De-Branding Easton wheels

[jimbo]

I've got a pair of Easton EC90SL wheels which I love, but man are they garish. They just don't go with an ENVE fork either and that bugs me. They are just to damn loud.

I think I saw somewhere on the forum about somebody cleaning them up, but couldn't find it through searching. Anybody know how I can remove the painted on branding without hurting the rims?

Is paint thinner ok to use on Carbon?

Anybody have any luck removing the decals on these wheels?

[JeffS]

It's a baked-on water transfer underneath a clearcoat. Honestly, I think if you want a debranded wheel, you should sell them and buy something else.

I am confident that Easton would sell a lot more wheels if they switched to something removeable, or toned it way back.

[Shinomaster]

Sandpaper.

[suspectdevice]

btw,
You can black out the ENVE logo on the fork with electrical tape.
Unless you are 2 feet away from the bike you'd never notice.

[boxerboxer]

Don't get off the bike and always ride directly toward or away from other people. Problem solved. Agreed that the logo is pretty ugly.

[Elefantino]

Unless someone has said "those are garish wheels that are too damn loud and I don't want to be seen with you because of it," just ride 'em and think of how good they feel with each pedal stroke.

Either that, or break out the Sharpie.

[PJN]

I bet you're the only person that notices and cares. When you're RIDING you bike instead of looking at it the wheels are spinning and you can't read the logo.

Just sayin'.

[Chance Legstrong]

ok all you asshats...

the man has a serious issue.
to be a PRO window watcher is hard
you have to be able to balance the amount of time looking into the windows on your right and left sides as you ride by or major neck cramping will occur
cut the man some slack

[Bssc]

big black permanent marker hit the spot with some 1k grit paper fist so the marker will stay better that's the pro way

[jimbo]

Thank you gents for all your help.

In a forum full of bike geeks it amazes me how much shit gets dished out here. What? it's Winter so everybody is cranky? This place is starting to be like the old RBR and Serotta forums.

Since when do the aesthetic details no longer matter on bikes? No body here has given an ounce of thought to their bike; color of paint, parts, etc matter not? Who cares what their bike looks like? Apparently I'm some fuck who doesn't ride his bike, nor has ever pinned a number on so I should just go window gazing and shut up and ride eh?

Thanks JeffS for your comment, I didn't know they were baked on under a clearcoat.

[simple]

Are you kidding me? Sharpies? Electrical tape? Sandpaper?

C'mon the obvious answer is to paint the rim white as there is not enough white standard. These aren't cheap Chinese carbon rims with no branding. These are EASTON wheels. Goddammit.

[nate2351]

I've got some blank carbon wheels I bought new straight from Taiwan for $500, I'll trade you. They sound like just the aesthetic you're looking for!

[sk_tle]

I once debranded a frame by wet sanding just enough to remove the painted marks, then a new clear coat. I'd say don't bother if you don't want to rebuild the wheels.

I recently removed stickers from an ambrosio 29er disk tubular rim. Realised after doing it that these ugly sitckers were here to cover the crappy anodisation job they did. These rims are used in cyclocross so I don't really care, but otherwise I would have probably end up putting a new sticker with something cheesy like the name of my daugher or a stupid slogan like one less fixie.

[drietz]

I once debranded a frame by wet sanding just enough to remove the painted marks, then a new clear coat. I'd say don't bother if you don't want to rebuild the wheels.

I recently removed stickers from an ambrosio 29er disk tubular rim. Realised after doing it that these ugly sitckers were here to cover the crappy anodisation job they did. These rims are used in cyclocross so I don't really care, but otherwise I would have probably end up putting a new sticker with something cheesy like the name of my daugher or a stupid slogan like one less fixie.

Yeah, I took the finish off my Enve fork. Way harder and more time consuming than you'd think.

[Gradient]

... Realised after doing it that these ugly sitckers were here to cover the crappy anodisation job they did...[/I]

Annodized rims went through a to-much phase in the 80's and you ended up with brittle surfaces that showed massive hairline cracks, or worse fractures that lead to fatigue. As to Eastons decals, it looks like those women wearing "PINK" butt logoed sweat pants. I'm resurrecting an older set of Velomaxes with first gen Easton stickers that peeled off okay, now replacing the rear rim and thank the gods for simple annodized Velocity DeepVs with one removable sticker.

[ZeroG]

Yeah, I guess everyone is just winter cranky, but I wet sanded a pair of Easton EC90 carbon track bars that I believe have the same treatment as their wheels and it is a lot of work. Because the area also became matt in it's finish, I then applied a glossy clear coat and sprayed the whole bar just to make it even. In the end, I'm not sure it was worth the effort but I got the look I was going for and it still looks the same today (2 years ago).

[bertiewhang]

What about taking them to somewhere that does vinyl graphics. I'd imagine they'll cover them up quick, cheap and easy. Easy to remove when selling on too if the buyer isn't as tasteful as your good self.
Lee

[chasea]

Sell them and get something that meets your criteria. No point in fucking up the resale value on a pair of carbon rims, which lose a lot if value simply by being ridden.

[sonny]

hey jimbo,
gimme a couple years with em
won't be 'loud' when returned

lose a lot if value simply by being ridden.

whoops