Comments in the Ibis discussion (with them ditching their metal badges in favour of a crappy decal) made me realise a good 'proper' headtube badge is something to be appreciated. Small finishing touches such as a proper badge make me feel good!
I expect I'm not alone on STW in appreciating the little touches like this...
Well worth the extra, even if cost a tenth of what I paid for the frame. Planet X Jack Flash 25th:
Even my Norco hardtail has a metal badge:
I paid extra (£3?) for the badge as the frame was otherwise plain - no badge or decals:
My MTBs have an 'inverse' headtube badge that's rather cool IMO:
Do Intense frame still have proper headtube badges? This was my 2018 Carbine, probably my favourite headtube badge:
Previous Nukeproof Mega 290 was good:
The old Cotic one was brilliant, this was my c.2010 Roadrat:
Yeti SB-95:
My old Singular:
The old-style Santa Cruz one (on my Superlight 29) before they went all square:
I've shown me mine, now show me yours 😊
I'm too stupid to post pictures sorry but really appreciate a good HT badge.. and even back of saddle badges.
I just make my own in aluminium or brass and acid etch them.
Banshee have nice proper headbadges.
Nordest
https://flic.kr/p/2kKBDH8
It's a Careto, from the North East region of Portugal where they get their name.
I have a nice 3d one on my Salsa. I lost it when I had to strip and respray the frame, was dead chuffed to find it again couple of years later.
My Niner and Sanderson ones were good - no proper images of the Sanderson though.
I also like my sons RM one.
This piece has some nice ones: https://www.cyclingabout.com/lost-art-bicycle-head-badge/
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/2015/2413672281_7860d64782_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/2015/2413672281_7860d64782_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/4FhGFk ]100_5184[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr
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[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51117895675_e0cd32f33a_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51117895675_e0cd32f33a_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2kT7zsT ]Rocky Mountain Altitude A50[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr
My Cotic has that old badge, so much better than the current version due to the story behind it. Thankfully you can still get the original version from them as a spare so any more bikes I buy from them will have one fitted. My cheap Voodoo has a decent metal badge too, considering the price of the bike it's a nice touch. I like the Orange one too but they're plastic so I don't know if they count.
Love the big chungus lump of a headtube badge on my 18, genuinely lovely bit of kit.
Steel hardtails and old road bikes in particular should have proper badges.
Thread bookmarked. I love metal head badges.
Does anyone know anywhere that does custom head badges? Would love to get one done for my Transition (another brand that uses crappy stickers).
I had this one made by Jen Green last year
Wasn't a fan of the original logo, machined into the headtube and much preferred the alternative logo.
https://instagram.com/jengreenheadbadges?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Well worth a follow on Instagram
Nothing too impressive in my stable:
New Cotic
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Nukeproof
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/sDFd9GHg/IMG-20220928-115117932-HDR.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/sDFd9GHg/IMG-20220928-115117932-HDR.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Daughters Trek
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/ydw5P2Pb/IMG-20220928-115214510-HDR.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/ydw5P2Pb/IMG-20220928-115214510-HDR.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Wifes Pinnacle - even cheap frames can have actual proper badges, boring yes, but not paint or sticker.
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/vZNvffXP/IMG-20220928-115244805-HDR.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/vZNvffXP/IMG-20220928-115244805-HDR.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Changed the sticker on my old Ragley Blue Pig to a the proper badge that looked loads better.
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[url= https://i.ibb.co/hMKj4Km/Screenshot-20220928-120631.pn g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/hMKj4Km/Screenshot-20220928-120631.pn g"/> [/img][/url]
Old stylee metal badge
devash
Thread bookmarked. I love metal head badges.
Does anyone know anywhere that does custom head badges? Would love to get one done for my Transition (another brand that uses crappy stickers).
Pretty easy to make your own at home.
You just need a design on vinyl (or other mask) and a bit of metal.
The rest is easy Blue Peter stuff with sticky back plastic ... an old ice cream tub and some ferric chloride
My Soul predates the metal headtube badge...
@devadh Jen Green - link in my post above.
Does anyone know anywhere that does custom head badges? Would love to get one done for my Transition (another brand that uses crappy stickers).
I once used headbadge.co.uk on Facebook. I think he's retired now (used to be on here iirc) but the Facebook page says his son has taken over.
The headbadge was probably the nicest thing about my Pace RC303.
These are currently adorning my Open Upper and my Carbonda
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EDIT - Courtesy of Jen Green.
Ibis and Ragley owner here. I must be honest, I'm not a big fan of the 'old' Ibis badge design. I like the fact it is a metal badge though. I also have my old NP Mega metal badge after it came off day after a vigorous wash. The Ibis fan club has been losing its mind over the new branding. I don't think it's that bad.
Now my main bike frame is a cheap Pinnacle, I got nuffin.
Had a few of these though
IMG_2964.JPG I need to spend some time interpreting it! Think its a wolf howling??!!
Yep
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I’m sad enough to have based buying decisions on ‘does it have a proper head badge’ before. Cotic, Stif, Ragley etc. Current bike, Titus Fireline, has an inverse badge which I quite like.
The best badge I’ve seen is the Pact Weird Cat one that somebody posted in a thread on here. I love a proper badge, doesn’t feel like a bike without one.
Still can’t make my mind up about the Cotic Genie loading a dishwasher badge.
This one!
Not everything with a good metal head badge is quality…
edit: oh ffs. There’s a picture there but it’s beyond my reach.
I had this one made by Jen Green last year
@monkeyboyjc - I have been following Jen on Insta and am sorely tempted to get a head tube badge made for my Broken Road. Was the sizing and ordering process as easy as it looks?
Lucky to still have this, it fell off shortly after buying the bike!
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One badge to rule them all. BTR.
Thread needs some Surly
And a bit of Stooge, although the badge is a little underwhelming compared to frame & forks
Some great badges up there. Daffy / monkeyboyjc – those are superb ... wanders off to look up Jen Green. The weird cat one is great too.
I have a lovely Intense badge, but cant get it to stay on. My LBS stuck it back on with carpet tape (I think), but it fell off again – on the kitchen floor, rather than the trail, thankfully. Any tips for secure attachment would be greatly appreciated.
This little beauty just arrived after the longest 3 months since I ordered. Dropping off at the local bike shop tomorrow first thing and hopefully out for a test run this weekend
Still can’t make my mind up about the Cotic Genie loading a dishwasher badge.
I'll never be able to unsee that now 🤣
It was somebody on hear that mentioned it when they first changed and it’s now all I can see. Glad someone else is now the same 😀
I think the new IBIS (not ibis) logo would look cool in the same metal and colour as their old one (which I didn’t even realise was a Bin Chicken until yesterday).
I use this for fixing badges.
Ensure both the back of the badge and headtube is degreased. Use IPA.
Love my Dialled Holeshot badge
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Was the sizing and ordering process as easy as it looks?
Ordering was easy, just place the order/deposit on the website and a few email exchanges - price depends on material and complexity though.....so could cost more than you expect.
Sizing & design was easy, well for me anyway as I had a design ready for her - she just needed the length / width. But getting the bend correctly to the head tube was almost impossible as my bikes tapered head tube isn't a consistent size. I gave her a rough idea of top and bottom circumference based on placement and used miliputt to mount it and fill in the gaps. A straight 1&1/8 or 1&1/4 head tube would be easy.
Can someone please explain the Cotic "genie loading a dishwasher" ?
I can't see it
New Cotic
Dammit, I can see it now too. @Blackflag, I'm seeing a person at the left side of the badge, facing right, bending over and reaching out an arm towards a blocky thing. I definitely preferred their old headbadge.
I always loved Jen's Inbred headtube badge back in the day, so much so I purchased an inbred just so I could have one.
I do quite like my head tube badge my Pipedream.
EDIT: Can't upload photo's but would recommend Jen for any badge work.
Ahhh i can see it now. Ha ha.
The eighteen bikes headtube's best feature is that it says eighteen whether it's the right way up or upside down!
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Always liked the fact that this is a badge and not a sticker. Does attract the dirt though
Stooge do a good head tube badge.