Why are everyone so into Black bikes now?

[queloque67]

What is this stealth look that everyone is in to?

Is it more about anything you wear will match the bike? Less weight with black paint?

[prendrefeu]

There's a difference betwen a "black bike" and a "stealth" bike.

Black paint does weigh less (especially compared to white or metallic-effect paints, which are the heaviest as they require the more content to achieve their color).

A stealth bike, however, would usually have no paint, no logos, no labels of any kind. That's why it's stealth, not just black.
Even ghosted brand labelling doesn't count. As long as the brand and the obnoxious advertising that the rider is giving for free to some company that actually doesn't give a flying f* about them (let's be realistic here) is identifiable, it is not stealth.

A stealth build, using the same components as a comparable 'black' bike, will have less mass (and, even more importantly, won't give free advertising to a company that isn't paying the rider to advertise for them)

[SilentDrone]

I for one am tired of the murdered out look.


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[Shrike]

Colourful paintjobs have been the norm for what? 30+ years?

The vast majority of frames are today still colourful, but it's somehow black frames that you're having diminishing returns on?

Irrational retro grouch nonsense.

Case dismissed

[aaronpass]

The kit has got to match the bike and black goes with everything.

Thus, all black = the best.

[Shrike]

60s
https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw=144 ... D0kb-5jaU0

70s
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=1970s ... 40&bih=816

80s
https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw=144 ... t6Kn7j7FFk

90s
https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw=144 ... I9bxihXy2E

2000's
https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw=144 ... aKucQ3zNgQ

2010's
https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw=144 ... uigMmoDFMY

[IchDien]

Haven't they been so for about 5-10 years now?

[Shrike]

Haven't they been so for about 5-10 years now?

Yeah, joking aside, black frames are definitely accounting for a much larger proportion of inventory. If you filter some online stores by all the colours including white, then compare that to black, you can see black frames being anything from 30 to 40%

[bilwit]

even worse, the groupsets are now black and black only now (latest Shimano & SRAM)

[Miller]

It's because bikes are predominantly made of carbon fibre now for which the default colour is black.

[mekineer]

All black is not a favorite for me, either, but if you are putting together a bike from parts, the fear of a mismatch in shades of a certain color will drive you towards all black. Although you can always contrast a color frame and all black parts. One of my favorite 80's cannondale colors, was a bare aluminum frame, with all silver parts and black tires, black saddle, and black handlebar tape.

[oldnslow2]

I have a matte finish black bike and I like having one that doesn't scream HEY LOOK AT ME.

[mekineer]

I have a matte finish black bike and I like having one that doesn't scream HEY LOOK AT ME.

Hey, you are wearing a Ferrari Red shirt in your pic!

[tabl10s]

Colourful paintjobs have been the norm for what? 30+ years?

The vast majority of frames are today still colourful, but it's somehow black frames that you're having diminishing returns on?

Irrational retro grouch nonsense.

Case dismissed
Deleted.

[wheelbuilder]

I actually think that color is gaining popularity again.......slowly. As it should be. The matte black/stealth/murdered out look has been popular for ten years now. So boring.