gutsofgold

I bought my fixed gear used and I've loved it since day one. However, it's a beautiful bike and I hate locking it up in certain areas that I have to ride to. The frame's been painted a glossy bright red by an autobody shop and it makes the bike look much more expensive than it really was.

Any suggestions or tips on making it less attractive? How much would it cost me to have it repainted by a shop, or worth doing with regular spray paint?

jostalli

Put a "Huffy" decal on it?

91MF

feces. you're welcome.

Jabba Degrassi

What about his welcome?

91MF

fixed. you're welcome.

sp00ki

take it back to the same place and have them sandblast the paint off. if the bike is steel, it'll have this really awesome gnarly look-- clean metal through most of the tubing with a cool dark color around the welds. Have them clearcoat after the sandblast (it'll add some shine, but this isn't optional-- if you don't coat it, it'll rust). the frame will look GAAAAAAANGSTER!! (and crooks will be less likely to notice it)

if it's aluminum, it'll look shiny. no need for clear coat.

the pope

move.

triplesixer

To deter thieves:

1. Don't put bullhorns, risers, deep v's, or anything else "trendy" on it. Remember, most bicycle thieves are normal dudes looking for "sick rides" or expensive parts, not necessarily just homeless dudes.
2. If you have a brooks seat, run some old chain through it and connect it to your top tube. Ain't going nowhere. Or toss a plastic bag over it when you know it will be prone to thieves.
3. Strip paint. You can actually probably do this yourself.
4. Take used motor oil and dirty up parts. Not moving parts though.
5. If the frame is really crappy, you could wrap duct tape or gaff tape around the joints or tubes... make it look like the tape is essential... like it's THAT ****ty of a bike.

These worked for me. Good luck.

sp00ki

wtf??
1) by eliminating bullhorns and risers, you've restricted him to drops, which are (on average) the most expensive bar type available. changing paint is one thing...
2) brooks are dumb, and i'm sure he's not riding one. also, the saddle isn't the frame. read more, post less.
3) the awesome dude in post #6 covered this in greater detail. at least mention clearcoat vs rust...and no, don't do it yourself.
4) this is one of the three dumbest things ever posted on bike forums
5) zzz

liar.

Jabba Degrassi

Just so I understand the situation correctly, you spent a bunch of money getting your frame professionally painted and only now realize it would be more likely to be stolen now that it's purty?

Consider this a lesson in the value of forethought.

sp00ki

not fair, everyone makes mistakes. i think he's handling it as well as anyone in his situation can.

Jabba Degrassi

Okay, okay. Sorry.

triplesixer

Tr00, brother. And brooks rule.

dobber

Good call. I can't tell you how many thefts I've averted with just a simple plastic bag. Tangentially, wrapping myself in Saran Wrap helped avoid injury in a recent car accident.

triplesixer

or std.

jostalli

Only look right on certain bikes

eMwolB

How about leaving the frame alone and making certain that it's locked up properly? I doubt a thief in doodooville will attempt to take it if he has to go thru 2 locks. (make sure they are 2 good locks).
As far as parts...see numerous other threads on subject - example, chain thru seat, solder in allen bolts, etc...
A thief that knows bikes will be able to see thru the disguise.

Judge_Posner

stripping the existing paint is unnecessary. just get a couple cans of spray paint, take off the easily removable parts, cover the not-easily-removable parts, and shoot away like you're tagging your neighbor's fence. and then throw some stickers on it. and then put it back together. the frame will look like it came from the junkyard.

sp00ki

i guess, but sandblast and clearcoat does it with dignity. you can make your bike look undesireable without making it look dumb...

clearcoat over this:

makes it look low without being tacky.

triplesixer

Also true, but I think that a black brooks seat can look good on almost any bike. Except a strictly tarck bike.

triplesixer

That looks awesome. Is that your bike sp00ki?

peabodypride

Bull****. Most bike thieves are either bums/crack users needing money, who will take any bike, or pros who are probably going to have an idea of what frame he has and if it's worth taking. the "by-chance" would-be criminal who wants a "sick ride" is one who would do a crime of opportunity only.

00soul

rattle can over existing paint and don't clear coat it.
don't baby it
who cares, just lock everything up

sp00ki

no, just grabbed a pic from the internet. my lockup is currently an 80s nishiki converted; i'm the moron who's replacing it with an all chrome bike w/ honjo fenders.

8)

i'm using a krypto nyer and pitlocks though, so it'll eventually get scratched up by tools and hacksaws.

elTwitcho

Let it get real dirty.

And get two good locks. I lock mine up with a kryptonite fahgedaboudit and a Kryptonite evolution in the hopes that a thief is just going to move to another bike that isn't secured with two good quality locks.

And naturally, never EVER leave it locked up outside overnight if you can possibly avoid it.