Naked carbon looks cheap

[SpokeyDokey]

In my opinion.

Toddled off to try a Genesis Datum this morning before the snow set in.

The spec' I fancied was the '20' with hydraulic brakes. Managed a reasonable test ride (amazing if my past experiences of getting such a thing are anything to go by), dealer happy with 10% off ("but don't tell anyone" he said, so I won't mention the shop on here).

Thing is, and it is a nice bike, it looks like something out of a Jamboree bag (that's how old I am!). Really cheap looking bike with a £2100 pre-discount price tag.

By contrast the few hundred quid cheaper '10' (not the spec' I want) in deep glossy red looks a million dollars.

Dealer says he will enquire whether a '20' can be built with a '10' bright red and lovely frame but he is not optimistic. He reckons the raw carbon looks better anyway and that most people do - so it must be me then.

So... raw carbon: cheap looking or looks fabulous?

 

[Deleted member 35268]

I'm on the fence with this one, not sure which I prefer. I can afford neither at the moment.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Just to be pedantic, it's not really the "raw" carbon.

In fact, the weave isn't used in structural carbon components. The weave is placed on top of the structural stuff, and lacquered with a clear lacquer to look good. The "raw" carbon of the bike, would be a dull, unwoven, black/dark grey tube. Where you may be able to pick out the orientation of the strands, or maybe not.

 

[Apollonius]

May or may not be true, but I have a feeling that when carbon fibre as a frame material was new, expensive and exotic, manufacturers (and indeed, owners) were very keen to let everyone know that the bike they were looking at was "carbon", which everyone knows is soot or pencil lead, and therefore has to be matte black, because that is the colour of carbon.
Now that carbon frames are more common, we have moved on from that and want our colours back. Please.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Just to be pedantic, it's not really the "raw" carbon.

In fact, the weave isn't used in structural carbon components. The weave is placed on top of the structural stuff, and lacquered with a clear lacquer to look good. The "raw" carbon of the bike, would be a dull, unwoven, black/dark grey tube. Where you may be able to pick out the orientation of the strands, or maybe not.

I hear what you are saying and I don't know enough about it to disagree but Genesis describe it as raw carbon in specifications/frame & forks/line 4:

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/multisport/datum-20

Tbh you have to get to within about 3 feet of the bike and then squint a bit to even know it says 'Genesis' on the downtube as the black lettering is almost invisible. Such is the drab-ness of the thing.

It was definitely dull and matt though, as you say.

 

[tyred]

Who would want a bike made from recycled burned toast.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Unpainted carbon just looks awful.

 

[steve50]

The wheels look nice but the frame and forks are dull,they look like they haven't been finished.

 

[Crandoggler]

I like it.

 

[alvintc]

I like it, but I have a defy advanced pro 0 in largely same colour scheme so not too surprising!

 

[PhilDawson8270]

I agree with the OP.

No need for showing off carbon these days. I love a bright red frame.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I like it. I have an unvarnished raw UD carbon Rose and the finish is like black marble. Subtle and beautiful.

 

[Twizit]

Unpainted carbon? Nah not for me.

Unpainted Ti on the otherhand*



* this has absolutely nothing at all, no way, never, completely coincidental, to do with my latest n+1

 

[jefmcg]

+1 for red.

Though I just looked at the genesis website, and it seems they only sell the frameset in black

 

[Deleted member 1258]

A mat black bike does nothing for me, give me something with some colour to it.