A friend gave me this frame and fork and I am going to do a full parts bin build. I am just thinking about whether to paint or powder coat it before it’s built, or leave as is and just put new decals. Thoughts?
by LilRex100
A friend gave me this frame and fork and I am going to do a full parts bin build. I am just thinking about whether to paint or powder coat it before it’s built, or leave as is and just put new decals. Thoughts?
by LilRex100
29 Comments
I’d repaint personally because I’m not a fan of that color combo with fork
I vote leave it. I’m a fan of patina and this the mismatched fork actually looks good. It will be a unique build.
Repaint the fork. The frame is cool and the patina looks great.
Keep it as is. The bike has character. You could always change the fork.
Paint the fork aqua blue to match
Polish out the frame and fork and leave it exactly as is. It’ll look great.
Get it powder coated in the most insane color possible
My vote is to leave it as is!
If anything, just put some spray can shellac or poly clear coat over it & put it together!!
I’ve done this on quite a few builds & I always get lots of comments on how nice they turn out …
Preserve that patina!
Gonna go against the grain here and tell you to strip the paint and leave raw.
Leave it, I love the ratlook
Leave as is.
Clean it and lacquer it!
Spray.bike finishing clearcoat is perfect for this.
I powder coated my rock hopper, which was exactly the same as this one. Only difference is mine had way more rust. I’m very happy with how it turned out:
https://preview.redd.it/96mfx12y7e6d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1391c13b0c57704f9c40e09435077d62f29f8db2
There is NOTHING cooler than a beat frameset with all pretty, shiny, cool parts on it. We’re begging you to leave it
Paint the fork if anything at all. I’d leave the rest. Looks solid.
Keep it. I really regret painting over the original paint on my xbike. If I could do it over again I’d never make such a stupid mistake. Maybe just paint the fork on yours since the red does kinda clash.
Never repaint a parts bin bike
Keep. Cyan, white, red, looks something!
All depends what you’re going for, there are no wrong answers. Personally I would leave the frame alone, maybe a detail clean and wax it. Then I’d have the fork powdercoated black.
Leave as is my guy, that has character
Give it a protective coat to preserve the paint. Other than that, leave it as it!
Bike with fading paint and mismatched fork is less likely to get stolen!
can someone explain what the deal is with dropouts like those?
Do you want to repaint it or to leave it as is?
1/2 of xbiking is doing whatever you file like.
Asking is losing
I did this with a Giant Iguana a few years ago. I ended up just putting a clear over the patina and original paint. Still loving it tbh.
https://preview.redd.it/teum96kwue6d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d06cece8d60585c7fc08381afe88a0e074d9cf23
I feel like this would look cool as fuck partially repainted. Like maybe do the rear triangle a different color but leave the patina on the rest
If you have the means, I’ve always thought a cerakote would be really cool on an old frame
You found a rockhopper frame lucky bastard
I’m a huge fan of this two tone look with the flat white and metallic red. Most I’d do is touch up the paint where it’s chipped.