Why are everyone so into Black bikes now?

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queloque67
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Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2017 4:25 am

by 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?

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prendrefeu
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by 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)
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SilentDrone
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by SilentDrone

I for one am tired of the murdered out look.


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Shrike
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Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2016 5:08 pm

by 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. :P

Case dismissed :smartass:

aaronpass
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by aaronpass

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

Thus, all black = the best. :mrgreen:
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IchDien
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by IchDien

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

Shrike
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Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2016 5:08 pm

by Shrike

IchDien wrote:
Thu Mar 08, 2018 6:10 pm
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
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by bilwit

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

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Miller
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Location: Reading, UK

by Miller

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

mekineer
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Feb 04, 2018 12:37 pm

by 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.

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oldnslow2
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by oldnslow2

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

mekineer
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by mekineer

oldnslow2 wrote:
Fri Mar 09, 2018 4:02 am
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
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Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 5:40 am

by tabl10s

Shrike wrote:
Thu Mar 08, 2018 5:12 pm
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. :P

Case dismissed :smartass:
Deleted.
Last edited by tabl10s on Fri Mar 09, 2018 6:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
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wheelbuilder
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by 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.
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