Originally Posted by
southpawboston
Honestly, while I can understand the whole patina obsession, I don't buy into it. I like my bikes to look nice. I like nice finishes. I'd repaint any classic bike, as long as the paintwork was done as well as if not better than the original. Or, let me put it this way-- I like to view the historical essence of some of my bikes through the perspective of seeing them as the original owner might have when the bike was brand new. Others like to see patina as a record of the bike's usage. To each his own... but for God's sake don't give me the whole 'patina is sacred' line, I don't buy it.
I see this all the time in the vintage audio business. You can restore and make it functional- and at the same time it can loose value because its no longer original, even though you could not use it without restoration. A lot has to do with the quality of restoration. If restored properly, with good attention to doing a neat a correct job, without over-restoration, then value can be added.
With bikes I usually leave the paint the way I found it; I figure the next guy can do that work (and pay the price) if I ever sell the machine, unless it looks so bad I just can't stand it- then I am that next guy...