Your Obed, Your Rules: Custom Paint Colors That Inspire Adventure
Most bike brands only give you a handful of colorways to choose from. But we wanted to do things differently. That’s why every Obed frame is painted to order right here at our headquarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We’ve employed some of the most experienced professional painters in the industry, and they always use high-quality automotive-grade paints that our design team has chosen for both longevity and looks. The end result is a bike that's genuinely yours.
Our goal has always been to help riders build their dream bike exactly how they imagine it. That's why we offer a wide palette of frame and decal color options to choose from. Learn more about some of our paint and decal options, then explore hundreds of different color combos using our custom bike builder. Maybe you’ll find the perfect color to inspire your next adventure!
What Makes Obed Paint Colors Unique
Frozen Berry Metallic
All of the paints Obed uses are automotive grade and originally developed for premier brands like Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche. Essentially, we are using the best paint on the market and choosing colors that are trending among designers and enthusiasts in both the automotive and cycling worlds.
This year, we've expanded our paint options with several new colors. Our current line-up of paint options can be broken down into a few basic types:
Compass Yellow
Premium Gloss and Glossy Solids are clean, saturated, and confident. Colors like Compass Yellow, Alpine Green, Geyser Blue, and Imola Red are pure, vivid, and striking in direct light. These are the colors that photograph beautifully and turn heads on the road.
Kingfisher Blue Metallic
Glossy Metallics add a hint of sparkle or a metallic sheen for more depth and movement. Kingfisher (a deep blue), Frozen Berry Metallic (a rich purple), Malachite Green Metallic, Copper Penny, and Chili Pepper shift subtly as the light changes. They're not flashy in an obvious way, but they reward a closer look and shine brightest in direct sunlight.
Prism
Prism sits in a category of its own. A metallic paint, Prism shifts through grey, purple, and white depending on the angle. It’s a genuinely chameleon-like finish that looks different on every ride, and is perfect for the most ostentatious riders.
Shadow
Flat Finishes are on the opposite side of the spectrum. Shadow, a matte black, is for those who want to stay understated and stealthy. Zero shine means no unwanted attention and no fretting about keeping things clean.
White/Basalt
Basalt Schemes like Terra Basalt, Desert Sand Basalt, and White Basalt pair a base color with textured panel accents. These are our first race livery-inspired schemes, and they are ideal for riders who want to add a flash of character to their adventure rig.
Decal Options Designed for Your Frame Color
Logos on Obed bikes are high-quality Direct-to-Film (DTF) transfers, which are super thin, durable, and placed under the clearcoat for maximum aesthetic appeal and longevity. Best of all, they add another element of customization as our custom bike builder lets riders choose their preferred frame and decal color combo.
When you choose a frame color, you'll notice that the available decal colors aren't the same across every paint option, and that's intentional. It comes down to basic color theory. We want to give riders freedom, but certain bright or saturated decal colors clash badly with equally saturated frame colors (e.g., neon orange on a bright red frame). To make it easier to pick combinations that look great, Obed curates the decal options for each frame color, offering choices that are either harmonious or appropriately contrasting. The result is that every available combination is a good one; you just get to decide what kind of good.
Geyser Blue with Geyser Blue Dark Tonal Decals
Subtle tonal decals that are close to your frame color, like white decals on a Wind Chill Pearl frame, or black decals on a Shadow matte black frame, create a tonal, understated look. The logos are still there, but they blend into the overall aesthetic rather than competing with it.
This approach works beautifully when your frame color is already doing a lot of work. A deep, shifting metallic like Kingfisher or Frozen Berry Metallic has so much visual depth and movement on its own that a subtle, close-toned decal lets the paint take center stage. It's the kind of bike that rewards a close look rather than demanding attention from across the parking lot.
According to our lead designer (who I trust knows more than me), tonal decals also tend to age better stylistically, which might matter when you're riding the same bike for ten years.
White/Basalt with high contrast Black Decals
High contrast decals make your bike pop, feel blingy, and look less monotone. Choosing a decal color with maximum contrast against your frame, like white or holo decals on a Black or Shadow frame, gives a bike a sharp, graphic quality. The logos become a feature rather than a detail. This is a great choice if you want to represent a brand that vibes with your identity, or if you're like the bolder liveries often seen on pro race bikes.
Find Your Inspiration for Adventure
Let your paint be the hero. Build a bike that feels sophisticated and cohesive. Match the colors of your cycling kit. Make your bike stand out wherever you take it. The choice is yours. Ultimately, the best bike color is the one you'll still love years from now. Obed's automotive-grade paints are built to last, which means your choice matters, and the fact that every frame is painted to order means you're not settling for what was left on the shelf.
Have fun playing with paint options and decal combos in our custom gravel and road bike builders. Take your time, trust your instincts, and build something worth looking at!