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What are people using for frame protection?

3.7K views 69 replies 45 participants last post by  NoCanSurf  
#1 ·
I’m wondering about Ride Wrap compared to a decent universal kit compared to a thick tape like alien shield. I just got a 2024 Stevo, used but basically new, and the seller has this clunky universal wrap that’s gotta go. I’m normally don’t care if my bike is pretty but I’m going to be hard on this bike.
 
#35 ·
Same.

I did it to my Yeti, for the sake of retaining resale value, but I'd rather just discount it by $100-150 than deal with putting paint protection film on a bike again.

I'm off of carbon, as I found that the enjoyability of a lightweight bike fades once you deal with the aftermath of impact damage, which PPF does not do much against, besides maybe hide some of the surface evidence.

I just wipe the surface of my bike with a cloth lightly moistened with Turtle Hybrid Ceramic spray, and let it pick up marks that I can perhaps use to peer into its past/memories. It feels more authentic this way, I figure.
 
#11 ·
Have used RideWrap custom kits on my last 3 bikes. The kits cover well and were fairly easy to apply, they offer the ability to buy replacement pieces, which is huge for me. I also had a recent situation where I ordered a gloss finish kit for my Ripley by mistake, they worked with me and I got a matte finish quickly, returning the other kit was painless.
 
#12 ·
I have a piece of thick shelter tape on my downtube to protect against rocks being thrown up. it may not look all that pretty, but it's taken some notable hits and does its job well. I've not used any of the other kits and thankfully have no dings to worry about. then again, I'm also riding a steel bike and not a carbon one, so that probably makes a difference, too.
 
#14 ·
#18 · (Edited)
If you want full coverage then it's worth getting a custom kit. Manually cutting tape for all the tricky spots would be a PITA! If you're only doing high wear areas then tape them over and call it good. I have bikes various degrees of protection. The bigger travel bike has a full Ride Wrap kit and no issues anywhere on the bike after 2 years of use. My other bikes get a strip of heavy clear tape on the top tube and down tube. Also a spot of coverage where my shoes tend to hit the st/cs and maybe where the tire would rub as well. Really depends on how much protection you're looking for.
 
#19 ·
I've been pretty happy with my Ridewrap full tailored kits. Have had quite a few over the years. They do an admiral job on protection but one overlooked fact is that they make cleaning the bike much quicker and painless. IMO they help resale too. Have also done the shelter tape thing and that works too but the aesthetics are not as nice as a full kit.
 
#21 ·
For a more serious answer, helicopter racer tape and just take a few hours to protect it to the degree you feel comfortable. The kits are overpriced. Then there is the angle that if you are using a material you're worried is susceptible to impacts incurred during the standard course of usage, maybe it isn't the right material for the application. But that toothpaste left the tube long ago, was washed into the sewer, made it to the Atlantic, and has now degraded into its constituent elements and returned to the Earth. It's not coming back.

I personally wouldn't worry about it and just ride.
 
#23 ·
I've got a Frameworks Enduro frame coming and I'm not going to cover that beautiful raw front triangle.

Completely agree that the material dictates if protection is needed or not. Many good bikes are carbon these days and carbon benefits from some protection IMO. I also put a rubber downtube guard on carbon bikes.
 
#27 ·
The Banshee raw finish looks amazing but when it chips, it looks horrible (or so the forum members say) so I got some protection put on.

I paid my LBS to apply one when I bought the bike. They're far better at it than I am, I'd rather have an expert do the job. I forget how much it cost, but years later it looks perfect still.
 
#29 ·
I have the same bike and put the custom ride wrap kit on. Well worth the money. Saved my frame from many many dings. Was not too difficult in my opinion to put on either. Just have a heat gun/hair drier ready for the edges. There was also enough left over material for me to custom cut pieces for my fork.

Additionally, I put a rockguardz bottom bracket protector on. Again, so worth the cost.
 
#31 ·
ride wrap, bike specific kits. I ride lots of rocks, and when they don't miss the frame protection by literally a MM it's VERY good. However, I have good aim and keep missing both the OEM and ride wrap frame protection pieces around my BB.

highly recommend for those with minimal clearance for tires in their rear triangle too.