To each their own, but I think it looks pretty good as is. Actually, I would prefer a bit more color if it were mine, but again, to each their own. Can't help with your quest as I'm still quite a novice myself, but I can empathize with your search. Last year I picked up a K2 for what I considered to be a great price. I picked it up mainly because it has 105 groupset and I guarantee the groupset alone would have cost me more than I paid for the bike. Not a lot of interest in the K2 brand but it has become one of my favorites, and oddly enough, I can't even really explain why.