Degloss?
 

Let me preface this by saying I'm probably not going to do anything at all, so don't spend too much energy on a reply. This is mostly curiosity.

My ridiculous cycling journey continues, though I think that I'm closer to where I want to be. It's just money and time, right? I'm definitely not crazy.

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So I have this new bike, and I like it, but I wish it was a bit less shiny.

My old (but also new) bike has an amazingly well done satin-matte-subtle-sparkle thing going on.

Could the shiny one be turned into something like that easily enough?

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New

https://i.imgur.com/zEzSNaq.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/duM8TvL.jpg


Old

https://i.imgur.com/o9uGYTW.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/PPq3rxZ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/M7odTi5.jpg

short answer, it is not easy

cheap (free) trial?
 

ride it offroad and don't clean the frame after (but do clean the drivetrain as needed)?
kind of not joking.
i got my shiny silver canyon ultimate all dirty on a mixed surface ride and left it that way until it got rained on during a later ride. kind of preferred it 'dusty'...

I don't think you can turn a gloss finish to a matte finish very easily. But to make the gloss finish less glossy, that's more feasible...

How about another layer of clear coat, but one that's less glossy / shiny?

For example, there's this (or something similar there are many, many other options) applied by a professional:

Edit: there are also rattle-can matte clears out there, but I wouldn't dare do that on a bike like yours.

https://www.highteck.com/flat-finish-clear.html

https://www.highteck.com/media/catal...it77165-42.jpg

A professional will charge you probably almost as much as getting a full paint job, because the prep is the same. I've had good luck with Spraymax 2k matte clear after watching some youtube videos from this guy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsD3E0b6mko&t=1250s

This is the stuff, it comes in a can with a valve on the bottom that mixes the components, you have about two days to use it.

https://www.amazon.com/USC-Spraymax-...0178ABUVM?th=1

Here is a before and after:

You could rub it with rubbing compound to create matte. But it won't have a mettalic sheen.

A matte finish can be done without spraying matte clearcoats.

0000 steel wool will put a nice matte finish on a gloss paint job, just like a fresh finish on a "brushed" titanium frame. Try it on the inside of a fork leg or a dropout before jumping into the deep end, but it should get you started. A finish wet sand on any clearcoat of 1000, 1500 or 2000 grit wet/dry paper will also give a similar foggy look, but I'd mess with steel wool in 000 and 0000 and it will likely get you close.

Again, not something I would do to my frame, but I'd put my money on 0000 steel wool.



That LOOK is a metallic matte paint job, not repeatable without actual paint.

For fun, this is a grey 3M ScotchBrite pad on a very neglected titanium GT Xizang frame... not everything needs to be polished or shinny. ;)

Thanks to all for the replies. I know what I'll do now (nothing). :)

Just let it get dirty and don't wipe it down.

The three grades of 3m scotchbrite pads [maroon/grey/copper:- roughest to finest are pro grade products made for this and prepping products prior to spraying ,can’t remember exactly what grades of wet/dry they correlate to but from experience would rate them 500/1200/2000 approx avoid maroon and grey will leave a finish that from certain angles/light show up scratch marks ,all give a very consistent finish .The aerosols with a button underneath are very probably using an isocyanate catalyst which is standard for 2K/two pack paints ,at a minimum wear a cartridge filter mask rated for this usage at beast use an air fed filter mask or avoid ,the body doesn’t breakdown and eject airborne spray particles and most us consider the isocyanate as a carcinogen though globally some regions don’t rate it as such ,the aerosols might use a’replacement’ catalyst but the paint isn’t formulated for it and I find the paint never cures correctly

P.s as others have said a pro can respray clearcoat as gloss/satin or matte

Lightly wet sand a small section of the top tube w/ 1500 grit wet/dry paper. Dry it off. Boom. Easy matte finish. Don’t like it? Polish it back. Like it? Do the whole top tube or enlarge sample with more sanding.

Wrap it in satin clear auto vinyl. Or one of those frame protection tapes that is not glossy.