Why are everyone so into Black bikes now?
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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?
Is it more about anything you wear will match the bike? Less weight with black paint?
- prendrefeu
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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)
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)
Exp001 || Other projects in the works.
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I for one am tired of the murdered out look.
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The kit has got to match the bike and black goes with everything.
Thus, all black = the best.
Thus, all black = the best.

2018 OPEN U.P. Di2
2019 Specialized Stumpjumper Expert 29
2016 Specialized Fuse Carbon
2015 Specialized Fatboy Carbon
2015 Specialized Crux Single Speed
2019 Specialized Stumpjumper Expert 29
2016 Specialized Fuse Carbon
2015 Specialized Fatboy Carbon
2015 Specialized Crux Single Speed
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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%

even worse, the groupsets are now black and black only now (latest Shimano & SRAM)
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.
I have a matte finish black bike and I like having one that doesn't scream HEY LOOK AT ME.
2015 Trek Emonda SLR Project One - Red eTap - Zipp 303 - 6.48kg
2016 Cannondale SuperX Rival CX1 - 9.29kg
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2016 Cannondale SuperX Rival CX1 - 9.29kg
iRide4Sue.org Please Donate to fight Cancer. $27,000 raised in 2017
Last edited by tabl10s on Fri Mar 09, 2018 6:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
2016 Orbea Orca OMR:
15.0lbs/6.804kg.
2013 Wilier Zero.7:
13.02lbs/5.906kg.
2016 Rca:
11.07lbs/5.048kg.
2015 Pinarello F8(build in-process).
15.0lbs/6.804kg.
2013 Wilier Zero.7:
13.02lbs/5.906kg.
2016 Rca:
11.07lbs/5.048kg.
2015 Pinarello F8(build in-process).
- wheelbuilder
- Posts: 562
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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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