I got this frame about 2 months ago in good usable condition, but cosmetically really rough.

I did a quick cleanup on it, built it up and put about 150 miles on it to see if it was worthy. Well, it rides really well, and makes a nice comfortable and relatively light bike.

So I ripped it back apart, cleaned the inside of the tubes and sealed it with some boiled linseed oil. I can't find an original decal set for a repaint, which it really needs. Older sets are still available. like this one:

It's not an original bike, it's a combination of mostly French parts. Plus I'd like to change the color. I'm thinking repaint and put on the available decals- What do you think?

I would touch up the gray areas and ride it for a while. You can touch it up for a couple of dollars. Gray is relatively easy to match.

I would not use those wrong era decals.

Personally, and for several good reasons, I would not paint the bicycle. Touch up the paint, as best you can, and learn to appreciate the present patina. This is not to say that you need to tolerate a completely trashed set of cosmetics. 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!

The decals you seek do come up on Ebay, from time to time. There is no reason why you could not remove the stickers and just replace those, when the opportunity to do so presents itself. Sticker removal and replacement is not difficult.

Again, I urge you to consider keeping the bicycle as original as you possibly can. In time, you will understand the value in doing so, if you stick with this vintage road bicycle interest.

I've seen cosmetically "really rough." That bike ain't "really rough." Clean it, wax it, ride it, love it.

I have to agree withthe above posters. we have seen alot worse bikes in here.

It looks like you've already taken care of the rust on the top tube and I think it looks better without the stripes.

Jrrestore has scans of those decals. I know because I sent them to him!!!

The best part of touching up this bike is that the "striped" top tube decal and head tube lug help isolate the areas to respray. Differences in color shade will not stand out as much.

Yup, what he said.

Looks like two different bikes. The first photo of the distressed top tube paint and decal seems to have a smaller frame size, judging by the space between the lugs, than bike without the top tube decal in the second photo.

Well, I bondoed in some tiny dings, did a little sanding and taped off the remaining decals and refinished it in Dupli-color medium gray metallic, which is damn close to to original color. When it dries, I'll touch up the decals and do two or three coats of clear. I'll post a pic when it's done. Thanks for all the replies.
If it doesn't come out OK, I think I have a source for some repro decals.

Looks fine as is, unless you want to spend some money that you don't have to just ride it.

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.

+1

Then why did you ask whether it was worth repainting or not, if you intended to do so in the first place?

-Kurt

What I did it was the only way to keep the bike fairly original. Whoever owned the frame before me must have used it on a trainer, it had many rust spots under the hurry up paint job I originally did. Under the top tube, on the seat tube- nasty. It was really beyond simple touch up.
New paint wouldn't be that expensive as I know some guys in a body shop.
I wanted a different color, but couldn't find any decals.

Edit: It looks deceptively good in that photo.

It came out pretty good, I guess.


You can see the color difference on the head tube decal.

If that's the case, a re-paint would be a no-brainer for me on this frameset, assuming I really liked it and could find the decals. See post #7 - the decals are available.

Got my vote.

If you really want to change the color get it powdercoated. LOT cheaper and they can do great things with a two step process that will show the metallic you already have in the original. The powdercoat guys will media blast it and plug any threaded areas and where ever you dont' want color be sure to tell them. I have had two frames powdercoated and they turned out great,one cost me 125.00 and the other which is really nicer cost $98.00 total.

...and can you put decals on it?

-Kurt

Deceptively good generally works for me.