to move on to a more easily snarfed bike.

Professional bike thieves on the other hand will swipe whatever bike there is demand for. If they're savvy enough to know a Moots commands a better resale (sic) value than a Trek or a Specialized et al, they're also savvy enough to recognize a Moots even if it's completely decal-less.


(fwiw, I generally prefer as few decals as possible. None would be wonderful, one or two is nice. I think Moots is one of the few brands whose decal scheme is subtle enough to be acceptable as is, so I could go either way re: the OP's question. A totally decal-less Vamoots would be a sweet looking bike indeed, but a stock Vamoots as pictured is so much less of an eyesore than 95% of the bikes on the road that it hardly seems worth fretting about.)

I think those decals look fine. They aren't obnoxious like some other bikes.

holy moly, nice ride.
if you're afaraid of theft leave them off and get the bike dirty. or maybe just a small decal on a chainstay...
enjoy, I am jealous.

http://www.ltmracing.com/productos/moots/vamoots_large.jpg


The posted image has 5 visible decals on a single side- it goes well into 'tacky' territory.


Please note that the stem and seatpost are optional ti items that I cannot afford. So on this pic there will be two "MOOTS" and one "Vamoots" showing from the side. There are smaller ones on the seat stays that will be seen from behind.

Oh and Acroy? You can get one too. I saved for two and a half years collecting my spare change from my pockets in a coffee can. I slipped in a twenty every once in a while. That is why my components are lower end. :o *shrugs*

I've seen some bikes that are decaled so far beyond the realm of sanity, it isn't even funny. There's this one carbon fiber Bridgestone track bike that I've seen pictures of, and I seem to remember counting 15 or so Bridgestone logos on one side. It looked completely ridiculous.

You could do a lot worse than three. :)

Even so, my vote would be for decal-less. If anything, leave the "Vamoots" on the top tube, along with the headbadge.