Re: [CR] How practical is a fully chromed frame?

(Example: Framebuilders:Brian Baylis)

Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:16:34 -0700
From: "Derrick Bourgeois" <kommisar89@yahoo.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR] How practical is a fully chromed frame?


I guess if I were practical I wouldn't be collecting/riding vintage bikes but that's another story. I have an off-topic fully chromed frame that is 5 years old now and looks like new. It is stored indoors of course. The chrome doesn't look nearly as deep and lustrous as most of the on-topic chromed bikes I've seen but whether that is due to modern environmental regulations, cheapness on the part of the manufacturer (Bianchi), or the clearcoat I'm pretty sure is has sprayed over the chrome I can't be sure.

One thing I have found interesting related to frame chroming is the dramatic variablity in pricing. On another forum there was quite a bit of discussion on this topic and there seemed to be lots of places to get chrome work done and prices ranged from $200 - $1200 for a frame and fork. There were a few places in the middle of that range that specialized in bicycles. All of the examples shown in pictures that were posted looked great but of course you can't tell anything about the durability of the chrome finish or whether the other issues that have been mentioned related to chrome plating a bicycle frame had been appropriately addressed. On a KOF bike I would probably go with polished stainless. Right after I win the lottery.

Regards, Derrick Bourgeois Colorado Springs (raining every darned day...it's the new Portland :-( ), USA