Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - COPPER PLATING KILO TT - I need photo help for sure

I just got in the new Kilo TT / Stripper frame in Copper
To me; it is fantastic beyond beleif; but taking photos of this frame is just not too easy for me - none do it justice -- hopefully my graphics guy can improve on this when the bikes come in! {also getting Black Chrome - which will be even harder to photo**

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/bikedoctor/DSC09568.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/bikedoctor/DSC09569.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/bikedoctor/DSC09566.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/bikedoctor/DSC09563.jpg

are you shooting with flash? If you are, don't.. A bike with a finish like that really needs to be shot in a studio environment with a solid background, and with filters over the lights. You can also attempt to lower the amount of light and close down your aperture and expose for a longer amount of time. Good luck!

turn flash off.
mount camera on tripod.
use timer, since your hand will cause the camera to wobble.
do it outside, in daylight, preferably somewhere with no shadows.
use the highest zoom on your camera and back up until the frame fits within the sightings.


Just how much of a pain is it to keep copper plating rust free and fingerprint free?

Thanks for the photo tips
I think my graphics guy can get good pictures where he takes the bike photos
But I think it may still be hard to show what this finish looks like in 'real life'
I am affraid pictures will just look like it is gold - but it is really much more impressive than that

To tell you the truth - even our phots of Chrome and of Polished Aluminum do not look as nice as the product does when you are standing there next to it in person

copper plating I think should not rust easy; but my understanding is it changes with time and that is something peple like about it.
it does not seem to show fingerprints too much

Black Chrome will be way different

Just a question, how wise is it to use bare aluminum on copper plating?

galvanic corrosion between those two metals is pretty easy without some barrier, especially after a wet ride.

Just a question, how wise is it to use bare aluminum on copper plating?

galvanic corrosion between those two metals is pretty easy without some barrier, especially after a wet ride.

we do not use bare aluminum with copper plate

the copper plate is on 4130 steel

we do bare polished AL on bikes like SST-AL and 700HT


i think this copper will be fine in terms of corrosion resistance

I always wondered about your photos, why they weren't nicer.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/bikedoctor/DSC09563.jpg
I have that same baseboard moulding! And my wall color is the same too. OMG!

we do not use bare aluminum with copper plate

the copper plate is on 4130 steel

we do bare polished AL on bikes like SST-AL and 700HT


i think this copper will be fine in terms of corrosion resistance

I'm talking about the seatpost collar.
looks aluminum.

Oh. Wow. That looks kind of awesome. I just got my OS, don't make me sell it and get one of these.

very nice. but when are the lugged kilos coming? my credit card is burning holes in my pockets.

turn flash off.
mount camera on tripod.
use timer, since your hand will cause the camera to wobble.
do it outside, in daylight, preferably somewhere with no shadows.
use the highest zoom on your camera and back up until the frame fits within the sightings.


turn flash off. Yes.
mount camera on tripod. No need.
use timer, since your hand will cause the camera to wobble. No need.
do it outside, in daylight, preferably somewhere with no shadows. Yes
use the highest zoom on your camera and back up until the frame fits within the sightings. No. Because most point and shoot cameras lose image quality while zooming.

turn flash off. Yes.
mount camera on tripod. No need.
use timer, since your hand will cause the camera to wobble. No need.
do it outside, in daylight, preferably somewhere with no shadows. Yes
use the highest zoom on your camera and back up until the frame fits within the sightings. No. Because most point and shoot cameras lose image quality while zooming.


These are good ideas
one of my guys guys put against black background outside and shot with no flash

Anyway; I have a guy building that one up to ride while we experiement with local plating on his frame
and I may take a picture of his build

And by June we should have production in stock
as these are $50 over a painted Kilo TT - we will see now people like them

very nice. but when are the lugged kilos coming? my credit card is burning holes in my pockets.


These are still months off
we have the lugged nickel plated frame on BI at a super deal

I'm talking about the seatpost collar.
looks aluminum.

dingdingding! we have a winner!

I have that same baseboard moulding! And my wall color is the same too. OMG!

Me too! Insanity!

Also, I think the frame looks awesome. I realize the pictures don't do it justice, but I can imagine how much different/better it will look in person.

How much is this frameset going to cost?

If you send it to me, I'll take as many pictures as you want ;)

This is a funny thread. Yeah, the bike looks cool and all but he's like "hey I need photo help" and then whenever people try to give him tips he goes "yeah my graphics guy blah blah blah". Why not just say "Here's another kilo to add the the seemingly endless list of kilos". People would be fine with that. You don't need to mask your advertisement with PHOTO HELP PLEASE. You are, for lack of better words, preaching to your own choir here bikes direct dude.

so... where/how can we get this copper plated frame? and how much? etc?

I have that same baseboard moulding! And my wall color is the same too. OMG!

you sure you guys aren't roommates?

Need better pics. Just looks like gold chrome in these. I hope it's actually a much darker shade, you know, like copper.

looks pretty good to me. i'll trade you my green kilo frame for that copper plated one!

This is a funny thread. Yeah, the bike looks cool and all but he's like "hey I need photo help" and then whenever people try to give him tips he goes "yeah my graphics guy blah blah blah". Why not just say "Here's another kilo to add the the seemingly endless list of kilos". People would be fine with that. You don't need to mask your advertisement with PHOTO HELP PLEASE. You are, for lack of better words, preaching to your own choir here bikes direct dude.

The I need Photo help was more of a self degrading attempt at humor; sorry
Somethings I can be funny in person; but anything I try to write that is funny is an epic fail [as my kids say]

But the truth is - actually even guy graphics guy and everyone I have ever seen has issues with plated bikes -- plated bikes can look really great in person - and then kinda boring in person

But my point is more - my pictures are even worse than most

And actually I would like tips that might get super good pictures of plated [especially black chrome] -- if I could bring photos to people via intenet that truing represented polished aluminum, Chrome, Copper, or Black Chrome - I would greatly increase hpw many I purchase. [by the way, same is about true of high grade metallics]

Sorry; for the poor attempt at humor

Need better pics. Just looks like gold chrome in these. I hope it's actually a much darker shade, you know, like copper.

Actually, this is an issue -- we have all talked about
plating is copper for sure; but it looks much like gold [which is surely is not]
We are wondering if it will get darker with age [in the way neons get lighter with age]

Painting is much easier and cheaper
Plating is hard, long lead time, and costly - with mixed results sometimes; therefore you see few plated bikes
I just want to do a few for fun

so... where/how can we get this copper plated frame? and how much? etc?

To start it is a bike only [stripper level and no decals except ST & HT]
Should be in by June
Complete bike in copper or black chrome will be $399 or so

If popular and durable and high QC; we will bring frames

how durable is the plating? i can imagine if its thin...rock chips will destroy the pristine finish really quick.

how durable is the plating? i can imagine if its thin...rock chips will destroy the pristine finish really quick.


What I know is that Chrome and Black Chrome are good - very few issues I have seen in decades of bikes.
But honestly - I have never seen anyone do a copper like the frame shown here.
A guy in the office that commutes is converting his Kilo TT to this sample sample; and will start riding it now.
So we will have a short term test before the bikes come in; I hope we see no big issues.

The number of these I am getting is very small compared to what we sell overall in SS/FG
I just wanted to have an option for fun - in case anyone wanted to have a steam-punk look or something else special.

Kinda like the RAW finish {BTW factory fought with me for weeks about building the RAW stripper and made me sign a release from
rust issues e-mail AND charged me extra to not paint the frames&forks -- but it turns out customers love it; no big issues; and I keep re-ordering them**

Sometimes - you just like to try something out for the heck of it

This is a funny thread. Yeah, the bike looks cool and all but he's like "hey I need photo help" and then whenever people try to give him tips he goes "yeah my graphics guy blah blah blah". Why not just say "Here's another kilo to add the the seemingly endless list of kilos". People would be fine with that. You don't need to mask your advertisement with PHOTO HELP PLEASE. You are, for lack of better words, preaching to your own choir here bikes direct dude.

I was thinking the same thing. A thinly veiled pimp thread. Then he admitted it lol.

The interesting thing to me is that copper oxidizes green.

looks really cool, but copper oxidizes very quickly. Are you going to shoot a clearcoat over them, or is it up to the owners to wax often?

looks really cool, but copper oxidizes very quickly. Are you going to shoot a clearcoat over them, or is it up to the owners to wax often?

Please dont clearcoat these. It destroys the point of plating and the finish. If anything maintain good quality control of the plating.

looks really cool, but copper oxidizes very quickly. Are you going to shoot a clearcoat over them, or is it up to the owners to wax often?

they will come with clear coat; and of course it is nice to wax them if your like

Get this - one of my employees is going to get one; strip the parts; remove the clear coat; bury it in his yard for a month or two; then dig it up; so the he can have in oxidized in all types of green & turquoise; and then rebuild it very steam-punk {I think it will be an interesting experiment**

Please dont clearcoat these. It destroys the point of plating and the finish. If anything maintain good quality control of the plating.

we are talking 6 weeks to 2 months in salt air before we land and ship them; kinda have to go for clear coat; sorry

This is a funny thread. Yeah, the bike looks cool and all but he's like "hey I need photo help" and then whenever people try to give him tips he goes "yeah my graphics guy blah blah blah". Why not just say "Here's another kilo to add the the seemingly endless list of kilos". People would be fine with that. You don't need to mask your advertisement with PHOTO HELP PLEASE. You are, for lack of better words, preaching to your own choir here bikes direct dude.

Easy destikon. The mods gave me an infraction for calling this one out.

clearcoat on the chrome ones too?

we are talking 6 weeks to 2 months in salt air before we land and ship them; kinda have to go for clear coat; sorry

Well if you really must coat the copper. Though I don't see the point. If that is the case, you should just spray it copper and clearcoat. I personally appreciate the natural copper plating with all its oxidation for unique look and natural attributes. Are you going to clearcoat your chromes too? I work with a lot of custom cars and the advantage with of chrome plating is so you don't have to clearcoat the parts. Clearcoat is for paint. If you deem clear coating is necessary for your chrome plated bikes, I question the quality of your plating.

Easy destikon. The mods gave me an infraction for calling this one out.

Hmm is this because they pay for ad space here? Or they're a premium member? Or was it the way you put it?

Easy destikon. The mods gave me an infraction for calling this one out.


I'll second this queston of why would they give an infraction? They locked a thread recently which, as far as I can tell, was pretty much the same thing, advertising under the guise of a question. I am not in favor of this sort of thread locking, but to do that and then take a significantly different action here seems kind of ridiculous. Is it just because everyone has a hardon for BD bikes? Sure, it's a new and interesting frame, and they're great guys over there, but is it not still a form of product marketing?

I'll second this queston of why would they give an infraction? They locked a thread recently which, as far as I can tell, was pretty much the same thing, advertising under the guise of a question. I am not in favor of this sort of thread locking, but to do that and then take a significantly different action here seems kind of ridiculous. Is it just because everyone has a hardon for BD bikes? Sure, it's a new and interesting frame, and they're great guys over there, but is it not still a form of product marketing?

See, YO! isn't telling you the whole story :) That is not why YO! got his infractions (plural). He may just want you to feel like he's a victim of overzealous mods. I'm not sure. You'd have to ask him.

BD has upgraded their membership and are therefore allowed to advertise items for sale, be it overtly or covertly. YO! does not have an updgraded membership (as little as $3).

The thread that was closed was a guy covertly shilling with his first post being, "Hey! I found this cool product...never heard of it. Looks awesome!!!!1111!" while he owns the domain of the product.

they will come with clear coat; and of course it is nice to wax them if your like

Get this - one of my employees is going to get one; strip the parts; remove the clear coat; bury it in his yard for a month or two; then dig it up; so the he can have in oxidized in all types of green & turquoise; and then rebuild it very steam-punk {I think it will be an interesting experiment**

That is a very interesting idea, but all he has to do is leave it outside without the clear coat. Are you in an extremely dry climate? I think I remember Texas?

See, YO! isn't telling you the whole story :) That is not why YO! got his infractions (plural). He may just want you to feel like he's a victim of overzealous mods. I'm not sure. You'd have to ask him.

BD has upgraded their membership and are therefore allowed to advertise items for sale, be it overtly or covertly. YO! does not have an updgraded membership (as little as $3).

The thread that was closed was a guy covertly shilling with his first post being, "Hey! I found this cool product...never heard of it. Looks awesome!!!!1111!" while he owns the domain of the product.

I absolutely understand the fact that BD is important around here. Advertisers are the people that make this board possible. I wasn't trying to be rude. I just thought it was sort of funny. And that ended up being the point from his response to me. See, no harm.

See, YO! isn't telling you the whole story :) That is not why YO! got his infractions (plural). He may just want you to feel like he's a victim of overzealous mods. I'm not sure. You'd have to ask him.

BD has upgraded their membership and are therefore allowed to advertise items for sale, be it overtly or covertly. YO! does not have an updgraded membership (as little as $3).

The thread that was closed was a guy covertly shilling with his first post being, "Hey! I found this cool product...never heard of it. Looks awesome!!!!1111!" while he owns the domain of the product.


I figured it was something like that. Thanks for clearing it up, as well as the upgraded membership info.
I don't have a problem with BD starting threads for new products, as it's a nice way to get a peek at new frames and complete bikes that will be coming around.


On the note of clear coat removal, I'm curious to know what one would do to remove the clearcoat... I think the oxidation could end up with a pretty cool result!

Do you remember when this used to be fun?

riding bikes or arguing about them?

i think this copper will be fine in terms of corrosion resistance

I really, really like the way the newly plated copper looks. So will it turn green like the Statue of Liberty as it ages?

Doesn't clearcoating chrome cause it to become cloudy? Does clearcoat cause the same change with the copper plating?

I really, really like the way the newly plated copper looks. So will it turn green like the Statue of Liberty as it ages?

If the copper piping I have sitting around is any indication, it'll turn dark brownish where the finger prints are and green for the places with no finger prints on portions where it is bare.

Clear coat may prevent that, though...

Clearcoat will prevent the green or dark brown oxidation. And without it, the steel underneath will start oxidizing as well in time.

Doesn't matter the quality of the plating. A non clearcoated version of this will result in the steel oxidizing.

For the guy wanting to bury it and get it to oxidize.....Just sit it outside. And once it oxidizes to your liking, spray it with clearcoat so it will maintain that look and not oxidize the steel under the plating.

But looks cool. Can't wait to see the black chrome.