Frequently Asked Questions | About Seven | Seven Cycles skip to content
Current lead times: Unpainted bikes: 7 weeks. Painted bikes: 9 weeks.

U.S. Built Custom Bicycles in Titanium and Titanium-Carbon Mix

Frequently Asked Questions


Do you discount? Do bikes go on sale?

Everyone likes to feel they are getting the best value for their money, so it is common to look for the best discount on the things we want. And makers of commodities use discounting to liquidate excess inventory, so often discounts are built into initial pricing for a product.

As builders of hand-made bikes, we have no excess inventory. We build only the bikes we have already sold, so we don’t discount and bikes don’t go on sale. We believe the price we ask for a custom Seven presents the best value in the bike industry already.

Do you sell direct?

A Seven frame can only be purchased through an authorized Seven retailer or distributor. We rely on our network of retailers and distributors, heavily, as they are an integral part of the order process. Without their help, year after year, we simply wouldn’t be able to do the job we do today. If you are located in an area where we do not have retailer representation, have your preferred bicycle retailer contact us for details.

Seven components, small parts, and soft goods can be purchased directly from us through our online store.

What is your warranty?

For information about Seven’s frame and component warranty, please check out our warranty page

How do I take care of my unpainted titanium or titanium/carbon frame?

While the finish on a Seven titanium frame won’t chip, and the frame obviously won’t corrode, it’s still a good idea to adopt a schedule of routine maintenance to keep your frame looking like new. The beauty of maintaining a titanium frame is that it really doesn’t require much work!

We recommend using mild soap and warm water to clean your Seven titanium frame a few times each season. After drying the frame thoroughly with a soft towel, apply bike wax or furniture polish to achieve a shiny finish.

Fingerprints can be an unsightly nuisance since the acids in fingerprint oils tarnish your frame’s finish. We have found that furniture polish, like Pledge™ can successfully prevent fingerprint oils from leaving a mark. If you detect prints on your frame, first use acetone or paint thinner to remove them, working carefully in a well-ventilated area. Then use Pledge™ to coat the freshly cleaned area.

You can remove damaged decals, too, using acetone or paint thinner. After removing the old decal, clean the area and dry it thoroughly before applying a new one.

It’s quite possible that your frame will get scratched simply from normal usage. We recommend using Scotch Brite™ Grade A (very fine) to remove surface scratches from your frame by gently polishing perpendicular to the length of the tube.

You may notice that the area you’ve polished is shinier than the rest of the frame, and that’s okay. Titanium naturally develops a patina over time, resulting in a richer, darker hue, so the shiny spot is only temporary. In addition, although we have yet to see a crack propagate as the result of dents or gouges—even those from major crashes—you should have your frame checked by your retailer if you experience any serious damage.

Ti/Carbon

Though the carbon in your frame doesn’t require extraordinary care, there are a few precautions that we recommend you take. For example, when securing your Seven in a work stand to clean or service it, don’t clamp any of the carbon tubes.

Follow the instructions listed above to clean the titanium portion of your frame, and wash the carbon in the same fashion. Be sure to use a clean cloth—one that’s free of dirt and grime—to wash and dry the frame since the carbon tubes have a matte clear-coat applied to them.

Sweat and sports drinks can eat through the clear-coat, so keep the carbon tubes free of those substances, too.

The carbon can also be polished with Pledge™, but don’t, under any circumstances, use Scotch Brite™ or a similar product on the carbon tubes to remove scratches or any other marks! A scratch in the clear coat should not harm the integrity of the tube, though if you detect a gouge, bring the frame to your retailer to have it checked.

How do I take care of my steel frame?

Like all good investments, your Seven steel frame will serve you best if you care for it properly. The following information should help you to get a lifetime of miles out of your bike.

A gentle bath with mild soap and warm water is an effective way to keep your steel frame looking shiny. After washing, gently dry the frame with a clean, soft cloth and follow it up with a bike polish.

It’s important to clean anything acidic such as sweat or sports drink off your frame, as they tend to be corrosive. If left on the tubes, these fluids will eat through your frame’s paint and primer leaving your frame susceptible to corrosion.

Corrosion is probably the #1 concern of steel frame owners. Seven takes extra care to aid in the prevention of rust formation. We start with a tough coat of primer on the outside of the frame, followed by a thorough application of Frame Saver™ to the inside of the frame’s tubes.

We recommend that you periodically check your steel frame for any signs of chips in the paint. If you spot a chip, inspect it closely to determine whether the primer has been scratched, too. The primer has a flat, chalk-like appearance, whereas the tube itself is shiny. If you can see through to the tube, apply touch-up paint.

You should also look for signs of water in the seat tube, especially if you ride frequently in wet conditions. Remove your seat post and turn the bike upside down. If you detect moisture, keep the bike flipped over for 24 hours so that it has the opportunity to dry out. Then re-treat the inside of the tubes with Frame Saver™. Though Seven’s original application of Frame Saver™ may last indefinitely, we recommend reapplication at least once a season. If you regularly ride in rainy, wet conditions, we recommend reapplication more frequently.

One final suggestion: When securing your bike in a work stand, be sure not to clamp anywhere on the paint. Instead, clamp your frame on its seat post.

For additional information, please refer to our Steel Frame Care and Maintenance page.

How do I take care of my painted frame?

The artists who create all of our stock and custom paint jobs for Seven frames are mind-blowingly talented, and can make almost any paint dream a reality. So of course you’re going to want to keep that paint job looking beautiful for, well, forever. Here are some tips on how to do it.

Avoid storing your painted frame in full sunlight—over time concentrated UV rays may fade the color. It’s also a good idea to polish your frame’s paint with a bike polish that contains some UV protection on a regular basis. Wipe off any corrosive or acidic substances such as sap, sweat, sports drink, sunscreen or tar immediately. Never use acetone on painted surfaces.

To clean your painted frame, wipe off dirt with a soft cloth using soap and water or any paint-safe cleaning product, and follow that with bike polish. If your chain stays are painted, consider a chain stay protector to avoid chain-slap chipping.

information on touch up paint

How do I take care of the matte finish on my painted frame?

Matte, or low gloss, finishes are cared for differently than high gloss finishes with their light-reflecting clear coats. Dirt, scratches and other surface abnormalities can’t be polished out. Here are some tips for keeping your matte finish looking good for the long term:

  1. Only clean matte finishes with a soft microfiber cloth using a mild solvent. An alcohol-based cleaner like most window cleaning fluids or spirit wipe works well. Avoid waxes, polishes or abrasives of any sort.
  2. Soak the affected area first, allowing the solvent to work, before lightly rubbing.
  3. Wipe the area in a forward and backward motion, rather than a circular motion.
  4. After cleaning, rinse the area with water to remove any remaining solvent.

How do I apply my new decals?

Please visit our decal application instructions page.

Can I order new decals, T-shirts and other cool seven stuff?

Yes! We’ve got all kinds of good stuff available in our online store.

Do you offer a refinishing service for my unpainted Seven frame?

Yes. If you’d like a more thorough refinish than what you’ve been able to achieve on your own, your frame can be sent to us, through a retailer, for a full refinish. We’ll return your frame looking as beautiful as the first time you laid eyes on it.

Here’s what a refinish entails:

  • Perform full frame inspection
  • Check frame alignment
  • Chase and clean threads & prep for re-build
  • Fully clean, refinish, and buff your frame
  • Replace all decals and small parts

The price of the service depends on the model and age of the frame. Pricing starts at $595, plus shipping. The frame must be completely stripped, and shipped without any components. Please contact an authorized Seven retailer to make arrangements for this service.

Do you repaint Seven frames?

Yes. We offer a repaint service for Seven frames. After a thorough inspection we will strip and repaint the frame, in your choice of colors and schemes. Please contact an authorized Seven retailer for a price quote for the color scheme you would like.

Please note: We only offer paint services for Seven frames, and do not repaint frames from other manufacturers.

Do I need to use shims with my front derailleur?

Yes. Any Seven with a carbon seat tube (Odonatas, Id8s, Lumas, Eliums, 622s, IMXs, Mudhoney Pros) excluding frames with braze-on derailleur tabs, require the use of front derailleur clamp shims provided by Seven. If you need an extra set, they can be ordered though our online store.

Can I track the status of my frame order?

Yes! For your convenience, you can check the progress of your Seven by going to our Where is My Frame page. If you do not remember your login password or need to create a new one, please let us know and we will be happy to help you with this.

Of course, once we ship your Seven frame, your retailer will require some time to build it up. So please be sure to contact them for an estimate of when you can take delivery of your new bike.

Can you send me some touch up paint?

We work with Industrial Finishes in Eugene, Oregon to supply Seven customers with touch up paint.

I have an older Seven, and you don’t make my model anymore. How do I know what my bike is called now?

Consult our model name map. It shows all the names a given model has had throughout our history.

Can I have some information about a used bike I see on-line?

Nothing makes us happier than people riding our bikes, but after two decades of bike building, the second-hand market has grown beyond our ability to respond to these types of requests. You’ll need to get all frame-related information from the seller.

Will you repair/rework/retrofit/repaint a frame made by another brand?

For a variety of reasons, including liability, we only work on Seven branded frames.

Will you retrofit S&S couplers onto my Seven?

No, we do not offer an S&S retrofit service.

Can I use my Seven in a stationary trainer?

Yes and No. Our ultra-light (XX) models – as well as any model with carbon seat stays, are optimized for normal road riding conditions, and not designed for fixed stationary trainers. Use of a stationary trainer with any clamping mechanism will void the warranty.

Where did the name come from?

At its conception, Seven’s founders sought a name that would be as timeless, ageless and positive as the products they would create. Finally, “Seven” was chosen because it is a time-honored number that holds positive connotations and no specific attachments to other objects. We chose a word, like a product, for which we could set the standard.