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BFS2017: Spray.Bike gets Keirin inspiration with new sparkly Flake & Sunlight DIY paints

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Between all of the beautiful custom bikes, the mix of urban cargo bikes, and e-commuters of NAHBS & BFS each year, there are more expertly crafted professional paint jobs than we can imagine. But not everyone (or even for that matter many of us) can afford to drop several grand on a new custom bike, and then a few hundred bucks extra to get the truly custom look of a one-off paint job.  That’s where the rattle cans of Spray.Bike come in, with even our off beat Watts lusting for some nice spray cans. And now Spray.Bike are getting even shinier for that deep glittery look. They’ve taken some inspiration from sparkly Keirin track bikes and developed a series of metallic do-it-yourself paints that are as easy to use as their solid colors, but now with deep glitter…

It’s all about that sparkle. The new Flake & Sunlight DIY paints really shine in sunlight, but are surprisingly low-key out of direct light.

The two new metallic-like paints embed either metal flakes – in the case of Flake – or crushed colored glass – in the case of Sunlight – into an easy to spray clearcoat to get the sparkly look. The small shiny pigments are much more expensive than those for solid color paints, but Spray.Bike has kept almost the same price at just £10 a can as the solid colors (OK, those are £8) by going with half the volume since you are already spraying over a solid paint job. There is still more than enough in one can to get your complete frame and fork sparkling.

The Sunlight is especially stealthy, almost disappearing on this black frame, while a bit of creatively masked green flake for the headtube badge is more visible.

In ambient light it doesn’t pop, but hit it with a direct light and Bam, colorful rainbow sparkles.

The Keirin Flake comes in 6 colors: Hibana blue, Hikuru red, Matataku green, Pikapika silver, Kirameki gold, and Kirakira multi which combines all of the other five for a rainbow effect. The Keirin Sunlight comes in just 4 colors: Tokyo Gold, Nagoya blue, Osaka purple, and Yokohama silver. Each comes in a 200ml can, and is easy to apply from about 30cm/12″ away and in two coats for the best effect and depth.

Spray.Bike tells us that you can spray over any of their regular colors, or even spray a bit on top of your factory bike’s finish to add a bit of bling. If you remember seeing the S-Works bikes of either road world champions Peter Sagan or Amalie Dideriksen, you might get an idea where to start.

We were pretty impressed with the original paints, now I’m just thinking what test bike I could return to its maker with a glittery top coat, without them getting really mad?

Spray.Bike

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26 Comments
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James Fryer
7 years ago

I’ve lived through enough fashion cycles to know that this is just fashion, not style.

Proceed with caution.

ELEVEN_g
7 years ago
Reply to  James Fryer

I think it looks pretty cool! And sparkles, fleck, corse metallic, call it what you will, is not fashion, it’s been around since the start of hot rodding at the very least and is not going anywhere. Not seen paint on cars lately?

And fashion? Cycling these days is one big fashion cycle (pun, get i? I said ‘cycle’…!)

James Fryer
7 years ago
Reply to  ELEVEN_g

Fashion doesn’t have to be something new, it is often recycled.

Hot rods are a totally different aesthetic, metallic often works very well on the large car panels, it’s thin tubing where it really doesn’t work well. It disrupts the line too much. Of course there are always exceptions.

Can’t argue with cycling being one big fashion cycle. Just wish there were more options for bikes with less trendy and more elegant graphics.

So what do you say, want to throw in with me and create metallic compression socks? If you can’t beat em, might as well take their money.

Dave
Dave
7 years ago
Reply to  James Fryer

well, that’s just like, your opinion, man.

Thermal Attorney
Thermal Attorney
7 years ago
Reply to  James Fryer

Heaven forbid anyone have fun with their bicycles

James Fryer
7 years ago
Reply to  ELEVEN_g

I should have checked out your linked page before I responded.

Andrew
Andrew
7 years ago

I’ve been debating using Spray.Bike paint on my Ritchey Breakaway for a year or two….just can’t decide whether I’m going to get a decent finished product or a total mess 😛

jjj
jjj
7 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

One can would be a mess I imagine, trying to get a deep look you’ll end up over spraying. Few cans and light coats might be good. But theres something not quite right looking at those pics, like a matt effect on the paint thats taking away from the depth.

Maybe just the pictures, or maybe you’d need the triple gloss stuff to go on top. I’m amateur and impatient with the spray cans so I dunno lol.

Tom the Painter
Tom the Painter
7 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

Debating for a year or two on painting a bike? Good grief, just make a decision already. Either you want it or you don’t, it’s just a bike and some paint.
You can’t “decide” what will happen with the finished product. They only way to know for sure is to try.

mudrock
mudrock
7 years ago

Think I’ll go for it. Clearcoat is flaking off my old carbon crosser.

Just recently got a Trek Crockett frame in black with metal flake that stands out in the sun. Never thought I’d like that but it’s beautiful.

Greg
Greg
7 years ago

Dig the metal flake

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
7 years ago

I love how these look but ANY canned paint I’ve used has been terrible in the durability department. Not having a two part system really makes for poor durability.

Mike D
Mike D
7 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

^This. And that’s not a dig on this paint–it is really good stuff in fact. The key is to find a really tough, durable clear to go over it. That is the only way I’ve ever gotten a one-step paint to hold up to any reasonable amount of use.

I miss the metallic stuff, heck, even good paint schemes in general. Matte black with a single highlight color on the frame looks cheap to me. Lots of companies have a model with that look right now and it’s awful–I assume it cuts costs? But not very becoming of a $3k bike..

whatever
whatever
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike D

Yeah, for what they are wanting for bikes, they can do better than black/grey. When Target/Wal Mart bikes out perform you in paint schemes…….

UncleStasiu
UncleStasiu
7 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

I’ll agree with MikeD, need to put a good clear over it. SprayMax 2k is what I’ve been using and the stuff may as well be an epoxy for its toughness, and looks beautiful when there’s no operator error. Caveat: it’s a canned 2-part clear. Once you hit the button on the bottom of the can, it’s only usable for 48hr, and it has some nasties in it. Wear a mask while spraying.

ross
6 years ago
Reply to  UncleStasiu

Yup that’s what I use too, you can get 6 cans for $100. Gather everything you need to clearcoat at once. One can will give you two coats with a day of dry time in between. (I thought it was 72 hours though, not 48.) And yes not just any mask, you need a respirator.

JG
JG
7 years ago

So from their web site it looks like this stuff is only available in Greece, Austria and Slovenia? What would be the equivalent from the hardware store? I have a set of handlebars that I want to paint white.

UncleStasiu
UncleStasiu
7 years ago
Reply to  JG

Just plain white? Rustoleum industrial enamel, or appliance enamel. If you’re not going to for a crazy look, either of those work phenomenally. If it’s aluminum, scuff it up gently with a red scotchbrite pad, then spray 2 thin coats of Rustoleum aluminum primer, then hit it with the enamel as soon as it flashes. That’s given me the best results.

671islander
671islander
7 years ago

Dura-coat is an awesome product. Durable and more than enough colors. I’ve done aluminum, steel and carbon frames and forks with excellent results. Spray on or bake on options are the choices.

JG
JG
7 years ago

Thanks! Its carbon. I have white seatpost and stem, that’s why all white. Old bar was a London Olympic Edition 3T ergonova that broke (it was probably counterfeit). Donor bar is an Easton EC70. Still thinking about how to make the stem clamp area grippy.

UncleStasiu
UncleStasiu
7 years ago
Reply to  JG

For carbon, green scotchbrite, then Rustoleum primer, the regular stuff that’s NOT etching or specifically for rusty metal. Otherwise same deal. For the grip area either mask off it off before painting, or mask outside the area before painting, then scuff up good. (tape will give it nice clean edges)

UncleStasiu
UncleStasiu
7 years ago
Reply to  UncleStasiu

“or mask outside the area AFTER painting” Sorry about that.

JG
JG
7 years ago
Reply to  UncleStasiu

Thanks!

Jack
Jack
7 years ago

Is there any way to buy this stuff in the US? Or is this euro market only?

UncleStasiu
UncleStasiu
7 years ago

Alright, since every story on this links to the company, and never mentions the one US seller, which is mystifyingly unmentioned on the Spray.Bike site as well:

https://www.squidbikes.com/collections/spray-bike

Squid Bikes seems to carry the full line. Their instagram is full of custom spray-can bike paint jobs. I haven’t ordered from them yet, been using Little Daddy Roth for now, but next metal I paint I’ll be giving Spray.Bike a try.

Mischa
Mischa
2 years ago

Hi, are these sparkly paintcans acrylicbased?
Greetings!

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