So.. boredom has me wanting to do this

[Crandoggler]

I have been eyeing up some steel and Ti frames and have noticed that a lot of them are a gorgeous mix of raw/polished metal with black forks. Kind of like this:

This, is absolute frame aesthetic porn in my eyes and I want it, but I don't want a new bike. Now I am aware that finishing a frame like this is probably quite simple to the bike builder at the time, and stripping mine down would be a mare. However, I fancy it. I really do. But, how will aluminium look if it got the same treatment?

Anyone ever done it?

Is this actually a feasible idea? If so, who would do this kind of thing?

 

[Dave 123]

Just buy it, you know you want us to tell you to do it......

 

[vickster]

By a frame. Transplant all the parts from another bike, job done

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Polished Ti looks great hanging from a rack in the shop. Touch it and the finger marks will make it look like Albert Steptoe's winter bike by the time you get it out the door.

 

[Crandoggler]

Who has the ability to do this to my frame then?

 

[vickster]

Enigma, van mic, burls etc will sell you a lovely ti frame for example. Genesis do the equilibrium in stainless steel. I dont think the lines, size and shape of an Alu frame will ever look as good in bare metal

 

[Crandoggler]

Dunno! Looks good to me

 

[Crandoggler]

Maybe even powder coating it silver.

 

[bikeman66]

It's not that difficult to take a bike apart, and in all honesty it will be pretty much the only way to get a really good job done on the frame. I reckon if you take the bike along to a sand or shot blasting shop they'll tell you if it will be possible and give you an idea of what the finished job will look like. A lot of aluminium frames (especially MTB frames like the GT Zaskar and Avalanche) used to be made to be bare, apart from perhaps a coat of lacquer. Other frames might not look so clever when paint is removed, but why not give it a go anyway.

You'll definitely need some kind of coating to seal the aluminium afterwards though, otherwise every time you touch it your hands will turn black.

Anything you need to know to get the bike built back up will, I guarantee, be answered by the kind and knowledgeable folk on this forum.

 

[hobo]

My lovely Van Nicholas Tit...

 

[Crandoggler]

Removing parts isn't really my worry, nor rebuilding.

I've found a place that will do the frame for £65 including affixing of decals and topcoat. Which is my next dilemma. Planet X don't sell decals. Suppose I could get some made up!

 

[Saluki]

Removing parts isn't really my worry, nor rebuilding.

I've found a place that will do the frame for £65 including affixing of decals and topcoat. Which is my next dilemma. Planet X don't sell decals. Suppose I could get some made up!

Look for Planet X decals on ebay. Cheap enough on there.

 

[Crandoggler]

Winner.

 

[loveandpeace1]

Done a gt mtb a few years ago. Hour stripping the paint, 2 hours sanding. Good fun.

 

[bikeman66]

Done a gt mtb a few years ago. Hour stripping the paint, 2 hours sanding. Good fun.

Looks so good.