Wish I could make that "SPECIALIZED" down tube decal less prominent!
05-23-14, 05:52 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Denver area (Ken Caryl Valley)
Posts: 1,802
Bikes: 2022 Moots RCS, 2014 BMC SLR01 DA Mech, 2020 Santa Cruz Stigmata, Ibis Ripmo, Trek Top Fuel, Specialized Levo SL, Norco Bigfoot VLT
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 464 Post(s)
Liked 182 Times
in
118 Posts
Wish I could make that "SPECIALIZED" down tube decal less prominent!
Not sure why it bothers me but that HUGE white downtube "SPECIALIZED" decal just does. So I thought of getting darker decals from Specialized- no dice. Then I considered airbrushing it dark grey but $200 is the cost! I can't cut my own decals so that is out. Any other ideas? I can live with it but would love to cover it or stealth it up nicely (as in not using a rectangular black vinyl sheet to cover it).
Bike below is NOT mine (same model and color) but I have changed the white seat and bar tape to black already.
Bike below is NOT mine (same model and color) but I have changed the white seat and bar tape to black already.
05-23-14, 06:07 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Denver area (Ken Caryl Valley)
Posts: 1,802
Bikes: 2022 Moots RCS, 2014 BMC SLR01 DA Mech, 2020 Santa Cruz Stigmata, Ibis Ripmo, Trek Top Fuel, Specialized Levo SL, Norco Bigfoot VLT
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 464 Post(s)
Liked 182 Times
in
118 Posts
I thought of paint and a paintbrush but that would be a disaster. I like the Sharpie idea- maybe a dark grey one. 
05-23-14, 06:09 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Denver area (Ken Caryl Valley)
Posts: 1,802
Bikes: 2022 Moots RCS, 2014 BMC SLR01 DA Mech, 2020 Santa Cruz Stigmata, Ibis Ripmo, Trek Top Fuel, Specialized Levo SL, Norco Bigfoot VLT
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 464 Post(s)
Liked 182 Times
in
118 Posts
05-23-14, 06:09 PM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Denver area (Ken Caryl Valley)
Posts: 1,802
Bikes: 2022 Moots RCS, 2014 BMC SLR01 DA Mech, 2020 Santa Cruz Stigmata, Ibis Ripmo, Trek Top Fuel, Specialized Levo SL, Norco Bigfoot VLT
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 464 Post(s)
Liked 182 Times
in
118 Posts
Haha- no angle grinder on the bike though I have one.
05-23-14, 06:11 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Lexington KY
Posts: 476
Bikes: Salsa Casseroll for Street and Airborne Hobgoblin for dirt
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
In a perfect world that decal would have been red. That would have looked better anyway.
05-23-14, 06:44 PM
#11
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 218
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think short of getting it professionally repainted anything you do to try and cover it up will look worse than the original logo. The original logo is also under the clear coat. Unless you can clear coat whatever you put on it will look very out of place. I'd just leave well enough alone. I'm not exactly thrilled of the over branding of bikes today, but it's hard to avoid. Overall it looks nice, though. I know someone who has the same bike, they replaced the saddle with a black one and got red bartape, it looks sweet. Peeling off the wheel decals is also a good way to make the bike look more stealthy.
05-23-14, 06:49 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 252
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah, not much of a fan of the rolling billboard look that seems to be the norm these days.
What about a carefully applied layer of dark grey window tint film?
What about a carefully applied layer of dark grey window tint film?
05-23-14, 06:54 PM
#13
Senior Member
Just go to a sign shop and get them to make up an overlay in the colour you want, even black. They should be able to match the font and letter spacing so all you have to do is put it on. Or have them do it. It would look classier than anything else.
I think someone should sue Specialized for eye soreness.
I think someone should sue Specialized for eye soreness.
05-23-14, 07:05 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Incheon, South Korea
Posts: 2,835
Bikes: Nothing amazing... cheap old 21 speed mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
When it comes to a nice finish I think Irish cycles does it very well. Very few decals and well placed. A Black carbon roadie sans decals looks nice.
05-23-14, 07:26 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,602
Bikes: Ridley Noah fast, Colnago CLX,Giant Propel Advanced, Pinnerello Gogma 65.1, Specialized S-works Venge, CAADX,Cervelo S3
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 74 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
why spend $$ on such a riding billboard? you can get a non name chinese fram..eh
05-23-14, 07:38 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 939
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
05-23-14, 08:40 PM
#22
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times
in
1,187 Posts
Could be worse, you could own a Trek.
Must be over 15 Trek/Bontrager logos on my Madone.
Personally, I rather have bare carbon. Even thought about getting the frame stripped but not sure of a easy method that would not damage the carbon.
Must be over 15 Trek/Bontrager logos on my Madone.
Personally, I rather have bare carbon. Even thought about getting the frame stripped but not sure of a easy method that would not damage the carbon.
05-23-14, 08:44 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Incheon, South Korea
Posts: 2,835
Bikes: Nothing amazing... cheap old 21 speed mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
How are Giant? Considering getting the anyroad 1 as my next bike. Its specs are great for the price. But, I also loath a riding billboard.
05-23-14, 08:54 PM
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Denver area (Ken Caryl Valley)
Posts: 1,802
Bikes: 2022 Moots RCS, 2014 BMC SLR01 DA Mech, 2020 Santa Cruz Stigmata, Ibis Ripmo, Trek Top Fuel, Specialized Levo SL, Norco Bigfoot VLT
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 464 Post(s)
Liked 182 Times
in
118 Posts
I do like the bike and I got a smoking deal on it as I was shopping for a Roubaix, so it worked out very well. I do like the sign shop vinyl overlay idea now, and even the dark window tint one. Will make some calls tomorrow or early next week. It's just that the last few months, I do feel a bit like a rolling billboard for Specialized. So I replaced the white bar tape and the white seat. My new black wheels will be sticker-free. Not trying to disguise it- just never liked huge white decals and I agree- red or a gray or matte black would have looked better. I am actually trying to like the look of the bike more so I don't do something impulsive and buy another one. That decal is the only thing that bothers me and it is huge.
I dare not try to strip the frame. I like the plain carbon look but it isn't happening with this one. Maybe a Parlee next time.
Maybe I can move the bike from my formal (unused) dining room to the basement. I'd look at it less that way.
I dare not try to strip the frame. I like the plain carbon look but it isn't happening with this one. Maybe a Parlee next time.
Maybe I can move the bike from my formal (unused) dining room to the basement. I'd look at it less that way.
Last edited by Chandne; 05-23-14 at 08:58 PM.