Rockhopper 98 keep grazed original paint or powder coat?

[reanimation]

So I plopped this on readers rides but right now I'm just wondering whether to keep as is, get something to remove sticker residue (?) And polish and build or powder coat a pretty fresh colour...?

Not going to build it religiously period specific as I have some modern gears and modern rigid forks for it but thinking flat bars and sympathetic silver wheels.

Commuter or half retro trail bike maybe.

On one hand the patina is paid for and might make a good commuter with this look. On the other hand I'm tempted to get a powder coat! I like the original decals though. What to do?





The other frame an ex rat. Minor crimps on down tube and engineered rust.
[/quote]

Disclaimer: aware I have others to build first but can't tame my monkey mind!

 

[reanimation]

Frame is dark blue BTW
Have options of red or black headset at present and probably using these forks and brake but not the build and probably not kwak green.

http://s239.photobucket.com/user/stoppi ... 2.jpg.html

 

[02gf74]

without seeing it up close, unless there is paint loss, bubbling or major scratches down to the bare metal, then leave as it is.

 

[reanimation]

without seeing it up close, unless there is paint loss, bubbling or major scratches down to the bare metal, then leave as it is.

I'll have to get close up pics but chain stay is dashed by chain, bits of rust water round drop outs and drain holes but probably clean ok. And general scratches.
I must admit I am leaning to cleaning the sticky stuff off and giving it a damn good polish and enjoying as is but a fresh coat could have it looking super fresh.
I have new mech and cassette, new stem and bars so hoping it'll be all clean or mechanically perfect and illusion it's old.

 

[02gf74]

Yea, clean it up, touch up the sctrachtes and give it a going over with tcut followed by a polish and see how it looks,

Re chainstay, they always get manked by the chain, apply rust treatment, paint then wrap insulting tape, inner tube or proper protector and noone will ever know.

 

[hamster]

It's a mass-produced product with no rarity value...and unlikely to acquire it. Paint it whatever colour puts a smile on your face.

Period originality is for those who clean chains with a toothpick and worry about whether the blob of grease in a 1997 Alivio mech was green or yellow...and who never ride their bikes in the rain.

 

[PeterPerfect]

Like most of the bikes on here, they're special to the owner. If you feel it needs a paint then go with something that makes it completely different.

 

[reanimation]

Yea, clean it up, touch up the sctrachtes and give it a going over with tcut followed by a polish and see how it looks,

Re chainstay, they always get manked by the chain, apply rust treatment, paint then wrap insulting tape, inner tube or proper protector and noone will ever know.

This is good advice, I think I should at least try clean before I do anything too hasty.

I'd thought that a wrap or chainstays protector would hide things.

 

[reanimation]

It's a mass-produced product with no rarity value...and unlikely to acquire it. Paint it whatever colour puts a smile on your face.

Period originality is for those who clean chains with a toothpick and worry about whether the blob of grease in a 1997 Alivio mech was green or yellow...and who never ride their bikes in the rain.

Yep I'm a lot more relaxed than those kinds of guys thanks for your angle.
I went to pick it up, thinking this is great I'll not have to paint this one and it wasn't as clean as I'd hoped, also it sort of looked black not blue, but I do like a cheeky bit of originally despite radical ideas. I was out for a little blast on my 97 Trailstar on Monday, couple new bits and a bunch of 2004 bits and original frame, works nicely.
There will be a few new bits maybe even a new headset so just got mulling new paint over.

Like most of the bikes on here, they're special to the owner. If you feel it needs a paint then go with something that makes it completely different.

Thanks Peter. It's a bit mental, I don't know what its role will be yet.they start off as something cheap unloved and invisible enough to ride round locality on without attention then morph in to an over budget something special. Arrgh! Haha

Good point cheers. Might have to take my time collecting bots first and see which way this going to go.