Battle scars on bikes - cool or ugly??

Chaz.Harding

Ok, so - battlescars on bikes, cool or not?

I ask, as my bikes all have scratches, a few dents, and pretty much all have mud on, no matter how much I clean them.

Question is, should I break out the t-cut, and shine my bike up, give it some more love? Make it look shop-fresh? OR, should I (continue) to MTFU and accept bicycles get abuse, and enjoy the 'lived in' look?

I'm not exactly Brad Pit - I'm rough round the edges - as all my stuff is. Nothing I own is ever pristine, as I USE it. I don't do babying stuff, especially not my bikes! They aren't Faberge eggs!

So my vote goes for 'cool'. How about everyone else?

What's your lot's thoughts on it?

***EDIT*** I don't mean 'Rat' bikes, just bikes that have been (ab?)used.

jonnyc2420

not cool on bikes, but on my landrovers its a different story......

Surf-Matt

Most of mine are on my face.

Half cool, half minging.

.blitz

My bike could be scratched/dented but I can't tell because it's covered in dirt. I was going to clean it the other day but there is something growing on the back of the Neoguard and it seemed a shame to destroy it.

ride_whenever

Surf-Matt


this you:

Chaz.Harding

Ok, I should clarify, I'm not on about 'Rat' bikes, just bikes that have scars on, if that makes sence.

I'm not a fan of the idealogy of ''Let's make my bike look as sh!t as possible''. Just I use my bikes 8)

cee

surely you forgot the the 'couldn't give a rats ass' option?

like you, i do not mind using my bike for the purpose it was intended. this inevitably means dents and scratches.

its not cool. its not uncool. it just is.

Surf-Matt

ride_whenever wrote:

Surf-Matt


this you:

It is me - where did you get that pic from? Have you hacked my Photobucket account?!

Daz555

Neither cool nor ugly. Just a part of riding.

I prefer a bike with no scratches bu understand that this is not possible if you want to ride it hard.

cat_with_no_tail

Neither cool nor uncool provided it's just cosmetic damage. However, I spotted a bike on pinkbike classifieds which had a mahoosive dent in the middle of the downtube, looked like a half crushed coke can. Most certainly NOT cool

lawman

depends on the scar tbh if its a huge chunk missing out of rear mech then thats cool, little scratches on tubes arent

and tbh a dirty bike looks worse than a battle scarred one

ramemtbers

depends on the size and the damage????

guilliano

I think a mountain bike that looks "used" looks a hell of a lot better than one that's in showroom condition. Road bikes are different, but I don't really bother about that either..... loads of brake dust and general road grime on mine

tlw1

guilliano wrote:

I think a mountain bike that looks "used" looks a hell of a lot better than one that's in showroom condition. Road bikes are different, but I don't really bother about that either..... loads of brake dust and general road grime on mine

agree!

Though my week old road bike is without dust or dinks due to not being ridden

forcutty

guilliano wrote:

I think a mountain bike that looks "used" looks a hell of a lot better than one that's in showroom condition. Road bikes are different, but I don't really bother about that either..... loads of brake dust and general road grime on mine

No No No bikes are for riding but they should also be polished at any chance!!!! :shock:

Gazlar

Scars coool, Big dents, less cool, broken tubes even less so

It also depends on the bike too, a battle scarred good bike looks a lot better than an old battle scarred Raleigh Max with one cantilever broken and rusty bolts

Penylope

does it depend on the circumstances of how the scar got there?
if it is a amall scratch where the bike has slipped when it was leaning against a wall = uncool.
if it is a scratch/dent from a 30+mph death roll over a cliff, from which you picked the bike up and rode home with two broken legs then = cool 8)

MacAndCheese

I always get really p1ssed off the first time I notice a new chip or scratch, but my rage only lasts for about 5mins and then I just think s0d it - I'm, not one of those that wraps there bike up for winter, or slows down on rocky sections, all my rides are alluminium anyway so a chip isn't really going to effect it! Ride it hard, have fun and live with consequences!

thekickingmule

ramemtbers wrote:

depends on the size and the damage????

and the age of the bike! My bikes are all quite old, so a dent here or there just makes it look like it's been used.
If i just bought a brand new Lappierre Zesty and dented it or scratched it to buggery on it's maiden voyage, i'd be pretty cheesed off!

Kiblams

My Pinnacle had chips out of the paint all over it and I didn't mind as it was just to get me back into biking, may have even made it look more rugged :shock:

But I receieved my new Handsome Dog frame last night and it is sooo beautiful I know I am going to hate every little scratch and chip :x but I guess it will make it match the Instigator fork better when it does happen :?

Paul 8v

My old 'cuda has loads of chips on the back, it's polished at the front fading into red and all the reds chipped off to reveal the silver underneath and all the clearcoat has come off the sides of the toptube, looks really used but then it is 12 years old! Also all the red paint has come off the pedals The new one will be shiney though..

colintrav

T.I.F.O.H.I.F.A.............................

Paul 8v

colintrav wrote:

T.I.F.O.H.I.F.A.............................

?

gingerbullet

bigchazrocks, any chance on you replying to my PM, you did offer to try and resolve my issue with you bro, i have yet again tried contacting him but to no joy, via mail and text

have told him this issue will be crimed but that doesn't seam to bother him or he would have contacted me by now. if I've heard nothing by tomorrow morning i cant see any other way around it.

Dan

EarlofBarnet

If I owned a new bike, I'd be a bit gutted to mark it etc. But having a second hand one is great. It's already got scratches on it and another couple won't make any difference.

stubs

On the first two or three rides I am really precious about looking after the new bike. Wrapping cloths round the frame before putting it in the carrier putting helicopter tape everywhere and washing with a soft sponge, a toothbrush and warm water

By the fourth ride it gets slammed in the carrier leant against drystone/brick walls dropped on the floor and washed with a garden hose.

Hercule Q

my bike has loads of scratches and paint chips and no matter how much i clean the thing it still gets dirty

Paul 8v

OK, what the heck is T.I.F.O.H.I.F.A?

Richie63

How About
Touch it first Ok ....Have it first Awesome

weeksy59

acceptable on MTBs

Not acceptable on motorbikes.