Gloss or matt paint finish?

[RegG]

I called into my LBS this morning and saw a stunning looking Orbea Orca finished in a (marmite) lime green colour. The only thing that let it down, IMHO, was that the finish was matt and not gloss.

I much prefer gloss as it can be polished to a nice deep shine, which not only looks good but helps keep dirt off the frame in that it can't stick so easily to a highly polished surface..... Not to mention the clear advantage that a polished frame is slippier so it cuts through the air and makes the bike quicker!

So I thought it would be interesting to hear the views of members of the forum on this topic.

 

[Rooster1]

I'm loving the matt finishes of late.

 

[MontyVeda]

Whilst modern matt finishes can look very cool, they don't beat the timeless classicness of gloss

 

[burndust]

prefer matt finishes myself

 

[r04DiE]

Mine is gloss but I do have to say that I love a good matt finish. So, my vote is matt!

 

[lutonloony]

Love gloss when all nice and clean and shiny, but matt seems more forgiving if a little grubby. Still have to go gloss though

 

[Drago]

Aren't some of these hi tech matte finishes supposed to be harder for the dirt to stick to? I seem to recall something like that in the blurb when I bought my Giant Trance.

 

[Kestevan]

I had a matt black frame on the last bike. Looked great when clean, but ride if for 5 mins and it looked like it had been buried in a field.

New bike is high gloss black and looks ace

 

[alecstilleyedye]

rather oddly, my gloss-painted alu frame attracts and retains dirt far easier than my matt black carbon frame (which can be cleaned with just a hose). wonder if there's some sort of coating on the matt frame (ribble r872)…

 

[Smokin Joe]

Matt finishes are for people who can't index their gears.

Got to be gloss.

 

[KnackeredBike]

I like mine matt brown but one a year or so I like to give it a clean and see the gloss.

 

[bonsaibilly]

I prefer matt because the trim and shiny parts really pick out in contrast.

 

[Cuchilo]

One of mine is matt and gloss . The LBS index the gears and do everything else !

 

[Globalti]

My regular bike is matt black and shows scratches and stains badly. My hooligan bike is matt Celeste and is a complete pain to keep clean as it attracts dirt for fun and holds oil if there's any on the cleaning cloth. I've even considered getting it gloss lacquered.

 

[Drago]

My perception is that gloss shrugs off Chios and Minor damage better?