Why this one mattered
A sharp, modern Quirk that deserved a finish to match—subtle at ten paces, rich up close.
The brief
Neil, wanted a fresh start and a cleaner, darker front-to-rear fade. There was one hurdle first: the alloy bottom bracket had seized in the steel shell and wouldn’t budge.
Workshop notes
- Stuck BB: Removed the alloy cup by heat—controlled melt avoids chasing damaged threads.
- Head badge: Carefully removed, refinished after paint, and re-fitted.
- Alignment & prep: Checked faces, chased threads, full strip and blast to clean steel.
Colour & graphics
- Front: Flam Ruby (candy red)
- Rear: Anthracite (satin charcoal)
- Fade: Same position as original, running through the main triangle and fork.
- Logos: Stencilled; anthracite on ruby and ruby on anthracite for a balanced read.
- Badge: Original badge re-used rather than replaced—keeps the bike’s identity.
Process highlights
Prep is where the finish earns its depth. Once the BB shell was cleared and threads were crisp, we dry-built the frame to map exactly where the fade would sit relative to the joints. Candy reds can run too hot if you load the flake; we went light on the first passes, then built gloss with clear for that wet look without losing the grey’s authority at the rear. Fork shoulders can look “busy” in a fade—so we softened the transition under the head tube line and let the fork legs lead the eye down to the dropouts.
Result & reaction
Lean and purposeful. The anthracite gives the ruby somewhere to shine without shouting. Neil’s verdict on delivery day: “Received the frame back today and it looks awesome! Thanks!”
Build pics to follow once he’s got it rolling.
Spec & cost
- Work: BB removal, strip & prep, two-colour fade, masked stencils, badge remove & refit.
- Turnaround: A few weeks plus courier time. We slipped by a couple of weeks—flagged to Neil and made good with clear updates. Quality before speed.
Price paid: (incl. BB removal & badge work).
