randomguy2

I'm interested in getting a titanium bike.
There's no way I can afford one of those litespeeds or whatever other "name brand" TI bikes. So, I'm interested in the motobecane brand TI bikes.

I've been reading around a lot here and it seems like these motobecane bikes and bikesdirect are hated pretty fiercely by the LBS owners and gear monkeys. However, I'm not too concerned and $2k or $2.8k is a lot of cash for a bike, and I expect to be sold a good product at that price, or else throw a fit at the seller. It also seems like more people here approve of this bike than of the carbon fiber bikes that retailer sells.

They have two different options:
1. the "Le Champion SL Titanium"
and
2. the "Le Champion Team Titanium" which is $800 more to step up from ultegra components to dura ace.

The dura ace upgrade is not worth $800 to me. So I'd get the "SL" version.
However, the SL version has distracting and ugly graphics. If it had the more understated graphics of the "Team" version, it might be cool and I'd want to keep it as it is. But I think I'd prefer to strip the graphics off the "SL" version if I buy it.

How could I strip the graphics? Is the frame clear-coated or is it bare metal? If it is bare metal, will I be able to get all of the paint/enamel off with some kind of chemical stripper without damaging the finish? Using sandpaper is not an option since that would screw up the finish.

Perhaps someone who has one of these bikes can advise me. Or if someone has done it, they can share how they did it and share pictures as well?

Thanks!

RT

Not to be abrasive, I really think you are focusing on the wrong part of the ride here. We all look for pretty bikes, but neither of those bikes are ugly, and quite frankly, they are low key. Stop worrying about being judged if said graphics removal is merely to satisfy what others think.

coasting 

I'm pretty sure I've got that same frame but without any logos. I think the motobecane looks great with the logos.

randomguy2

I don't care about the branding or what wrench monkeys think about mail order bikes. A $2k bike is more expensive than what most average people in the real world seem to be riding (maybe I'm wrong. I don't know.) So, being judged is not it.

However, I do care what my bikes look like, and we all pick bikes at least partially because of how they look and the paint job etc.

If I get a TI bike, I want it to be shiny and see the metal. The frame with the better logos has an outline of the logo and the frame still shows through in the center of the logo. The frame with the ultegra components has big black letters that cover up the metal. Also, the logos are ugly.

how did you get the same bike without logos? I think the "team" version looks great and the "SL" version less so. But I'm not about to spend $800 for a dura ace upgrade and a better looking paint design.

sced

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread....what-a-beauty!

https://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=J0052

https://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=J0051

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...off-Code/page9

hodie21

I'm getting the regular LE Champion Titanium. $300 less and I want the Compact crank that comes on it. Sell the Aksium Wheels and get a custom Psimet build. I agree with you on the decals. I'm not going to worry about it though.

The PBK is a nice bike but you won't be able to build it up for what the BD bike costs.

Hunt-man

I purchased the Moto Ti cross bike a few years ago. Stickers were easy to remove with some Goof Off and a heat gun. Just ask them if there is clear coat on the frame and if it is over the decals. Over the decals and removal becomes a big messy problem.

valygrl

I stripped ugly graphics off my Ti bike. Graphics were stickers, and not clear-coated. I tried a number of different products to make the come off - can't remember what-all - but nothing really worked very well. I just pretty much spent a billion hours picking at it with my thumbnail.

FWIW, I think the bikesdirect hate is more of a forum phenomenon than an In Real LIfe phenomenon, so if you are really thinking about that forget it. On an unrelated note, I just did the white rim trail with a guy who got a new Motobecane mountain bike, and he was very happy with it, and it looked nice.

Aimulator64

I personally would not strip the decals off. How much are you looking at your bike while riding it?

Otherwise, when you strip them off, more people are bound to stop and ask you what brand it is. You gotta tell them anyway, so may as well leave the stickers on, save yourself trouble. Or get some new stickers from a different motobecane and slap them on there

randomguy2

I've also seen some ugly graphics on the more expensive TI bikes that I'd want stripped off. For example, I think I've seen some Litespeeds or something with ugly yellow graphics. There are a lot of other TI bikes with really subtle graphics that blend in. I would prefer this to a bare frame and would also prefer it to have a really subtle motobecane logo that blends in than a bare frame. But I'd rather have a bare frame than some ugly graphics that stand out.

Anyway, has anybody found out how the graphics are affixed to the motobecane? Are the graphics clear coated? And is the bike clear coated or is it raw TI? Thanks.

rjones28 

I'd say that that's really just a BF thing. My LBS is pretty nice to me and I didn't buy my bike from him.

tuxbailey

Just be aware that if you strip the sticker you might be stripping the warranty as well. They are selling them cheap but they want the advertising...

Sprocket Man

I had the same question several months back so I emailed them directly. Here's the exchange:

Me: I am interested in getting a titanium frame and the Motobecane Le Champion Team Titanium frames look nice and are priced right. However, I really like my bikes to have a “minimalist” look, and I was wondering if the decals on the top tube and down tube are removable without having to strip a clear coat. If so, what would be the easiest and cleanest way to remove them without damaging the finish of the frame?

BD Tech: We do not recommend removing decals due to the fact that it will void the warranty on the bicycle.

Nachoman

Good for people to know that.

mrvile

Ding ding ding.