Forum menu
The grey paint on my Codeine is standing up well...
My inbred and Pompino were OK, although could've done with something more to protect the back of gussets, paint on my parkwood looks lovely but might be a bit soft (couple of scrapes on the paint, but then again I've had one or two scrapes that haven't removed any paint, I'll get back to you in a couple of years.). PX carbon frame fine so far (but treated nicely so I don't really intend to find out).
The finish on my Ti 456 was fine, it was just the self destructing back end that I wasn't so keen on.
I had a Holdsworth Singlespeed road frame and the paint is a joke, tightened seat clamp, all the paint around bolt fell off, all around the drop-outs has gone. First few rides totalling about 100 miles caused about 16 stone chips to it, only have to look at the paint and it comes off, then the decals look like they came from an inferior Airfix kit.
2007 Inbred 29er in 'sand': bit rusty in places but only at gussets and minor welds like cable mounts- no problem yet. Doesn't chip too readily.
2009 Inbred 26er in 'Barry White' (deep lacquered black with gold flecks): absolutely spotless, not a mark on it and it has done thousands of very hard miles as my main hill commuter.
2014 Fatty in pearl white: Spotless again, lasting better than I expected. In my experience, they're as tough as most others; Genesis, Cove, Dialled, Kona.
The paint on my parkwood is pretty poor. Doesn't chip but dulls and scratches really easy. I don't really mind though as it's a great bike.
My brothers 45650b paint (also black) exactly the same.
Given I really don't like the graphics on the parkwood I'm super tempted to strip it as above. That looks ace.
Think it obviously varies, as it has a bit with mine:
Parkwood - stripped and re-sprayed grey from new as I hated the stickers
26 inbred - holding up pretty well, but it now has an easy life as a town bike
29 inbred - good but a couple of chips from rocks
29 Scandal - not mine for the first few years of it's life and looks good in green with very few blemishes
Not had many other bikes but can't say they are that much worse.
If you want indestructible paint get a 1989 Saracen
Haha, my Kili still looked new when I sold it - very well used - in 1997.
New bike was about 3lb lighter, and I bet 2lb of that was the paintwork.
Blue Codeine here, two years old, paint chipped and scratched but no worse than any other bike I've owned. Problem is its so much bloody fun to ride I keep riding beyond my abilities and that's where the paint falls off, and the skin, oh and some ribs! but its a fun bike who gives a f#?# what it looks like. Got a summer season too,5 year old paint not too bad apart from not being quite as FLOURO ORANGE as when new.
iirc - My old Saracen was was plastic dipped over the paint (?)
I've had lots over the years. The only one with notably poor paint was my 'that blue' 456. It was a bit soft and scratched easily but it was cheap and fun and I loved it.
Red 456 - not a mark on it, mint. Gopping blue fatty trail? - scratched when received by someone with the side cutters nipping a cable tie at a guess, It was such a hassle waiting for Yodel to deliver it that I couldn't be bothered making a fuss
Hmmmmmm just out of interest who thought this:
[img] 
[/img]
Was better than that:
[img] 
?v=k[/img]
My Raw EVO II is as good as new a year after getting it, flawless
Had an old Inbred as well in red which was fine as well.
I've got the parkwood just a couple of posts above (the nice one, not the ugly one).
PAint quality seems fine and happy. I've got 1 stone chip, but hey, it's an MTB.
I like the lime green one. It's my fave colour. I've got one.
The graphics are a bit lame mind.
Paint hasn't disappeared yet but it certainly scuffs easily.
The paint on mine is pretty good, a lot better than the specialized it replaced.
Have always bought the raw versions of the 456 family of bikes I've owned and loved, the finish has been awesome, why more companies don't offer raw metal options is beyond me....it looks industrial, solid and cool AF.
2No 853 2006 in that pink
Some paint came off from new but I doubt I've clean them more than once so the mud/grime might hide a lot more damage
Ultimately the are a joy to ride and I don't care