View Poll Results: Gloss, Matte or Satin finish?
Gloss



37
80.43%
Matte



6
13.04%
Satin



3
6.52%
Voters: 46. You may not vote on this poll
Gloss, Matte or Satin?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 1,150
From: Los Alamitos, Calif.
Bikes: Canyon Endurace
Gloss, Matte or Satin?
I'm really disappointed seeing how many new bikes are coming off the line with either a Matte or Satin finish. I really prefer a Gloss shine to my frames. Now that I'm in the market for a new bike it's become even harder finding something I like (Gloss).
What do you think?
What do you think?
#2
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,919
Likes: 998
From: Louisville KY
Bikes: 06 Lemond Reno, 98 GT Timberline
Gloss for me also. Seems to hold up better. A good friend has a bike with a matte finish frame, and a car with some matte finish parts. The bike and parts on the car seem to show every scuff. He is careful and keeps everything he owns in top shape. He is getting the bike repainted, or perhaps powder coated. I should add that my very old mtn.bike is what I would call a "satin" finish and is holding up very well. So not all paint jobs are created equal. But given a choice, still gloss for me.
Last edited by freeranger; 02-15-22 at 09:33 AM.
#5
Sr Member on Sr bikes

Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,114
Likes: 1,290
From: Rhode Island (sometimes in SE Florida)
Bikes: Several...from old junk to new all-carbon.
I voted gloss. And also would like to add “a color” too, and with not too many decals. IMO, too many bikes today are all black or all white.
Dan
Dan
Last edited by _ForceD_; 02-15-22 at 07:26 PM.
#6
#10
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 1,466
Likes: 1,416
From: Chicago
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito XE, Via Nirone 7, GT Aggressor Pro
I am tempted to someday take an old (or not so old) bike and paint it up in a "patina" paint scheme.... Like what people often do on old classic cars and trucks. Fade the paint, dab on countless "rust" areas using artist's oil paint, and maybe have some old primer or other paint color showing through in places. A real junker! It would be particularly fun to do on a bike that is not even made of steel.
#17
Clark W. Griswold




Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,426
Likes: 6,746
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Bead Blasted
#18
I find gloss easier to wipe clean. My wife has a matt finish mtb and it's a pita to clean. Not that I bother much with cosmetic bike cleaning, but gloss only needs a quick wipe down to look good. Matt finish shows every little scuff
#19
After owning a matte bike for a few years, I wouldn't do it again (unless it was a deal that I just couldn't pass up); they always look grease-smudged and are a pain in the ass to clean.
#23
Callipygian Connoisseur
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,373
Likes: 351
I hate the shiny grease spots that inevitably show on matte finishes. I had a matte black motorcycle helmet that looked terrible with every fingerprint and smudge. Cleaning it back to a true matte finish was difficult. I briefly owned a matte black bike and couldn’t sell it fast enough for the same reason. Gloss for me. I have a satin finished bike but it’s pretty close to a gloss and wipes down easy and because it’s a great bike I deal with it.




