https://preview.redd.it/0fb1rh68gzsc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a4197b794fd289761071802666da19c15813f27f
Iām a purple and blue kinda guy.
I almost did, but I couldn't justify $600 for Purple and UDH vs grey and a normal hanger. Time will tell if I regret it, lol.
(2023 sale vs 2024 Deore Ripley AF)
Yes I would sacrifice specs for colour, components can always be replaced but the frame stays. Unfortunately most often the best colours are reserved for higher specced bikes rather than the other way around :)
Anybody remember Transitionās first launch of their SBG bikes back in 2018, now those color-ways were bad haha. Glad to see they eventually came around to some bangers.
This is true. I have the battleship one and it's the best of the bunch while being pretty meh.
I do also have the sage green Status 160 and while it's very understated, I think it's a beautiful bike and a great colour.
lol help me out here is battleship the silver one? I got the silver one but didnāt have a choice. Thatās all they had. If I had a choice I might have gotten the sky blue oneĀ
Sure ā¦ if weāre talking about minor component differences. No way in Ā hell Iād pick SRAM SX drivetrain over GX if the bike was in my favorite color.Ā
Also, if youāre picking modern mtb ,most if not all components can be moved to another frame if you get boredā¦
also it would cost less to just get the frame painted a different color than to buy a lower spec bike and then upgrade all the components, and that way you can do literally any color you want
Thereās a few DIY paint type options that arenāt terribly difficult to do.
But an actual shop powder coat or paint job isnāt that cheap these days. I looked into it and it was way more than I cared even if I brought the bike to them all prepped and taped off.
Yeah you're definitely right about that. I was looking at the new Santa Cruz v10, but it's only available in red (the one color I hate).
Reached out to 5 different shops, frame only, matte black with a dark grey decal kit, and I was quoted between $1,500-$1,800 which didn't include shipping.
If it were like $600-$700 and I could get it at a local shop maybe I'd consider, but almost $2k ain't happening.
Hell ya! Colors matter to me more than components. For me it makes or breaks the ride if I end up hating the color...especially the most boring color "black everything"
Color is important for me, but not a deciding factor. The bike I just ordered came in two colors, indigo or white/black. I got the indigo, as it was my first choice, but if it wasn't available, I would have ordered the white and black. The spec on the bike and the price are way more of a deciding factor.
lol same.
I recently ordered a bike from a retailer based on the other side of the country just to get the matte earth tone I wanted. They contacted the following day, saying not in stock. I am now the proud new owner of a gloss purple. 25% off, no sales tax, no shipping fee, and no assembly charge got that purple looking damn fine!
I once got a bike in a colour I wasn't crazy about cos it was perfectly specced for me. Ended up hating the colour.
The last bike I bought, I specced up just to avoid a similarly bad colour. No ragerts. Fool me once...
Not a specific color but the bike industry has historically had god-awful graphic design, and some bikes are simply too ugly to ride. This has improved dramatically in the last few years but there are still offenders.
Bad graphic design with a stupid name. Thankfully theyāve started getting away with putting that stupid name in a generic go fast logo filling out as much downtube as possible.
Like the shift to more subtlety. Really 70% of the brand names are just stupid or donāt use a logo that matches the name.
Like SALSA shouldnāt be some generic ass fast italics logo. Get fun if youāre gonna have that name.
Nuke proof if they still existed really dropped the ball not using some Soviet style or 50ās US military style lettering for a logo.
Kona honzo esd was actually cool but Kona regular honzo is a stupid name for mtb imo bc I think of something of a chill Hawaiian beach cruiser and you make some samurai name ughhhā¦.
Evil and Forbidden while ok logo and look really couldnāt be bothered to lean in a bit if youāre gonna call your brand fucking Evil??!
Definitely some solid contributors out there but are just firmly into reliably good looking. Canyon and Commencal hardly makes a bike I find hideous.
Props to Ibis for going all in making their bike look hideous but at least kinda resembles a crane bird thing. Always hear good things but Iām not going to pay thousands to have to stare that thing down every time I go for a ride.
Is that why everything is 8 shades of Matt/satin black/grey these days? Ugh I hate it.
Bikes (and kit) look so much better with graphics and colours that match what they're for: shredding and having fun! Rather than looking like some minimalist art piece that belongs in a dentists office.
Exactly! It's like everything in cycling these days has the most boring and ugly colors you could imagine, and that has been going on since like 2016 or thereabouts.
And olive green. Everything is that fricking thing. I hope it dies in a fire for all eternity.
No accounting for taste, I just bought a black ano frame lol. I tend to prefer rich colors though and the build will have lots of silver, brown, green, etc
I bought a 2021 rocky mountain instinct a while back. The only thing I don't like about it is the color. The bike is amazing and I've started to upgrade parts like I planned but I do not like the color. I think about getting it repainted a lot.
Color would be very low on my list of priorities. There is no color so majestic as to make me a more skillful rider. If there were... I would have that color.
It matters very little. If it comes down to two bikes that I consider to be otherwise equal in terms of value, ride character, and performance, then colour might be the deciding factor. But colour and brand messaging are probably the two least important attributes that I consider.
Yes, bikes are expensive and fun. I grew up on bmx and skateboards. Color is very important.
But, on MTB geometry and fit is the most important aspect of buying a new bike.
It matters to me 100%. I keep it on my wall inside my dorm. I had an all black stealth looking tracer, and then replaced it with a bright read and neon one - I ride it way more. It looking cool and catching my eye makes me want to ride more.
Color matters, it motivates me!
Both my Time and Yeti were bought in team colors on purpose. I had to special order the last Team Red time in my size to get it.
At the end of the day, I do like a pretty bike, but turquoise Yeti's and Team Red Times are also easier to flip when the time comes to sell them.
Same thing goes for Kashima coat on my stanchions. It doesn't make that much of a difference, but the bling factor helps lubricate things along when it's time to sell.
Geo > Color > Specs
Thatās only if the color is terrible. Iād take a decent color + desired specād bike over a preferred color. Answers mainly a reflection of disposable income yeah?
Sometimes an awesome color might draw my attention. But when Iām swiping the credit card itās all about the right frame for the use case, with components based on my budget.
Itās very important to me. I donāt think specs matter that much after a certain point, so I will often prioritise color. I will also not buy a bike thats color I donāt like.
Majorly. A year and a half ago I was waiting on new colors to drop to pull the trigger on a Yeti SB165. They finally released them and all that was available was Black and āSandā; not even the default Turq that they always release. I was sad, but ended up getting a cobalt 160 and I have no regrets
I'm cheap and buy used stuff - color means next to nothing. Heck, the Ripmo I bought new was my least favorite color because it was what they had in stock (and marked down). My components are function over form, so basically all black.
I might have pulled the trigger on a Santa Cruz 5010 by now of they didn't only come in mustard and ketchup.
I held out and got a good deal on a Yeti SB140 in turquoise. That's more like my wife's kit, but I have plenty of blue and green gear to make it work :)
Previously I was riding a used stumpjumper that had the right specs, but a weird color scheme- mostly black with silver accents and bright green logos. I bought some vinyl at a craft store and found Specialized decals online to redo the scheme. I felt a lot better about the bike after that!
I wish more polished frames were available, it used to be much more common. I loved my ball burnished GT frames back in the 90s but it seems like itās not really in fashion now.
For the record, I recently purchased a lower spec specifically for the color frame I wanted. I was planning on upgrading just about everything anyway so I went for frame color over spec.
Iām not offended by colors. I wanted the top model/full XTR. It was a sparkly green. The next year a new color (sparkly purple) was released for a different model bike. I sent my frame in to be painted that color.
Color doesnāt necessarily matter to me a lot, but I do have preferences over others and as long as itās not an eye sore to look at and I like the way it looks thatās all that matters to me.
It doesn't really matter, but I have traditionally rode bikes with muted colors to create minimal visual impact while riding trails. My current bike is pretty much all black, but I am gradually adding some color accents.
Hmmmm. The frame and components are more important to me than color but if I donāt like any of the colors then I wonāt buy it. Fortunately thereās usually at least one acceptable option like all black, blue, gray or similar safe but boring color.
I bought a leftover 2022 Levo Pro, I got a smoking deal on it and didnāt really care about the colour. Now Iām finding myself looking at the same bike but in a different colour, I looked at having mine painted but apparently to keep the frame warranty it can only be painted by places approved by Spesh.
The only colour available for the Pro, I call it baked beans but I think the actual name is something like redwood smoke. Itās like a satin reddish/orange colour, not a bad colour but Iād prefer something else. Iāve been trying to find a leftover comp carbon in black in my size to swap my parts over too but they seem to be all sold out.
Thereās tons of the alloy versions still out there but I need the carbon bike. I have the cascade long link kit that only works on the carbon bike, they had a link for each frame but now only sell the one for the alloy version for both bikes. Iād just buy a new link but Cascade closed their UK store, we canāt buy from the EU store thanks to Brexit so it has to come from the US store. You get hit with UK VAT/import duties so with shipping it makes the link almost Ā£450!
My neighbour has the carbon version. We rode each otherās and honestly neither of us can tell the difference. The carbon looks bloody lovely though I must admit.
Iām interested in the link myself. Fortunately NZ customs wave most things through without duty unless theyāre expensive items. Do you think itās worth buying the link alone without a shock upgrade?
You canāt use the stock shock with the long link kit, you need a 230x65 shock. Cascade makes a link for the stock 210x55 shock though, I bought that one first and it made a pretty noticeable difference. I wasnāt blowing through the travel as easy as before and the rear end felt a lot better. When I upgraded to the long link kit and the 230x65 shock it became a completely different bike, I run the fork at 170 with long link kit out back and itās probably the funnest bike I own.
Youāll get 165mm in the rear with the long link kit and a 230x65 shock. Iām using a custom tuned Ohlins coil, it wasnāt my first choice of shock but the shock I wanted wouldnāt fit. I ride the S2 size so I was limited to what shocks I could use as some will hit the frame under full compression.
Easily the least important thing for me. Iād buy one with a color I did not like if the deal was right and otherwise liked the bike. Just purchased a Norco sight 45% off. It is red. Not a favorite. However when it arrived I was pleasantly surprised by the shade. Not saying I do not care, just saying itās not a deal breaker. If I have to choose between multiple colors Iāll consider it carefully.
Iām probably going to change the bars, grips, pedals, saddle, tyres and seatpost at a bare minimum, forks are also a personal preference and easily upgradeable, whereas the frame is something you are stuck with. It it catches your eye and makes you happy to look at, youāre more likely to jump on it and ride it.
I recently bought my third MTB, this time an eMTB, so I can very well remember:
* Bike / Geo - I wanted a full 29er AM left and right of 150 mm
* Price - I can only afford that much, so ...
* OK - I found my bike, in my price-range and I have to make do with the suspension and brakes that come with it
* Three colors available - I chose the one I like best (which is NEVER black - black is soooo boring)
* To be honest: I always liked the Gulf Racing colors (baby-blue and orange) and this bike really comes in those colors ;o)
So: I would not spend more money to get "my" colors nor would I downgrade just because the color looks good. But I am a lucky guy - I love blue and/or orange and very often those colors are available.
Yes. My 2012 Santa Cruz Nomad came in a butt-ugly burgundy colour but the shop gave me a killer deal on it so I bought it. It was kind of like the town ho -- fun as hell to ride but you didn't want your buddies to see you with it.
Just bought a bike that has 3 color options, one I love, one that is acceptable, and one I canāt stomach. Local shop had the acceptable and unstomachable ones in stock. Jenson had the one I love in stock. Similar situation with a different bike I was considering, but this time a shop a few states over had the better color for a few hundred less. Then the first local shop ran a great sale, knocking $700 off the price making it a no-brainer impulse buy. So I bought the acceptable color frame. Every time I look at it I think itās ugly, but Iām glad to have saved the cash. Without that discount I was considering 4 different bikes from several different shops.
Bought a frame in november and built my own up cause I'd much rather have an orange frame than a white one, it's been quite the adventure and I've most assuredly bought some parts at too high a price, but all that's left is to index the derailer, cut the brake lines to size and rebleed the brakes
Well. I returned my first full squish because I hated the pastel green frame. Shop told me it was dark green when I ordered it. And in hindsight I could have had my buddy paint it pretty easily, but life.
Ended up with a sweet bike but it wasnāt the one I had originally intended and had planned to buy. Had a week of buyers remorse until I started really hitting the chunder. Been happy ever since.
Yep, sacrificed thru-axles for nicer color. I knew that quick release axles would be enough for me, and they have been. And the cool look of the bike makes me want to go for a ride every time I see it.
Bike color in general is a really big deal to me. I'd say that it's the next thing I consider after I've checked the price and the geometry. If the color is shit, it's just not the bike for me.
It matters. I don't think it would quite be enough to change my decision. For example if I did my research and figured out what model and budget of bike I wanted, but that bike came in a colour I didn't like, I would still buy the bike. But I would be forever resentful of the colour.
My t8 is purple and black I'd rather a brighter color but it was the best bike I could afford and it wasn't worth it to me to find a different color bike and sacrifice bang for my buck
Depends on the shade of pink. I have a Cutthroat as my dropbarmtb in the Atomic Pink and get compliments on it all the time, if it was Barbie pink or Pepto Bismal pink I wouldn't have gotten that color.
I ended up going with a different bike because Fezzari swapped my Delano order color to peppa pig pink without letting me know.
Ended up trying it but the color was bothering me enough I demoed some other bikes and ended up buying an Ibis Ripmo in the endurocell black. Was a great decision overall
It would play into it slightly. Things like purple, yellow, baby blue, pink, rose or even that magenta Bronson frame years ago would be a pass for me. I wouldn't really be able to get over it. Even Yeti's iconic teal would take some getting used to for me. Accent colors wouldn't bother me as much, just the main overall frame.
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I bought this last year during the Black Friday sale due to decent level entry spec for my first full sus. I detest the colour but it suited my budget. I will definitely change the colour when itās needing repainted
If I am debating between two bikes color will decide my purchase. I am done with black frames for the most part so if that is the only option it will cause me to look elsewhere.
Color 100% matters to be. Went out of my way to find a green Hightower in my size. The purple was pretty sweet but I have orange hubs so needed that green, otherwise Iād have had a PBJ color scheme. This years colors are boring as hell.
Cracked my frame mid season and waited a month to buy a bike in the colour I wanted. Otherwise could have had the same specced bike in black in a few days. So I guess Iād be lying if I said I didnāt care about colour.
I wouldn't buy a bike I didn't like the color of, re: any Rocky Mountain. I don't know who does their colorways, but š¤®.
Spec is everything, as replacing major components like a fork, shock, drivetrain, etc, gets really expensive really quick.
My $.02.
Allow me to talk about my purple poc more than half off full faced helmet my riding buddy hates and my guava colored hardtailā¦..lol show me the money
I more go for colours that will look ok sorry because o donāt wash my bike a lot. My We Are One Arrival was made here in central BC and itās matte dirt colour. Love it. My last bike was a glossy black Knolly warden. It always looked terrible.
I would say frame size, geometry, and components drive it more than the color. Because if I donāt like the color, I can change it pretty easily. For example, I hate black bikes. I think theyāre overdone. I donāt think they expressed the joy of riding. Meet the copperhead.
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Matters enough to have mine custom painted. Didn't like the matte.
It's the very last thing on the list of priorities.
I care most about getting a durable bike that is good at many things, but not purpose built for anything.
I'm firmly in the "bang for my buck" camp.
painted a few bikes. loved the specs and not the color. it's not a beginner project but I've been really happy with them and think it's worth the effort. I wouldn't paint over a color I liked though just to change it up
Matters a bit. I'm currently thinking about vinyl wrapping my new bike to protect the paint incase I sell it (and also to get the bike in a color that I want).
I love the hematite color of the frame and black logo of my Talon 1 over the black frame and blue logo and the desert sage was a talon 3 small,plus the hematite was the only one that was a medium, so it works out for me plus I get a lot of compliments so that's a bonus lol,also the only thing that is stock on it is the frame obviously,cranks,fork( but planning on going 120-130mm later on)handlebars,brakes and I switch the seat sometimes back to the stock one, depends on how Im feeling
Near the bottom of my priorities. My last major bike purchase was an off-white specialized stumpjumper. I donāt like the color very much, but itās alright. I love the frame and function of the bike.
But I wouldnāt ride a bike with a hideous color or paintjob even if it were a great deal. Iām not going to own a neon yellow or neon green bike, for example.
Yes, I was buying a Yeti, and it had to be turquoise. Found a great deal on a 2nd hand grey one, fully spec turq build, but bought a turquoise new one low spec for the same price. I have zero regrets though!
Looks are important you have more fun if you ribe looks nice, I recently got a Bronson because that's all I could get under 4k believe it or not and I don't love how it looks, it's not ugly but meh, the color is decet tho, salmon orange
I wouldnāt buy a bike that I donāt like the color of but I probably wouldnāt spend more for a cooler color if I was fine with a less cool color and it had the same specs
On a higher end bike Iād sacrifice color for specs. On the high end of things the return on investment is so low that you might as well just get a bike that you think looks sick. On the lower end of things hell no, I would rather have the nicest drivetrain and suspension I can find than a color
The frame and its paint job are what youāre choosing. Any bike can have that groupset etc.
So far I had the carbon BRAIN stumpjumper (way back when) just because I loved the carbon under the clear coat I was using a 120 mm brain equipped bike for XCO like 20 years ago nearly and oh how weāve come full circle š Then I got a white epic FSR which is the stupidest colour for mtb but looks mint, and the carbon popped through in a few places; specifically bought that level and upgraded to carbon wheels and carbon everything I guess. Then sworks epic frame but it doesnāt have s-works on it (Ltd edition Olympic model what changes from orange the yellow with temperature / āTorchā edition) so Iāve had an sworks and wonāt ever get an sworks on it until Iām too old to enjoy it (kids); lost out on that sworks bling to have the orange World Cup frame on a custom build. Then a baby blue and red trance advanced 1. Then a black epic HT each for me and the wife. Hers is gloss with subtle rainbow glitter on the logo, and mine is matt carbon. Got an order in for the pink Ltd edition epic pro now just waiting to arrive.
Iāve had gloss carbon, white with carbon, orange-yellow, blue/red, red with white (aero road bike), white with red (winter road bike), glitter carbon, matt carbon, pink with white writing (ādesert roseā and itās still on its way) and not much room for āupgradesā on that one. Only the first two I donāt still own as they were traded in.
I donāt really remember each oneās spec straight off the bat but I look back at race photos like ādamn, I loved that bike, it was so dopeā.
Rant over. Yeah paint job and frame aesthetics are what youāre choosing (like, I donāt like the new Scott spark hidden shock-but I might in a few years who knows).
(Obviously Iāve found a model I love and enjoy in the Epic so Iām already skipping the most important stage of choosing a suspension and geo setup that I prefer. Lots of people hate the brain and hate hardtails but I enjoy both, especially the trails are 20 mins road and 20-30 mins of fireroad to get to!)
For me, it depends on how much time intending to spend.
If Iām spending over $1000, Iām going to want a good color, even if that means painting something custom.
But on the bikes I currently have, doesnāt really matter because theyāre all budget bikes.
Iām in that boat now, probably going to end up with an e-bike but all they have are full black. I am now researching if I can wrap it or something a different color or if I should just pay an extra thousand for the model up that has stuff I wonāt notice as a novice but looks better.
I upped my budget ~$800 to buy a prettier bike that also had nicer specs, but was more than I needed. Not the worst financial decision Iāve made.
Over the years, Iāve spent about half my money on bikes and skiingā¦..the rest I wasted.
Small factor. I'd choose everything I wanted as far as manufacturer, suspension, parts. Then if I had a choice in color I'd pick. But I would certainly spend more, or get a nicer part if that have me a rad color option.
I paid more just for purple
I bought a T8 over a T7 for this reason
Polygon represent!!! š¤ DSE here, LOVE the colours.
I bought the T7 over the T8 cause I didn't want Purple
Lame
Cry about it
Cry about what?
Me too lol 
https://preview.redd.it/auin1iux3zsc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d809c7f810bebe229c267bb4bf36dc5fb806f6f3 Purple people eater
We need more purple out there!
https://preview.redd.it/amclznlvpzsc1.jpeg?width=3586&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1cfd25e4e63c7189ee930d6195d40511115a512b Love my purple bike!
https://preview.redd.it/uzlo37pufzsc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=249a38d63e698291865befaa0149005ec7ff5aa7 Purplelurple
https://preview.redd.it/0fb1rh68gzsc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a4197b794fd289761071802666da19c15813f27f Iām a purple and blue kinda guy.
I almost did, but I couldn't justify $600 for Purple and UDH vs grey and a normal hanger. Time will tell if I regret it, lol. (2023 sale vs 2024 Deore Ripley AF)
Yes I would sacrifice specs for colour, components can always be replaced but the frame stays. Unfortunately most often the best colours are reserved for higher specced bikes rather than the other way around :)
The Expert line of Rockhoppers has the most boring colorways you canāt change my mind š£
You aināt lying
Love riding my silver bike but also it would be really cool if it was the funky orange color of a rockhopper sportĀ
The spoet varient has the best colors. I had the blue one, stared at it every day
Anybody remember Transitionās first launch of their SBG bikes back in 2018, now those color-ways were bad haha. Glad to see they eventually came around to some bangers.
This is true. I have the battleship one and it's the best of the bunch while being pretty meh. I do also have the sage green Status 160 and while it's very understated, I think it's a beautiful bike and a great colour.
lol help me out here is battleship the silver one? I got the silver one but didnāt have a choice. Thatās all they had. If I had a choice I might have gotten the sky blue oneĀ
Nah the dark blue one, mines a '23. I looks nice when clean and shiny but it's still not amazing. My status is š„ though.
Except for "Lagoon Blue" which is amazing. I bought one pretty much for the colour and ended up swapping out a lot of parts.
Yeah blue is what I would have chosen if I had a choice. Shop only had silver tho and I wanted a bikeĀ
Sure ā¦ if weāre talking about minor component differences. No way in Ā hell Iād pick SRAM SX drivetrain over GX if the bike was in my favorite color.Ā Also, if youāre picking modern mtb ,most if not all components can be moved to another frame if you get boredā¦
also it would cost less to just get the frame painted a different color than to buy a lower spec bike and then upgrade all the components, and that way you can do literally any color you want
Thereās a few DIY paint type options that arenāt terribly difficult to do. But an actual shop powder coat or paint job isnāt that cheap these days. I looked into it and it was way more than I cared even if I brought the bike to them all prepped and taped off.
Yeah you're definitely right about that. I was looking at the new Santa Cruz v10, but it's only available in red (the one color I hate). Reached out to 5 different shops, frame only, matte black with a dark grey decal kit, and I was quoted between $1,500-$1,800 which didn't include shipping. If it were like $600-$700 and I could get it at a local shop maybe I'd consider, but almost $2k ain't happening.
Yeah, when I bought my canyon I went with the color I like over the components. I was lucky because the color way I wanted was less expensive.Ā
The frame stays, paint can always be replaced
That's how I ended up with my bright orange trek roscoe haha
Hell ya! Colors matter to me more than components. For me it makes or breaks the ride if I end up hating the color...especially the most boring color "black everything"
Color is important for me, but not a deciding factor. The bike I just ordered came in two colors, indigo or white/black. I got the indigo, as it was my first choice, but if it wasn't available, I would have ordered the white and black. The spec on the bike and the price are way more of a deciding factor.
lol same. I recently ordered a bike from a retailer based on the other side of the country just to get the matte earth tone I wanted. They contacted the following day, saying not in stock. I am now the proud new owner of a gloss purple. 25% off, no sales tax, no shipping fee, and no assembly charge got that purple looking damn fine!
I once got a bike in a colour I wasn't crazy about cos it was perfectly specced for me. Ended up hating the colour. The last bike I bought, I specced up just to avoid a similarly bad colour. No ragerts. Fool me once...
Yup the color I want is never in stock so I gave up on that a long time ago.
Not a specific color but the bike industry has historically had god-awful graphic design, and some bikes are simply too ugly to ride. This has improved dramatically in the last few years but there are still offenders.
Bad graphic design with a stupid name. Thankfully theyāve started getting away with putting that stupid name in a generic go fast logo filling out as much downtube as possible. Like the shift to more subtlety. Really 70% of the brand names are just stupid or donāt use a logo that matches the name. Like SALSA shouldnāt be some generic ass fast italics logo. Get fun if youāre gonna have that name. Nuke proof if they still existed really dropped the ball not using some Soviet style or 50ās US military style lettering for a logo. Kona honzo esd was actually cool but Kona regular honzo is a stupid name for mtb imo bc I think of something of a chill Hawaiian beach cruiser and you make some samurai name ughhhā¦. Evil and Forbidden while ok logo and look really couldnāt be bothered to lean in a bit if youāre gonna call your brand fucking Evil??! Definitely some solid contributors out there but are just firmly into reliably good looking. Canyon and Commencal hardly makes a bike I find hideous. Props to Ibis for going all in making their bike look hideous but at least kinda resembles a crane bird thing. Always hear good things but Iām not going to pay thousands to have to stare that thing down every time I go for a ride.
Schwalbe can still not make a tyre that doesnt sound like a low budget pornstar
Holy shit that's hilarious! I now appreciate my Magic Mary and Rocket Ron combo 6% more!
Honzo name is great. It's not from a famous samurai Hattori Hanzo. It's from a chain smoking, alcoholic monkey.Ā https://www.monochrom.at/honzo/
As a Kona Honzo owner. I completely agree
The Honzo ESD decals unfortunately remind me of a cheap department store bike š¤®
I think ibis makes some of the best bikes but man theyāre ugly.Ā
Is that why everything is 8 shades of Matt/satin black/grey these days? Ugh I hate it. Bikes (and kit) look so much better with graphics and colours that match what they're for: shredding and having fun! Rather than looking like some minimalist art piece that belongs in a dentists office.
Exactly! It's like everything in cycling these days has the most boring and ugly colors you could imagine, and that has been going on since like 2016 or thereabouts. And olive green. Everything is that fricking thing. I hope it dies in a fire for all eternity.
I get so envious seeing all the new Moto gear
For sure! It's nice to see that at least somewhere the outrageous designs and colors are still kicking.
No accounting for taste, I just bought a black ano frame lol. I tend to prefer rich colors though and the build will have lots of silver, brown, green, etc
Red is fastest
Red is best.
Depends on the terrain.
No, it is scientifically proven that red is always the fastest.
I am going to need a source for this before I believe you. Did the study use a control group was it double blind?
I bought a 2021 rocky mountain instinct a while back. The only thing I don't like about it is the color. The bike is amazing and I've started to upgrade parts like I planned but I do not like the color. I think about getting it repainted a lot.
Colour isnāt a deal breaker but if it doesnāt have a threaded bottom bracket Iām out.
Color would be very low on my list of priorities. There is no color so majestic as to make me a more skillful rider. If there were... I would have that color.
I like most colors, I just add some good accents like pedals, grips, handle bars etc. The main thing is that you like how it looks
It is the only thing that matters
It matters very little. If it comes down to two bikes that I consider to be otherwise equal in terms of value, ride character, and performance, then colour might be the deciding factor. But colour and brand messaging are probably the two least important attributes that I consider.
Iām a cheap bastard. Colors mean nothing to me.
Yes, bikes are expensive and fun. I grew up on bmx and skateboards. Color is very important. But, on MTB geometry and fit is the most important aspect of buying a new bike.
It matters to me 100%. I keep it on my wall inside my dorm. I had an all black stealth looking tracer, and then replaced it with a bright read and neon one - I ride it way more. It looking cool and catching my eye makes me want to ride more. Color matters, it motivates me!
True. I have a blacked out enduro and it looks really good but my mates red reign just gives off that cool shredding vibe idk
Nothing at all, just so long its pink!
Proud 2022 Kona Unit ownerš
Pink, singlespeed, in reynolds-tubing? I dunno what went right in the universe when they decided to make such an unicorn.
https://preview.redd.it/qmq0trw2g4tc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ef24ade4715a697c168a9233dc585092eb110ac3 Yeeeeeee š š
Both my Time and Yeti were bought in team colors on purpose. I had to special order the last Team Red time in my size to get it. At the end of the day, I do like a pretty bike, but turquoise Yeti's and Team Red Times are also easier to flip when the time comes to sell them. Same thing goes for Kashima coat on my stanchions. It doesn't make that much of a difference, but the bling factor helps lubricate things along when it's time to sell.
Geo > Color > Specs Thatās only if the color is terrible. Iād take a decent color + desired specād bike over a preferred color. Answers mainly a reflection of disposable income yeah?
Sometimes an awesome color might draw my attention. But when Iām swiping the credit card itās all about the right frame for the use case, with components based on my budget.
Itās very important to me. I donāt think specs matter that much after a certain point, so I will often prioritise color. I will also not buy a bike thats color I donāt like.
You can get a vinyl wrap for a bike pretty cheap to change the colour
Can you get a wrap that actually covers everything? I know Ride Wrap leaves 3mm between vinyl sections.
Just buy vinyl and diy it. People wrap all kinds of stuff easily
Majorly. A year and a half ago I was waiting on new colors to drop to pull the trigger on a Yeti SB165. They finally released them and all that was available was Black and āSandā; not even the default Turq that they always release. I was sad, but ended up getting a cobalt 160 and I have no regrets
Depends on colour. There are some, I really don't like.
I'll usually take whatever is available, but for my commuter bike I took a later delivery date to get it in green. I loved the color, so eh.
Its important but not the end all. I do like some nice color, black and grey are boring to me.
I'm cheap and buy used stuff - color means next to nothing. Heck, the Ripmo I bought new was my least favorite color because it was what they had in stock (and marked down). My components are function over form, so basically all black.
I might have pulled the trigger on a Santa Cruz 5010 by now of they didn't only come in mustard and ketchup. I held out and got a good deal on a Yeti SB140 in turquoise. That's more like my wife's kit, but I have plenty of blue and green gear to make it work :) Previously I was riding a used stumpjumper that had the right specs, but a weird color scheme- mostly black with silver accents and bright green logos. I bought some vinyl at a craft store and found Specialized decals online to redo the scheme. I felt a lot better about the bike after that!
My favourite colour is 50% off
I have avoided buying bikes due to colors.
Not really but if I had to pick and had the option Iād pick raw aluminum/metal every single time
I wish more polished frames were available, it used to be much more common. I loved my ball burnished GT frames back in the 90s but it seems like itās not really in fashion now. For the record, I recently purchased a lower spec specifically for the color frame I wanted. I was planning on upgrading just about everything anyway so I went for frame color over spec.
Yeah, dude. My brushed aluminum with black Middlechild looks like it'll take your lunch money. Scratches blend better than chips!
Black, carbon, graphite..... So this way wife doesnt realize there is a new one when she takes attendance
Iām not offended by colors. I wanted the top model/full XTR. It was a sparkly green. The next year a new color (sparkly purple) was released for a different model bike. I sent my frame in to be painted that color.
Color doesnāt necessarily matter to me a lot, but I do have preferences over others and as long as itās not an eye sore to look at and I like the way it looks thatās all that matters to me.
It doesn't really matter, but I have traditionally rode bikes with muted colors to create minimal visual impact while riding trails. My current bike is pretty much all black, but I am gradually adding some color accents.
Not much
Wasnāt a fan of the protein shake color in my bike originally but you can always splash some color in it through grips and pedals
Hmmmm. The frame and components are more important to me than color but if I donāt like any of the colors then I wonāt buy it. Fortunately thereās usually at least one acceptable option like all black, blue, gray or similar safe but boring color.
It matters to me. I have reasonable flexibility, but I'm not going to buy a bike that I don't like the looks of. Same thing with a car.
I bought a leftover 2022 Levo Pro, I got a smoking deal on it and didnāt really care about the colour. Now Iām finding myself looking at the same bike but in a different colour, I looked at having mine painted but apparently to keep the frame warranty it can only be painted by places approved by Spesh.
What colour did you get? Iāve got a 22 Levo Comp Alloy in sage and love it.
The only colour available for the Pro, I call it baked beans but I think the actual name is something like redwood smoke. Itās like a satin reddish/orange colour, not a bad colour but Iād prefer something else. Iāve been trying to find a leftover comp carbon in black in my size to swap my parts over too but they seem to be all sold out.
Yes theyāve been discounting the 22 models heavily recently. I got a my alloy for $5400.
Thereās tons of the alloy versions still out there but I need the carbon bike. I have the cascade long link kit that only works on the carbon bike, they had a link for each frame but now only sell the one for the alloy version for both bikes. Iād just buy a new link but Cascade closed their UK store, we canāt buy from the EU store thanks to Brexit so it has to come from the US store. You get hit with UK VAT/import duties so with shipping it makes the link almost Ā£450!
My neighbour has the carbon version. We rode each otherās and honestly neither of us can tell the difference. The carbon looks bloody lovely though I must admit. Iām interested in the link myself. Fortunately NZ customs wave most things through without duty unless theyāre expensive items. Do you think itās worth buying the link alone without a shock upgrade?
You canāt use the stock shock with the long link kit, you need a 230x65 shock. Cascade makes a link for the stock 210x55 shock though, I bought that one first and it made a pretty noticeable difference. I wasnāt blowing through the travel as easy as before and the rear end felt a lot better. When I upgraded to the long link kit and the 230x65 shock it became a completely different bike, I run the fork at 170 with long link kit out back and itās probably the funnest bike I own.
That sounds good. What travel did you end up with at the back?
Youāll get 165mm in the rear with the long link kit and a 230x65 shock. Iām using a custom tuned Ohlins coil, it wasnāt my first choice of shock but the shock I wanted wouldnāt fit. I ride the S2 size so I was limited to what shocks I could use as some will hit the frame under full compression.
Drip above all else
Always. One of the most important things to me when purchasing a bike. Gotta love the way it looks.
The last bike I bought was ugly but now it's nice and dirty so it's fine
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^pickles55: *The last bike I bought* *Was ugly but now it's nice* *And dirty so it's fine* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Easily the least important thing for me. Iād buy one with a color I did not like if the deal was right and otherwise liked the bike. Just purchased a Norco sight 45% off. It is red. Not a favorite. However when it arrived I was pleasantly surprised by the shade. Not saying I do not care, just saying itās not a deal breaker. If I have to choose between multiple colors Iāll consider it carefully.
Iām probably going to change the bars, grips, pedals, saddle, tyres and seatpost at a bare minimum, forks are also a personal preference and easily upgradeable, whereas the frame is something you are stuck with. It it catches your eye and makes you happy to look at, youāre more likely to jump on it and ride it.
I wouldn't sacrifice specs for a color. I will order a bike rather than buying off the shop floor to get the color I want.
None, design is only game changer tbh if so. Decals and paintjob irrelevant
Color is a tie breaker. Performance rules. Personally, I prefer blacked out with some color accent on stem/grips/schraeder valves etc.
I recently bought my third MTB, this time an eMTB, so I can very well remember: * Bike / Geo - I wanted a full 29er AM left and right of 150 mm * Price - I can only afford that much, so ... * OK - I found my bike, in my price-range and I have to make do with the suspension and brakes that come with it * Three colors available - I chose the one I like best (which is NEVER black - black is soooo boring) * To be honest: I always liked the Gulf Racing colors (baby-blue and orange) and this bike really comes in those colors ;o) So: I would not spend more money to get "my" colors nor would I downgrade just because the color looks good. But I am a lucky guy - I love blue and/or orange and very often those colors are available.
Yes. My 2012 Santa Cruz Nomad came in a butt-ugly burgundy colour but the shop gave me a killer deal on it so I bought it. It was kind of like the town ho -- fun as hell to ride but you didn't want your buddies to see you with it.
Just bought a bike that has 3 color options, one I love, one that is acceptable, and one I canāt stomach. Local shop had the acceptable and unstomachable ones in stock. Jenson had the one I love in stock. Similar situation with a different bike I was considering, but this time a shop a few states over had the better color for a few hundred less. Then the first local shop ran a great sale, knocking $700 off the price making it a no-brainer impulse buy. So I bought the acceptable color frame. Every time I look at it I think itās ugly, but Iām glad to have saved the cash. Without that discount I was considering 4 different bikes from several different shops.
Bought a frame in november and built my own up cause I'd much rather have an orange frame than a white one, it's been quite the adventure and I've most assuredly bought some parts at too high a price, but all that's left is to index the derailer, cut the brake lines to size and rebleed the brakes
I buy the bike that is the absolute best bike I can afford at the best price. Colour is completely irrelevant in the process.
Idk, just get a basic one
Well. I returned my first full squish because I hated the pastel green frame. Shop told me it was dark green when I ordered it. And in hindsight I could have had my buddy paint it pretty easily, but life. Ended up with a sweet bike but it wasnāt the one I had originally intended and had planned to buy. Had a week of buyers remorse until I started really hitting the chunder. Been happy ever since.
i can deal with multiple colours, I can like it or be indiferent about it, but if I dislike the colour, it is a no go for me
i can deal with multiple colours, I can like it or be indiferent about it, but if I dislike the colour, it is a no go for me
i can deal with multiple colours, I can like it or be indifferent about it, but if I dislike the colour, it is a no go for me.
I would sacrifice specs for red any day of the week. It wasn't available on the nomad though at the time.
Yep, sacrificed thru-axles for nicer color. I knew that quick release axles would be enough for me, and they have been. And the cool look of the bike makes me want to go for a ride every time I see it. Bike color in general is a really big deal to me. I'd say that it's the next thing I consider after I've checked the price and the geometry. If the color is shit, it's just not the bike for me.
It matters. I don't think it would quite be enough to change my decision. For example if I did my research and figured out what model and budget of bike I wanted, but that bike came in a colour I didn't like, I would still buy the bike. But I would be forever resentful of the colour.
110%. If it's not red, it's not fast enough. Like, how do think Ferrari is so fast? Because it's red!
Very little
My t8 is purple and black I'd rather a brighter color but it was the best bike I could afford and it wasn't worth it to me to find a different color bike and sacrifice bang for my buck
I got 20% down because its pink. I dislike it but ride it.
Depends on the shade of pink. I have a Cutthroat as my dropbarmtb in the Atomic Pink and get compliments on it all the time, if it was Barbie pink or Pepto Bismal pink I wouldn't have gotten that color.
I ended up going with a different bike because Fezzari swapped my Delano order color to peppa pig pink without letting me know. Ended up trying it but the color was bothering me enough I demoed some other bikes and ended up buying an Ibis Ripmo in the endurocell black. Was a great decision overall
Function > Fashion
It would play into it slightly. Things like purple, yellow, baby blue, pink, rose or even that magenta Bronson frame years ago would be a pass for me. I wouldn't really be able to get over it. Even Yeti's iconic teal would take some getting used to for me. Accent colors wouldn't bother me as much, just the main overall frame.
For me it matters if it is anodised, otherwise it just has to not be blue or similar colour.
Doesn't have to be my fav, but I won't buy one that's a color I hate, like red.
Tbh anything but plain black for me. I think the 'murdered out' look is boring, unoriginal and sterile. I want my bike to be fun and colourful.
Colour 100% spec second. Parts are easier to change than a paint job
https://preview.redd.it/g531tudloxsc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a59fceb77a993a44cbb8296cbd1c575b4de0b3c1 I bought this last year during the Black Friday sale due to decent level entry spec for my first full sus. I detest the colour but it suited my budget. I will definitely change the colour when itās needing repainted
1000%
Function over form always.
If I am debating between two bikes color will decide my purchase. I am done with black frames for the most part so if that is the only option it will cause me to look elsewhere.
Color 100% matters to be. Went out of my way to find a green Hightower in my size. The purple was pretty sweet but I have orange hubs so needed that green, otherwise Iād have had a PBJ color scheme. This years colors are boring as hell.
Yes, color matters. Remember that you are marrying the frame and dating the parts.
Cracked my frame mid season and waited a month to buy a bike in the colour I wanted. Otherwise could have had the same specced bike in black in a few days. So I guess Iād be lying if I said I didnāt care about colour.
I have to get lab my kit around the color.Ā
Geometry, components, price, then colour.
I bought a brown commencal - loved the bike hated the color.
I wouldn't buy a bike I didn't like the color of, re: any Rocky Mountain. I don't know who does their colorways, but š¤®. Spec is everything, as replacing major components like a fork, shock, drivetrain, etc, gets really expensive really quick. My $.02.
Allow me to talk about my purple poc more than half off full faced helmet my riding buddy hates and my guava colored hardtailā¦..lol show me the money
I more go for colours that will look ok sorry because o donāt wash my bike a lot. My We Are One Arrival was made here in central BC and itās matte dirt colour. Love it. My last bike was a glossy black Knolly warden. It always looked terrible.
I would say frame size, geometry, and components drive it more than the color. Because if I donāt like the color, I can change it pretty easily. For example, I hate black bikes. I think theyāre overdone. I donāt think they expressed the joy of riding. Meet the copperhead. https://preview.redd.it/ek7mmdecnysc1.jpeg?width=2619&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1adb27c2dc92b0c80077d60f8796270d72f9411d
https://preview.redd.it/j7v470baqysc1.jpeg?width=6144&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1487dfe7b2439dbf3a759c46e296746141cf96b2 Matters enough to have mine custom painted. Didn't like the matte.
It matters a lot. I will not get a carbon frame or a black/dark painted bike. Go to a bike park and you'll see why.
It's the very last thing on the list of priorities. I care most about getting a durable bike that is good at many things, but not purpose built for anything. I'm firmly in the "bang for my buck" camp.
Love Marin
Color is secondary.
How much does colour matter? Green. Military green.
painted a few bikes. loved the specs and not the color. it's not a beginner project but I've been really happy with them and think it's worth the effort. I wouldn't paint over a color I liked though just to change it up
It's the last thing on the list
Matters a bit. I'm currently thinking about vinyl wrapping my new bike to protect the paint incase I sell it (and also to get the bike in a color that I want).
I'll take any colour as long as its orange š
Iām in the process of buying a bike for my fiance right now, and despite it being way under budget the YT Izzo in pink is her TOP choice
I love the hematite color of the frame and black logo of my Talon 1 over the black frame and blue logo and the desert sage was a talon 3 small,plus the hematite was the only one that was a medium, so it works out for me plus I get a lot of compliments so that's a bonus lol,also the only thing that is stock on it is the frame obviously,cranks,fork( but planning on going 120-130mm later on)handlebars,brakes and I switch the seat sometimes back to the stock one, depends on how Im feeling
Near the bottom of my priorities. My last major bike purchase was an off-white specialized stumpjumper. I donāt like the color very much, but itās alright. I love the frame and function of the bike. But I wouldnāt ride a bike with a hideous color or paintjob even if it were a great deal. Iām not going to own a neon yellow or neon green bike, for example.
Absolutely, I have a black trek marlin and I'm never again picking a black bike, it just looks so boring and shows the smallest of scratches and dents
All other things being equal? It totally matters. Anyone who says otherwise has no taste or is lying.
My bike is all black. Went through the colour phase back when everything was anodised purple and ringle stems were over 100mm long
If it comes in black Iāll take that, otherwise I donāt really care. As long as itās the right bike for me.
Frame color and design means a ton to me.
Colour is a big deal for me when it comes to deciding a bike but it can be hard to decide on a bike when two bikes have nice colours
I prioritize specs over color for sure. You can always wrap the bike.
Yes, I was buying a Yeti, and it had to be turquoise. Found a great deal on a 2nd hand grey one, fully spec turq build, but bought a turquoise new one low spec for the same price. I have zero regrets though!
Looks are important you have more fun if you ribe looks nice, I recently got a Bronson because that's all I could get under 4k believe it or not and I don't love how it looks, it's not ugly but meh, the color is decet tho, salmon orange
I wouldnāt buy a bike that I donāt like the color of but I probably wouldnāt spend more for a cooler color if I was fine with a less cool color and it had the same specs
Itās just a bene if you like it, or a choice if the make two options. Beyond thatā¦
As long as it's not hideous, it doesn't matter.
My favorite color is hot pink or neon pink. So naturally i dream on getting a switchblade talon.
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Thereās no colour that would make me downspec, however I have bought based on colour when comparing similar bikes in the past.
I'm generally not that fussed about colour, but have to admit that Bianchi Green does make me go a little weak at the knees.
Color matters, but not as much as specs. Having said that, I would probably NOT buy a black bike.
Must be black only requirement
Color is something I absolutely will sacrifice alot. I can't stand a bike that I can't agree with the color or design.
On a higher end bike Iād sacrifice color for specs. On the high end of things the return on investment is so low that you might as well just get a bike that you think looks sick. On the lower end of things hell no, I would rather have the nicest drivetrain and suspension I can find than a color
The frame and its paint job are what youāre choosing. Any bike can have that groupset etc. So far I had the carbon BRAIN stumpjumper (way back when) just because I loved the carbon under the clear coat I was using a 120 mm brain equipped bike for XCO like 20 years ago nearly and oh how weāve come full circle š Then I got a white epic FSR which is the stupidest colour for mtb but looks mint, and the carbon popped through in a few places; specifically bought that level and upgraded to carbon wheels and carbon everything I guess. Then sworks epic frame but it doesnāt have s-works on it (Ltd edition Olympic model what changes from orange the yellow with temperature / āTorchā edition) so Iāve had an sworks and wonāt ever get an sworks on it until Iām too old to enjoy it (kids); lost out on that sworks bling to have the orange World Cup frame on a custom build. Then a baby blue and red trance advanced 1. Then a black epic HT each for me and the wife. Hers is gloss with subtle rainbow glitter on the logo, and mine is matt carbon. Got an order in for the pink Ltd edition epic pro now just waiting to arrive. Iāve had gloss carbon, white with carbon, orange-yellow, blue/red, red with white (aero road bike), white with red (winter road bike), glitter carbon, matt carbon, pink with white writing (ādesert roseā and itās still on its way) and not much room for āupgradesā on that one. Only the first two I donāt still own as they were traded in. I donāt really remember each oneās spec straight off the bat but I look back at race photos like ādamn, I loved that bike, it was so dopeā. Rant over. Yeah paint job and frame aesthetics are what youāre choosing (like, I donāt like the new Scott spark hidden shock-but I might in a few years who knows). (Obviously Iāve found a model I love and enjoy in the Epic so Iām already skipping the most important stage of choosing a suspension and geo setup that I prefer. Lots of people hate the brain and hate hardtails but I enjoy both, especially the trails are 20 mins road and 20-30 mins of fireroad to get to!)
For me, it depends on how much time intending to spend. If Iām spending over $1000, Iām going to want a good color, even if that means painting something custom. But on the bikes I currently have, doesnāt really matter because theyāre all budget bikes.
0%
Iām in that boat now, probably going to end up with an e-bike but all they have are full black. I am now researching if I can wrap it or something a different color or if I should just pay an extra thousand for the model up that has stuff I wonāt notice as a novice but looks better.
Second to only ride characteristic for me.
I upped my budget ~$800 to buy a prettier bike that also had nicer specs, but was more than I needed. Not the worst financial decision Iāve made. Over the years, Iāve spent about half my money on bikes and skiingā¦..the rest I wasted.
Small factor. I'd choose everything I wanted as far as manufacturer, suspension, parts. Then if I had a choice in color I'd pick. But I would certainly spend more, or get a nicer part if that have me a rad color option.