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Matt Black Carbon Frames?

roypsbroypsb Posts: 309
edited March 2014 in Road buying advice
Hi - I'm after a new carbon frame road bike and very interested in the Ribbles as they look excellent VFM.

I particularly like the look of the Stealth but I am concerned that the matt black frame will mark easily and the marks cannot be poilshed out. I've already got an alu MTB in matt black and it's very unforgiving.

Anyone got experience of the Stealth or carbon matt frames - is this a cause for concern?

Cheers

Posts

  • ajb72ajb72 Posts: 1,178
    My cento uno is finished in matt black. There's no denying it shows marks far more than a gloss finish if it has a knock and I have had a couple of small mystery scratches appear. When cleaning it it can also show water marks, but if you use a spray polish like the muc-off or finish line stuff, it comes up new looking with no great effort.

    The matt finish hides the dust and dirt quite well too and doesn't seem to show small / fine scratches or swirls as much as a gloss black paintwork. My previous Cervelo RS had a gloss black paint and that showed up no end of small scratches and swirls.

    So I guess the answer is yes, matt finishes are more easily marked, but if you are careful and prepared to clean and polish it every once in a while there is no reason not to buy a frame in that finish. It looks superb of course, very 'stealth'!
  • BozmanBozman Posts: 2,518
    An absolute bas***d to clean, get oil or grease on it and it seems to soak it up, i'm guessing that it's porous with the lack of clear coat.
    You might get away with it on black but the matt on mine is red.
  • rolf_frolf_f Posts: 16,015
    My MTB is matt black and I wouldn't have another matt black finished bike because of my experience of it. Of course, the problem is that you can't polish marks out without it going gloss - so the MTB is now anything from very matt to very gloss depending on where on the frame you are looking!
    Faster than a tent.......
  • roypsbroypsb Posts: 309
    Thanks for your comments gents - the Stealth is looking a bit less appealing now.
  • luv2rideluv2ride Posts: 2,367
    8) Thats a shame as I was starting to actively consider a Ribble Stealth as well, not least due to a recent posting on the Your Road Bikes section on this forum. When new they really look the dogs.... 8)
    Titus Silk Road Ti rigid 29er - Scott Solace 10 disc - Kinesis Crosslight Pro6 disc - Scott CR1 SL - Pinnacle Arkose X 650b - Pinnacle Arkose singlespeed - Specialized Singlecross...& an Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 4 string...
  • flasherflasher Posts: 1,734
    Used to have a matt black Ribble winter frame and it always cleaned up lovely with soap and water.
  • CrankbrotherCrankbrother Posts: 1,695
    I have a matte black badboy and have no bother with it at all ... Sure it's aluminium but the paint is the same ...

    If I could justify a new bike matte black would be my choice ...
  • TricycleboyTricycleboy Posts: 373
    Why not just cover you frame in matte helicopter tape. Did my matte black Promachine top tube, down tube and drive side chainstay in matte tape. Great protection from small knocks and scratches and easy cleaning.

    I used this stuff. tis good http://www.paragontapes.co.uk/gallery/matte-protection-tape
  • mcrdavemcrdave Posts: 501
    Am really happy with my matt black painted ebay frame, had it and raced it for over a year and it looks as good as new and not a single chip on the paint. I just wipe it over with a damp rag and it cleans up great

    IMG_0013.jpg
  • markyonemarkyone Posts: 1,114
    I use just soap and water,no polish and it always looks good.
    I think if you use polish it does something to the finish,so just soap and water then shammy off.
    Colnago c60 Eps super record 11
    Pinarello F8 with sram etap
  • andyrrandyrr Posts: 1,814
    mcrdave wrote:
    Am really happy with my matt black painted ebay frame, had it and raced it for over a year and it looks as good as new and not a single chip on the paint. I just wipe it over with a damp rag and it cleans up great

    IMG_0013.jpg

    Nice frame - got a link /name for the ebay seller ? Carbonzone ?
  • mcrdavemcrdave Posts: 501
    Yeah carbonzone it's been great, not had an issue with it at all.
  • richardsaultrichardsault Posts: 3
    Red Ant have just started making a bike cleaner for Matt Finished Bike frames that doesn't leave your bike glossy or covered in water marks. http://goo.gl/DwxmDO and they also do a protector http://goo.gl/IBqfDk

    Nice Looking bike mcrdave
  • rolf_frolf_f Posts: 16,015
    I did have a matt black MTB. Eventually, it ended up partly matt black and partly gloss where clothes rubbed it etc.

    A friend also hired a matt black CR1 last summer in France - that had gone shiny in various places too (particularly along the sides of the top tube - but they do have wide top tubes).

    Fine for a summer bike but by definition there's no way of polishing marks out of a matt black finish without it going shiny.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • rafletcherrafletcher Posts: 1,235
    richardsault wrote:
    Red Ant have just started making a bike cleaner for Matt Finished Bike frames that doesn't leave your bike glossy or covered in water marks. http://goo.gl/DwxmDO and they also do a protector http://goo.gl/IBqfDk

    Nice Looking bike mcrdave

    Reading the blurb for the cleaner (ph neutral, cuts through grease and grime) it sounds exactly like Muc-Off.
  • adamfoadamfo Posts: 763
    Bozman wrote:
    An absolute bas***d to clean, get oil or grease on it and it seems to soak it up, i'm guessing that it's porous with the lack of clear coat.
    You might get away with it on black but the matt on mine is red.

    What about a matte finish lacquer coat to offer a bit of protection ?
  • richardsaultrichardsault Posts: 3
    rafletcher wrote:
    richardsault wrote:
    Red Ant have just started making a bike cleaner for Matt Finished Bike frames that doesn't leave your bike glossy or covered in water marks. http://goo.gl/DwxmDO and they also do a protector http://goo.gl/IBqfDk

    Nice Looking bike mcrdave

    Reading the blurb for the cleaner (ph neutral, cuts through grease and grime) it sounds exactly like Muc-Off.

    I think the difference is Muc-Off has some kind of polish to make the bike shine... So eventually it would make a Matt Finished bike shine.

    This is the Muc Off Product description http://goo.gl/knvjJc and Protect and shine products http://goo.gl/fPJsT4 where as in the Red Ant blurb it says adds "no gloss".
  • DKayDKay Posts: 1,652
    My Cayo has matte paint and I gave it two coats of Collinite 476S car wax when it was new 10months ago. It's been ridden in all weathers and 3000miles later, I just wash it with a bucket, sponge and car shampoo and it dries with no spots or streaks. Oily marks are just wiped off.

    Collinite 476S is a wax, with no polish abrasives and is easily applied. It's mega durable too.
    N
    N+1
  • TKFTKF Posts: 279
    Baby wipes work wonders
  • SproolSprool Posts: 1,022
    ^+1 for baby wipes and a light spray of WD40 and a soft cloth, works on the mrs too.
  • Camcycle1974Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    RoyPSB wrote:
    Hi - I'm after a new carbon frame road bike and very interested in the Ribbles as they look excellent VFM.

    I particularly like the look of the Stealth but I am concerned that the matt black frame will mark easily and the marks cannot be poilshed out. I've already got an alu MTB in matt black and it's very unforgiving.

    Anyone got experience of the Stealth or carbon matt frames - is this a cause for concern?

    Cheers

    I have the Ribble you mention. I don't find it hard to keep clean at all. Light wipe over with a wet cloth then dry with an e-cloth. No marks or smears. Being matte black I find it hides dirt well.
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