Post your debadged Bikes Direct bikes
#1
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,026
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
Post your debadged Bikes Direct bikes
Looking for ideas on how to get rid of the horrendous decals on the Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, so please post pics of your solutions.
Unfortunately the decals are under clear coat.. I was thinking of using rubbing compound or fine sand paper to take up the clear and remove the decals, then polish everything with rubbing compound to make the white shine like the clear.. but i'm not sure how good it would look. Other ideas i've heard are to cover them with tape or stickers, or repaint the whole thing, neither of which sound too appealing either.
Anyways yeah, lemme see your bikes..
Unfortunately the decals are under clear coat.. I was thinking of using rubbing compound or fine sand paper to take up the clear and remove the decals, then polish everything with rubbing compound to make the white shine like the clear.. but i'm not sure how good it would look. Other ideas i've heard are to cover them with tape or stickers, or repaint the whole thing, neither of which sound too appealing either.
Anyways yeah, lemme see your bikes..
#2
Just smang it.
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Bellingham
Posts: 2,295
Bikes: Felt F1X, Trek 2300 Composite, Dawes Deadeye
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Looking for ideas on how to get rid of the horrendous decals on the Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, so please post pics of your solutions.
Unfortunately the decals are under clear coat.. I was thinking of using rubbing compound or fine sand paper to take up the clear and remove the decals, then polish everything with rubbing compound to make the white shine like the clear.. but i'm not sure how good it would look. Other ideas i've heard are to cover them with tape or stickers, or repaint the whole thing, neither of which sound too appealing either.
Anyways yeah, lemme see your bikes..
Unfortunately the decals are under clear coat.. I was thinking of using rubbing compound or fine sand paper to take up the clear and remove the decals, then polish everything with rubbing compound to make the white shine like the clear.. but i'm not sure how good it would look. Other ideas i've heard are to cover them with tape or stickers, or repaint the whole thing, neither of which sound too appealing either.
Anyways yeah, lemme see your bikes..
#3
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,026
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
yeah that's kind of what i figured... i can't really stand the decals but I won't be able to stand a sloppy removal job even more. $100 for a new powder coat doesn't sound too bad, though I'm pretty hesitant to spend money to replace a brand new, virtually flawless paint job from the factory just because of some decals.
#4
Grumpy Old Bugga
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 4,229
Bikes: Hillbrick, Malvern Star Oppy S2, Europa (R.I.P.)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 370 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
I don't know the bike apart from the pictures on the net, but is it possible to paint a coloured band over the top?
#5
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,026
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
I'm thinking of designing my own stickers to cover them, or perhaps just some plain white vinyl like the kind they use for sign making.. i dunno though.. not sure which would look tackier
#6
Grumpy Old Bugga
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 4,229
Bikes: Hillbrick, Malvern Star Oppy S2, Europa (R.I.P.)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 370 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
If you're just going to cover them, maybe make it useful and use that reflective tape
If the existing paint is still pristine, how about painting the whole frame a solid colour without going to the trouble of stripping it? (I may have just highlighted my ignorance of frame painting )
As the non owner, I know my opinion doesn't carry a lot of weight but to me, it doesn't look too bad.
If the existing paint is still pristine, how about painting the whole frame a solid colour without going to the trouble of stripping it? (I may have just highlighted my ignorance of frame painting )
As the non owner, I know my opinion doesn't carry a lot of weight but to me, it doesn't look too bad.
#7
Fixie Infamous
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SF
Posts: 10,474
Bikes: 2007 CAAD Optimo Track, 2012 Cannondale CAAD10, 1996 GT Force restomod, 2015 Cannondale CAADX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 54 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Yeah... some white 3M reflective tape seems like a good idea.
#9
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,026
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
^ lol fake crabon for a fake motobecane
the white reflective tape idea doesn't sound too bad.. at least anything like that can be easily undone when it comes time to sell
the white reflective tape idea doesn't sound too bad.. at least anything like that can be easily undone when it comes time to sell
Last edited by frantik; 12-31-12 at 01:39 AM.
#10
Wear One
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: North Hollywood/Pomona
Posts: 297
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
plastidip everything!
#18
Your cog is slipping.
Thanks to you too - for starting the dumbest thread this forum has seen in a while.
I'm simply being logical, while you are looking for hypothetical hoops to jump through in order to solve a "problem" that only exists in your head. If you don't like the way the bike looks, you shouldn't have bought it.
I'm simply being logical, while you are looking for hypothetical hoops to jump through in order to solve a "problem" that only exists in your head. If you don't like the way the bike looks, you shouldn't have bought it.
Last edited by Scrodzilla; 12-31-12 at 08:48 AM.
#20
pro in someone's theory
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 3,236
Bikes: FTP
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 72 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Scrod's advice was the best though. Ride it hard. If you leave the stickers you will be less upset when you get scratches on it and then the bike will start to look awesome. Worry about the paint on your Lladro figurines.
#21
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,026
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
i know more of yall have debadged your bikes.. post em if you got em
#22
Your cog is slipping.
Again, I'm just offering actual logic. Apologies if that offends you in some imaginary way.
Last edited by Scrodzilla; 12-31-12 at 10:25 AM.
#23
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,026
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
I guess I didn't see the logic behind "you knew it was like that, so don't change it". I knew it had craptastic graphics, and I knew it came with a bunch of POS parts too. I knew I wanted to change those things before I even went to meet the guy I bought it from.
I'm just looking for examples of how people debadged their bikes, and happy for any other suggestions on how to do it. Your suggestion of "leave it alone" has been duly noted. Thanks. Enjoy your cereal.
I'm just looking for examples of how people debadged their bikes, and happy for any other suggestions on how to do it. Your suggestion of "leave it alone" has been duly noted. Thanks. Enjoy your cereal.
#24
The Left Coast, USA
Let's end 2012 on a positive note.
I did it to '89 Miyata Alumicross with the Miami Vice decals using a heat gun/hair dryer. Worked fine, left a very fine outline in the clear coat of where the decal used to be...not noticeable, and it disappeared once the tube was waxed. But, it seems entirely dependent on the OEM clear coat technique; does not work well with most modern bikes.
What can work nicely with white bikes is color block the decal itself with a matching white paint, then cover with cool decal, like a light silver or black reflective checked flag pattern on clear background. If you release the artist within you might end up with something that looks pure custom & expensive. Of course, if you botch it up then you will likely be headed to powder coat guy.
I did it to '89 Miyata Alumicross with the Miami Vice decals using a heat gun/hair dryer. Worked fine, left a very fine outline in the clear coat of where the decal used to be...not noticeable, and it disappeared once the tube was waxed. But, it seems entirely dependent on the OEM clear coat technique; does not work well with most modern bikes.
What can work nicely with white bikes is color block the decal itself with a matching white paint, then cover with cool decal, like a light silver or black reflective checked flag pattern on clear background. If you release the artist within you might end up with something that looks pure custom & expensive. Of course, if you botch it up then you will likely be headed to powder coat guy.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,675
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
what? there was a "miami vice" edition miyata? I kind of want to see this.