Frame Protection Removal (Be Careful!!)

Antikid · May 31, 2015

SO I decided to change up my EVIL stickers. I wanted to go with red to match the rest of the stuff. I got stickers from tpersons on pinkbike, and they are nice!

Anyway, fast forward to today when I finally go to do it. Backstory: When I got the frame I put helicopter tape everywhere. EVERYWHERE!! I wanted my frame to be nice and new as long as possible...

I pull off one of the EVIL stickers on the downtube, no problems. Put on a red one, and I didn't get it nice and straight. SO I pull it off, just like I did the original. A small bit of paint came with it... GREAT.
Whatever, I deal with it, the new sticker went on just fine. I got it on nice and straight this time. You can see the missing paint in the pics.

Other side, no issues.

I pulled off the protective tape that I had put along the downtube to protect from rocks and stuff. A HUGE section of paint came with it... I was fairly upset. The tape came off no problem everywhere else.

When I put on another piece, it will be ok, but be warned. Pulling the tape off 'could' remove some paint! I was VERY careful and slow and the section where the paint came off was in the middle, so it wasn't like I scratched it trying to get the tape off.
I am not sure if heating it up with a blowdryer would have helped or made it worse.

The new stickers look good, and I will get the rest on later, but I plan on keeping the half red, half black on the downtube section. :thumbsup:

Still loving the bike

Colin+M · Jun 1, 2015

I had a nightmare experience with Helicopter tape and my Yeti SB95c. It didn't peel off the paint, but damn was it hard to get off and it left residue like crazy. It took me hours to get it all cleaned up even with a heat gun and Goof Off. I'd rather have chipped paint than to go through that again.

I do have a strip of Shelter tape on the underside of my DT which I've never had issues with in the past, but I will take note of the paint peeling issue if I ever try to remove it. Thanks.

I also have a full Invisiframe kit I've yet to install. I got it a month or so after I got my bike built up so I'm dreading trying to install it. I'm sure it's much easier when it's just a bare frame.

P.S. the 2 color logo looks badass!

Antikid · Jun 1, 2015

It comes off quite easily all things considered. no residue at all. I am happy it wasn't ALL of the paint and just some sections.

oh well, it was bound to get scratched anyway. usually for me, that happens when loading/unloading, or the bike falls over. Not often from riding!

this is the tape I used btw: Amazon.com: Allstar Performance ALL14275 Clear 2" x 30' Surface Guard Tape: Automotive

WHALENARD · Jun 1, 2015

Curious, if that me be from flex or vibration?

robnow · Jun 1, 2015

The stickers the EWS uses in their races did the same thing to my black BronsonC after just a few days of leaving them on.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Glide the Clyde · Jun 1, 2015

At least you didn't get any rock nicks or chips while you had the helicopter tape on there. Good idea.

OR, you could just ride your bike, your MOUNTAIN bike. It's not a Lexis.

etaN · Jun 1, 2015

Ouch. Good to know, and really quite stoked to have a black frame.

teknorob · Jun 1, 2015

Heat the tape up with with hair dryer before removing, this reactivates the adhesive if its 3M stuff and it will just peel off.

FOLLOWING - EVIL | INVISIFRAME

Invisiframe do a sweat kit for the the following that fits like a glove

Antikid · Jun 1, 2015

Glide the Clyde said:
At least you didn't get any rock nicks or chips while you had the helicopter tape on there. Good idea.

OR, you could just ride your bike, your MOUNTAIN bike. It's not a Lexis.

I will assume you meant Lexus

Antikid · Jun 1, 2015

teknorob said:
Heat the tape up with with hair dryer before removing, this reactivates the adhesive if its 3M stuff and it will just peel off.

FOLLOWING - EVIL | INVISIFRAME

Invisiframe do a sweat kit for the the following that fits like a glove

I have had mine for a little while and I don't think it was available yet. The helicopter tape was cheap and readily available. It works great, as long as you don't take it off!

On the bright side, the raw carbon looks neat.

Glide the Clyde · Jun 1, 2015

Lexus, Lexis. Whatever it takes.

olibluegoat · Jun 1, 2015

Id second the awesomeness of the invisi frame kit. Well impressed.

Jeepnut22 · Jun 2, 2015

Ordered the invisi kit today. Frame shows up on Wednesday, planning on sourcing some parts off my Pivot and Fatboy initially, then, getting everything in order the way I want.

The invisi kit looks fantastic!

truongasaurus · Jun 2, 2015

Not sure if I want to get the Invisiframe or not because I have a bunch of heli tape sitting around. Where are the key areas you guys would tape?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Antikid · Jun 2, 2015

I pretty much helitaped the whole bike...this is my first carbon bike and it looked soooo good sitting on the couch, so I went to town.

there are a lot of places that don't look good now due to the curves and the tape coming off. but as far as protection goes, it still works.

jacksonlui · Sep 25, 2015

The only problem I have with any tape is the dust being collected on the edges of the tape making it very visible.

I think the area that gets the most damage is anything in the undercarriage, especially the down tube. I'm not sure about the seattube, top tube, or head tube. Has anyone gotten any damage in these areas? These are the most visible areas.

I've gotten my black frame yesterday and it looks nice and all but there are areas of patchiness and runs. It can be seen only at an angle. Overall the holes and axles loo pretty good.

Anyone know a good place to get some nice ferrules for the internal routing in/outlets?

-Todd- · Sep 25, 2015

I've seen it peel clear coat off my Kona, so I've resolved never to remove it. The tape has to go down perfectly the first time too otherwise the corners lift or collect dust. The trick is in how much handling you do with your hands.

Wash your hands twice with dish soap. Do it vigorously. Oil is the enemy.
Float the tape using a soap and water emulsion. Tack it in place using a small squeegee.
Use an alcohol and water solution to displace the soap and make the adhesive active again. work out all the air and water from the middle.

Same process for when you're applying this stuff to the leading edge of your car's hood...

Slow and steady makes it much better in the end.

Antikid · Sep 25, 2015

i dropped mine and it fell on the front porch (i was washing it) and guess where the scratch is? right where the tape stops...lol

you can get the internal routing grommets/ferrules/bushings/seals/rubber things from Evil. I have some on the way with my new shimano rear axle

jacksonlui · Sep 27, 2015

I've just installed shelter tape on the downtube and it's ugly as hell. It's glossy on a matte black frame and to top it off, it has advertisement "Shelter Effeto Mariposa" every few inches along the tape. WTF? I installed it anyways because it seems to provide the best protection as compared to the other tapes. I'm probably not going to do invisiframe or helicopter tape. Screw it.

What other areas really "need" impact tape besides the downtube? I don't care about scratches, I just want to protect against impacts which will damage the frame.
I'm thinking under the chainstays and BB. Evil already has a nice looking rubber pad on the underside.

BTW. This is a small sized frame and it came in at 6.4lbs (includes rear axle and headset)

rhynohead · Oct 6, 2015

I'm debating using some left over 3M tape on the dt of my insurgent. I only have about 6in left over and was gonna just use it, but now I'm wary because of the paint peeling off if removed. Plus, I got the matte black frame and don't want that shiny look above. Anyone else have issues with protective tape on carbon? The invisframe looks legit, but don't really want to wrap my whole bike

Frame Protection Removal (Be Careful!!)

Antikid

Colin+M

Antikid

WHALENARD

robnow

Glide the Clyde

etaN

teknorob

Antikid

Antikid

Glide the Clyde

olibluegoat

Jeepnut22

truongasaurus

Antikid

jacksonlui

-Todd-

Antikid

jacksonlui

rhynohead

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities