Why no polished aluminum frames? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

06-13-2004, 01:17 PM

When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX, which
had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny polished frames,
both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my neglect, so I was forced
to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished frame. Is this a matter of the
frames being too labor intensive, or just a matter of fashion? Shame,
because I think it's a nice look, especially when it's freshly washed and
polished.

06-13-2004, 04:56 PM

Gooserider wrote:

> When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX,
> which had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny
> polished frames, both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my
> neglect, so I was forced to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished
> frame. Is this a matter of the frames being too labor intensive, or
> just a matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a nice look,
> especially when it's freshly washed and polished.

It's probably both. It does cost more to polish a frame than to paint it. But
if the public demanded it, bike makers would find a way to offer it.

Polishing does seem to come and go. I've even seen a few half-painted,
half-polished frames lately.

Matt O.

06-13-2004, 04:56 PM

Gooserider wrote:

> When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX,
> which had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny
> polished frames, both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my
> neglect, so I was forced to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished
> frame. Is this a matter of the frames being too labor intensive, or
> just a matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a nice look,
> especially when it's freshly washed and polished.

It's probably both. It does cost more to polish a frame than to paint it. But
if the public demanded it, bike makers would find a way to offer it.

Polishing does seem to come and go. I've even seen a few half-painted,
half-polished frames lately.

Matt O.

06-13-2004, 04:56 PM

Gooserider wrote:

> When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX,
> which had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny
> polished frames, both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my
> neglect, so I was forced to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished
> frame. Is this a matter of the frames being too labor intensive, or
> just a matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a nice look,
> especially when it's freshly washed and polished.

It's probably both. It does cost more to polish a frame than to paint it. But
if the public demanded it, bike makers would find a way to offer it.

Polishing does seem to come and go. I've even seen a few half-painted,
half-polished frames lately.

Matt O.

06-13-2004, 04:56 PM

Gooserider wrote:

> When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX,
> which had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny
> polished frames, both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my
> neglect, so I was forced to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished
> frame. Is this a matter of the frames being too labor intensive, or
> just a matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a nice look,
> especially when it's freshly washed and polished.

It's probably both. It does cost more to polish a frame than to paint it. But
if the public demanded it, bike makers would find a way to offer it.

Polishing does seem to come and go. I've even seen a few half-painted,
half-polished frames lately.

Matt O.

06-13-2004, 04:56 PM

Gooserider wrote:

> When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX,
> which had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny
> polished frames, both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my
> neglect, so I was forced to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished
> frame. Is this a matter of the frames being too labor intensive, or
> just a matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a nice look,
> especially when it's freshly washed and polished.

It's probably both. It does cost more to polish a frame than to paint it. But
if the public demanded it, bike makers would find a way to offer it.

Polishing does seem to come and go. I've even seen a few half-painted,
half-polished frames lately.

Matt O.

06-13-2004, 10:33 PM

Matt O'Toole wrote:

>Gooserider wrote:
>
>>When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX,
>>which had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny
>>polished frames, both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my
>>neglect, so I was forced to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished
>>frame. Is this a matter of the frames being too labor intensive, or
>>just a matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a nice look,
>>especially when it's freshly washed and polished.
>>
>
>It's probably both. It does cost more to polish a frame than to paint it. But
>if the public demanded it, bike makers would find a way to offer it.
>
>Polishing does seem to come and go. I've even seen a few half-painted,
>half-polished frames lately.
>
>Matt O.
>
>
My Marin Larkspur (2001 editon?) had a nice brushed aluminum frame with
a plastic coat. Looked good. I peeled the decals off just to improve
the look. I liked it. Don't they do that any more?
Bernie

06-13-2004, 10:33 PM

Matt O'Toole wrote:

>Gooserider wrote:
>
>>When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX,
>>which had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny
>>polished frames, both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my
>>neglect, so I was forced to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished
>>frame. Is this a matter of the frames being too labor intensive, or
>>just a matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a nice look,
>>especially when it's freshly washed and polished.
>>
>
>It's probably both. It does cost more to polish a frame than to paint it. But
>if the public demanded it, bike makers would find a way to offer it.
>
>Polishing does seem to come and go. I've even seen a few half-painted,
>half-polished frames lately.
>
>Matt O.
>
>
My Marin Larkspur (2001 editon?) had a nice brushed aluminum frame with
a plastic coat. Looked good. I peeled the decals off just to improve
the look. I liked it. Don't they do that any more?
Bernie

06-13-2004, 10:33 PM

Matt O'Toole wrote:

>Gooserider wrote:
>
>>When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX,
>>which had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny
>>polished frames, both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my
>>neglect, so I was forced to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished
>>frame. Is this a matter of the frames being too labor intensive, or
>>just a matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a nice look,
>>especially when it's freshly washed and polished.
>>
>
>It's probably both. It does cost more to polish a frame than to paint it. But
>if the public demanded it, bike makers would find a way to offer it.
>
>Polishing does seem to come and go. I've even seen a few half-painted,
>half-polished frames lately.
>
>Matt O.
>
>
My Marin Larkspur (2001 editon?) had a nice brushed aluminum frame with
a plastic coat. Looked good. I peeled the decals off just to improve
the look. I liked it. Don't they do that any more?
Bernie

06-13-2004, 10:33 PM

Matt O'Toole wrote:

>Gooserider wrote:
>
>>When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX,
>>which had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny
>>polished frames, both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my
>>neglect, so I was forced to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished
>>frame. Is this a matter of the frames being too labor intensive, or
>>just a matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a nice look,
>>especially when it's freshly washed and polished.
>>
>
>It's probably both. It does cost more to polish a frame than to paint it. But
>if the public demanded it, bike makers would find a way to offer it.
>
>Polishing does seem to come and go. I've even seen a few half-painted,
>half-polished frames lately.
>
>Matt O.
>
>
My Marin Larkspur (2001 editon?) had a nice brushed aluminum frame with
a plastic coat. Looked good. I peeled the decals off just to improve
the look. I liked it. Don't they do that any more?
Bernie