TheRef

Say you are in the market for a new bike and test riding different models. You've done your home work and checked specs and prices. You've narrowed down to a few models and when you go to your local LBS you find they carry a different brand that was not on your list. The dude at LBS convince you to at least try. You've do ride and immediately you love the bike. It feels tailor made for you. Rides like a dream. The price is right and is on par with other bikes you were researching. You want to love this bike but.... It's FUGLY!!!! and you just can't get passed the aesthetics of this bike.

What do you do**********

Elvo

Buy the bike in the colour that you prefer.

eric1971

Easy decision - buy something else. Despite how practical the purchase might seem, if you are not 100% happy, you will regret it and eventual purchase something else. In the long run, you will end up spending more money. Just get the bike you really want the first time.

jtaylor996

Now I want to know what bike is so fugly. What bike are you talking about, OP?

GlennR

Buy it and rattle can it.

Lazyass

Take the exact same situation but replace buying a bike with marrying a woman. What would you do?

GlennR

Make love with the light off.

rmfnla

Right; and why is it fugly..?

TheRef

Now that is FUNNY!!!!

Lazyass

Sounds like it's a bike that gives you a good ride but you just wouldn't want your buddies to see you on top of it. The decision is yours.

TheRef

I intentionally didn't post what bike I find it fugly as I didn't want the discussion to be about the bike. I was just wondering if people take the looks into account (i'm sure most do), and how much of it impacts the purchase decision.

This bike in particular rides really nice but I just can't see myself looking at it and say.. wow, it's a beauty.

Corbin

Like Eric said: Buy something else. the fact the you started this thread indicates that looks matter to you. All the bikes will be good so buy what you like.
If I had the money I'd buy based off looks.

rmfnla

This is the 41. Not only will we make it about the bike, we will make you wrong for thinking it is fugly...

TheRef

RShantz

Buy it. I don't have a bike for how it looks. It's certainly not art to me. Now a car is a different story, but to me a bike is a tool for a job.

12strings

How did you get in here????!!!

..."tool for a job..."

Unbelievable...

bianchi10

Pass on it, If you are like me anyway. I care very much what my bike looks like. If you dont like looking at it, you wont be as inclined to ride it. I have had my current bike for almost a year and I still walk out to my garage once or twice a week just to look at it. Its been my dream bike for years and now that I have customized it to the way I visioned it, I love it in all aspects. It rides the way I want and looks the the way I want. If you are going to blow your budget on a bike, shouldn't you like everything about it? I couldn't image spending my max budget and curl my lip every time I look at it because I hate how it looks.

The reason you did your homework was because you wanted to give yourself a guideline on what you wanted. You had another brand come into play, rode it and liked how it rode, but it doesn't do anything for you visually. Push that brand to the side and get back to your original list and narrow it down to the one you see yourself walking out to your garage, just to pet it.

practical

Emotional attachment is important - even though that sounds silly and irrational. I got a green bike that I thought was a good bike - just couldn't get into it. Had to sell it. I'm guessing you can't learn to love the looks.

caloso

How much time do you spend looking at your bike while you're riding it?

Up North

Yep, you can blame it on too much alcohol, you can wake up and run from it, but when you get home and lock the door and feel safe - that ugly bike will be there staring at you every time. Life is too short to ride and ugly bike..... Somebody's got a do it, you just need to decide if you are that somebody or not.

exime

Fat girls need lovin too. Buy it and she'll give you the best ride of your life

gsa103

Is a different paint color an option? Usually bikes come in 2-3 color choices. It may require you to go up or down a little in components but could be worth it. There aren't that many bikes that I would consider truly ugly. Trek and Specialized tend to toward bland, but rarely ugly. Other than that usually everyone does a job with color. The main exception is usually bikes painted as replica team editions with logos all over the place. I could do without the blacked out bikes, but again, rarely are they truly ugly.

I wouldn't buy a bike that I considered really ugly though.

MCODave

I have eliminated some bikes from consideration because I don't care for the color scheme. I haven't had a new bike since 2004, and a bike has to look good in order for me to even consider it. I keep them around too long to deal with plain or ugly.

RShantz

What's unbelievable or sarcasm??? Honestly confused. It's a tool for me to allow me to train & compete with others.

bianchi10

I look at my bike a lot when i ride. Riding past mirrored windows or even simply looking down at my top tube/cockpit. I guess not everyone does this, but i do and I know that most people I ride with do the same.