Isen workshop: adventures in batch production (or not...)

just seen this. pretty cool :)

https://www.instagram.com/p/Br4G3jUlo1c/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=1k8v0b6v1vdzk

I'm pretty sure I've read earlier on this post that other people's Isen's scratch easily. You basically just have to look at my girlfriends one and paint falls off. It's around a month old but is pretty battered already.

I think the explanation was down to the fancy paint jobs and the special paint they have to use, have to say it's pretty disappointing. Rest of the bike is great but really do feel the toughness of the finish lets it down sadly...

Yeah, post-PBP I'm gonna sent my frame back for touch ups / repaint hopefully. Lots of issues with the black paint flaking off.

I heard the first batch were more susceptible to flaky paint.

This one got painted by Caren a few months back so I was hoping they'd worked out a few issues / come up with a more durable solution after the first batch.

It doesn't take away how much my girlfriend enjoys the bike just a shame it looks beaten up after 1 month.

looks beaten up after 1 month.

any pictures?

Will snap some when I get a chance. Essentially nice scratch on top tube from leaning bike up at a cafe, chips on the fork leg, scratches on the rear stays, loss of paint from the rear drop outs and other little chips. Just not the sort of things you'd hope to be seeing after 1 month of pretty careful use.

ISEN 001 got an upgrade to Force, lost the mudguards, a journey up Mt Ventoux, and a trip along the Strade Bianche this month. All in one happy bike and one very happy owner.

3 Attachments

How long have you had yours? Paint looks like its holding up good

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/13847024/

I’m close to hitting buy so I’m curious too

I'll be able to take some pics after the bank holiday weekend of the fragile paint

Sounds like you need to look after your bike better! Of course there are chips on the dropouts, I've never seen a painted bike without. But leaning it on a wall? Of course it will scratch!
Harriet's has been in bike bags, on multiple long trips on the back of a car, ridden loads on gravel and shitty roads and is absolutely fine. Admittedly never left locked up in public, which I think is where most non-crash damage comes from.

Strongly disagree I'm afraid. I obviously expect bikes to show signs of wear and tear after being used but I've never seen a bike with as fragile paint as this Isen. As mentioned I'll pop some pics up next week. It's a shame as apart from the paint the bike is great.

Seriously? Have you never had a bike with a wet paint job before? They chip. Wax it and get over it.

Sorry just saw this. I really do see where your coming from, and if you compare the paint to say a genesis then it is mroe fragile. We really do buy the toughest primers and clears we can get, but we are limited to what is acrually available in the UK and us, they just aren't as tough as what's used in Taiwan. We did try and put the black on high wear areas, can you email us with a pic of the chips etc, we can have a chat about sorting it and I can send you some touch up.

Hey Matt,

Will send an email too as I'm looking to touch up my frameset, a small chip has grown to a 1 x 6cm section of rust on my chainstay.

Having replaced my genesis equilibrium with an r3 I've found it quite resilient for wet paint.

I've had mine over a year now and it still looks as good as new!

Its funny I have an equlibrium too and have found that my Isen paint if far more delicate.

Perhaps it is more hit and miss frame to frame on how the paint is setting.

I suppose if i was worried about it getting chipped i could chose to not use it

Hi Matt,

That's great, I'll drop a note with some pics. Thanks for replying.

Ta

@coldharbour I'll send you a pic too, but you have to guess what it is

If it’s that small, he probably will

Needle in a haystack

Knowing your eyebrow, it doesn’t bear thinking about

I am pretty damn sure I saw someone on a 4 seasons yesterday in New Jersey of all places. HAS to be someone on here? Anyone?