Mountain bike frame mask/hack/crap-it-up-a-bit
thisischris
Posts: 43
Hi all,
I ride a KHS bike that stands out like a sore thumb (bright colour) and considering I live in an area where bike theft is notorious (plenty of personal experience) I was thinking of doing somemthing to the frame to make it less attractive.
Its going to hurt as the bike is damn gorgeous but I figure that its the riding that counts and I am unlikely to ever sell the bike so it doesnt really matter. I already check im not being followed on the way home and all that jazz but its annoying worrying so much.
So any suggestions on how to do this? I dont want to do anything that will make riding a pain, like spraying it with plant that will just flake off, but something to make it look crap enough to stop me becoming a target..... again....
cheers
I ride a KHS bike that stands out like a sore thumb (bright colour) and considering I live in an area where bike theft is notorious (plenty of personal experience) I was thinking of doing somemthing to the frame to make it less attractive.
Its going to hurt as the bike is damn gorgeous but I figure that its the riding that counts and I am unlikely to ever sell the bike so it doesnt really matter. I already check im not being followed on the way home and all that jazz but its annoying worrying so much.
So any suggestions on how to do this? I dont want to do anything that will make riding a pain, like spraying it with plant that will just flake off, but something to make it look crap enough to stop me becoming a target..... again....
cheers
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Comments
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why not just get some decent bike locks? a couple of the super d-locks and they wouldnt have a chance
maybe a motorbike lock?0 -
Just buy a huge motorcycle lock dude, what's the point in making someting ugly?
A huge motorcycle lock and other things work well, and keep it locked inside the house as well.
Should stop the thieves.0 -
Paint it with black poster paint. Should wash off but look really gross.I don't do smileys.
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Parktools0 -
Agree with the get better bike locks. But sometimes if the bike doesn't look worthy then the thieves won't even bother looking at at totally ignore it. Which is better than them having a go and failing, as they may do damage to the bike in the process.
The self painted look usually seems to work. Remove decals and lightly sand down the current paint and then go over with just one colour eg black. The not very professional look will put them off. The paint should still stay on OK just won't look very posh.0 -
Locks are ok but when theyve wrecked the garage door or destoryed the shed you still end up hacked off. If it looks crap, hopefully no one bothers.
Was thinking of connecting my bike to the mains everytime I chain it up but decided that I would probabaly end up going to jail for killing some poxy theif / or myself!0 -
Better would be to wrap it in electrical tape or old innertubes (your lbs might help you out as they struggle to deal with knackered ones) it's not permanent but still looks scruffy. If using inner tubes wrap it with tape first as the tubes can bond to the frame and then look awful when you remove it.
Plus insure your bike and get the cheapest lock to validate the insurance.0 -
thisischris wrote:Locks are ok but when theyve wrecked the garage door or destoryed the shed you still end up hacked off. If it looks crap, hopefully no one bothers.
Was thinking of connecting my bike to the mains everytime I chain it up but decided that I would probabaly end up going to jail for killing some poxy theif / or myself!
Or you just keep them inside the house instead of destroying a bike.0 -
The only problems with keeping it inside:
1. The missus
2. Hasnt stopped alot of theifs in the area
Found a company that can powder coat frames for £70. A plan black coat might do the trick.0 -
wrap a bin bag around it-not permanent and willl do the job. Will stop you getting stone chips etc too!0
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if you make it look crap - its just gonna look like a good bike made to look crap - much like most of the nicked bikes round our way - you then run the risk of being stopped by the plod and having to prove that your bike is actually your bike - i would go for the locks.
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thisischris wrote:The only problems with keeping it inside:
1. The missus
2. Hasnt stopped alot of theifs in the area
Found a company that can powder coat frames for £70. A plan black coat might do the trick.
You can convince the mrs somehow!
As far as stopping thieves, nothing will stop them. If they want it,it's theirs basically. If they know the slightest about bikes, powdercoting the frame or destroying how it looks won't make one bit of difference, they will stil notice the nice part and want it still.
What bike have you got anyways? Surely if you explain to the Mrs it is worth a fair chunk, and could get nicked being outside, i'm sure she would much prefer to have it sitting somewhere in the house than gettig destroyed or robbed.0 -
What about putting the Mrs in the shed?0
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allen.coulson wrote:What about putting the Mrs in the shed?
wrapped in a bin bag with her hea........no wait this isnt crudcatcher :twisted:
big locks and industrial strength chain links, anchor the chain to something immoveable and double lock bike with mbike locks, if you are handy at bike maintenance you could also strip off what you can get on and off quickly and secure in house
gl matey defiling beauty should be last option0 -
You're a bit of an idiot. An ambitious one though.
Plenty of hideous BSOs are stolen as well, making yours look crap won't prevent it being nicked.0 -
I keep both my bikes in the house on a vertical rack in the hallway. They are not in the way and are not an eye sore. The expensive one is mentioned and added as a valuable item on my home insurance policy and neither bike is EVER locked up anywhere.0
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Get it sprayed PINK! That would certainly put me off, lol0
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MountainMonster wrote:Surely if you explain to the Mrs it is worth a fair chunk, and could get nicked being outside, i'm sure she would much prefer to have it sitting somewhere in the house than gettig destroyed or robbed.
Yup, I agree with this!!
I like our house looking nice (ie not covering in bike / car bits), but I would much rather Chris kept something expensive inside rather than risk getting it nicked. You would have to be pretty hard-nosed to disagree I think!
Having said that, I did get annoyed when I found about 6 rally car wheels in the middle of the kitchen but that's another story.... :?Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away....
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
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miss notax wrote:MountainMonster wrote:Surely if you explain to the Mrs it is worth a fair chunk, and could get nicked being outside, i'm sure she would much prefer to have it sitting somewhere in the house than gettig destroyed or robbed.
Yup, I agree with this!!
I like our house looking nice (ie not covering in bike / car bits), but I would much rather Chris kept something expensive inside rather than risk getting it nicked. You would have to be pretty hard-nosed to disagree I think!
Having said that, I did get annoyed when I found about 6 rally car wheels in the middle of the kitchen but that's another story.... :?
strange that. My Sister said the same thing about my spare slicks in the kitchen."Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown0 -
Insure it. Buy a lock that your insurers reccomends. Claim if/when it gets nicked.
It's a sad state of affairs, but if a thief wants your bike they'll take it; regardless of how or where it's secured.What We Achieve In Life, Echoes In Eternity0 -
nicklouse wrote:miss notax wrote:MountainMonster wrote:Surely if you explain to the Mrs it is worth a fair chunk, and could get nicked being outside, i'm sure she would much prefer to have it sitting somewhere in the house than gettig destroyed or robbed.
Yup, I agree with this!!
I like our house looking nice (ie not covering in bike / car bits), but I would much rather Chris kept something expensive inside rather than risk getting it nicked. You would have to be pretty hard-nosed to disagree I think!
Having said that, I did get annoyed when I found about 6 rally car wheels in the middle of the kitchen but that's another story.... :?
strange that. My Sister said the same thing about my spare slicks in the kitchen.
MTBing stuff I can accept (because some of it's mine too!) - rally car stuff I find harder to ignore!
When I was a baby my dad apparently kept his pride and joy - his motorbike and sidecar - in the lounge :shock: That makes my Mum one hell of a tolerant woman!!Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away....
Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!
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One of my mates has a classic motorcycle in his very narrow kitchen.
He started doing it up, by cleaning out engine parts in the kitcken sink, then without thinking much started assembling it back together again on the worktop.
After a while he'd got to the point that he realised he'd have to break it down again to get it out of the kitchen, so he decided to just carry on regardless.0 -
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Pop the wheels off and chain them in the shed... put the bike in a dustbin sack and pop it behind the sofa 0
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Wrap the frame in clingfilm then paint hammerite over that. It'll look shit, but be easy to return to normal.
Then remember to use a couple of fuck off padlocks whenever you leave it anywhere.
f0 -
yeehaamcgee wrote:You're a bit of an idiot. An ambitious one though.
Plenty of hideous BSOs are stolen as well, making yours look crap won't prevent it being nicked.
Bit harsh - but fair enough. Why on earth would you destroy your pride and joy?
The only time I can't see my bike, the think is under lock and key.0
