Originally Posted by
randyjawa
...But original paint is valuable in a very real dollars and cents sense. I cannot stress that point enough. Paint a bike and lower its value - a lot!
Generally good advice, but I doubt this particular frame would suffer "a lot" in lowered value with a re-paint. It's a nice 531 frame and all, but not particularly noteworthy, collectible, or rare.
That being said - a good re-paint is spendy, and you will not recoup the money spent in any future sale. If you really can't live with it, repaint it without worry or hesitation. But I must say that I agree with both the previous posts and you last post - touch it up, ride it, call it good. If you really, really fall in love with it, send it off for a professional re-do. It won't de-value this bike.
Originally Posted by
Grand Bois
It looks like you've already taken care of the rust on the top tube and I think it looks better without the stripes.
+1