The reason I’m thinking of removing the decals is this; the LHT is such a great classic looking bike. The decals don’t help that at all. I think the go very much against the look of a classic bike. I removed the decal from the dealer that I bought the bike from already. I hate it when they do that. I didn’t get any special deal, and even the service left a lot to be desired, why would I let them advertise on my bike? I mean come on, give me 10% off accessories when I’m buying the bike or at least have it ready for me when you say you will. The first and second time you say you will. If you can’t do those things, you can’t advertise on a bicycle that I paid for.
With my LHT, it’s not so much that I don’t want to advertise for Surly. They make great, no non-sense bikes and make them affordable. I honestly can’t really think of a bike out there like the LHT, other than the LHT. It’s a great platform from which to build a nice touring bike. Very capable of meeting the task it was designed for, and compared to bicycles of a similar skill strength, it’s cheap. I’m quite happy with my LHT and think it’s a great bike. But there is the whole issue of the look of the bike. The color could be dubbed as a classic color, the tubing size, geometry look great, but the decals just don’t work. Especially if you want to “Rivendellize” your LHT. Some of the Surly Pacers have a nicer looking decal. I wonder why it got a different decal?
I’m not totally convinced I’m going to do it yet, but I think I might just de-decal the LHT. We’ll see.
9 comments:
i've been slowly de-branding my cc. yeah, i like surly and all - but i don't need to be a rolling billboard.
when i built up my IF i kept most of the decals off. they were very cool with it. i do have the headbadge on, but the small chainstay and fork decals are peeling. understatement and bicycles go together.
I heard of someone around here that rode around the trails on a Merlin Ti mtb with Huffy stickers. I'd take the Surly stickers off and badge it as a high-end touring rig. Or maybe a Honda.
Very true, understatement and bicycles do go together.
Now....where can I get some Honda decals.....
I left all my Surly decals on my bikes as they aren't particularly large and my bikes aren't particularly pretty. For some reason my "Big Dummy" decals seemed to just come off right away on their own???
Honestly I don't think it matters either way. If you want to take 'em off just do it. Some packing tape on the decals will peel 'em right off. You can always get new decals from Surly if a while down the road you want 'em back.
Just as an aside I find most non-cyclists don't actually see the decals. I've been standing chatting with folks about my Pugsley or my LHT and been asked who makes it - so I point to the big Surly decal on the downtube. Then they ask what is the model called - so I point to the smaller LHT/Pugsley decal on the toptube.
If you want to keep the decals and just need some help loving them go look at some Cannondale bikes....note 1) how ugly their decals are 2) how big they are 3) how many times they can say Cannondale on a bike frame!!! You'll come back to your LHT and think - "...cool minimal branding!...."
Of course if you take the decals off your LHT and tour with me I label all my Flickr photos of us as follows:
"...My trusty uber cool Surly Long Haul Trucker and Jeremy with his Huffy touring bike conversion...."
hahahaha.....=-)
I took all mine off except for the Surly on the front fork. Couldn't be happier with the cleaner look. The Surly font is horrendous. I started out with the whole blowdryer/tape bit but finally ended up just scraping them all off with a plastic Park Tire Lever. No damage to the paint at all.
BTW, where in the world do you live? The weather looks awful!
I've actually been thinking of RE-BRANDING my new LHT...I de-branded, but NOW I can't tell my bike from everyone else's in a Portland, OR bike rack...
Re-Brand, it's all the rage
Secretesuirel, I live in Rockyford Alberta, which is in the Calgary vicinity. This is what Canada is I suppose. Nasty winters. This one was particularly bad.
Anon, re-branding huh? I suppose I see your point with everyone in Portland having bikes that look the same. That’s only because you have such a deep and rich cycling culture there. Aint nothing like that here.
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