How to Protect Bike Frame From Scratches With Helicopter Tape

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[@Wooster77]

I bought some helicopter tape and just started applying to a freshly painted bike. Glad I saw this. I didn’t even know about the water and heat gun technique.

[@NicolaiSyvertsen]

Or manufacturers of bikes could stop being so stingy about the layers of clear coat they apply. If they did an automotive grade paint job this wouldn't be an issue because there would be enough clear coat to sand down and polish to remove scratches and blemishes. And just use plastic where they know there is going to be a lot of wear.

[@CyclingHabit]

Good point. Some of urban and touring bikes have abrasion resistant paint coating. The bike industry is very slow to respond to consumer demands.

[@jake30966]

What will look better the clear gloss or matte opaque ?

[@user-pb6nm6yb6e]

Nice to see you after a while. Just recently was researching same topic. Thanks for detailed how-to. Now I need proper video on Tiagra groupset installation on my new Genesis tour de fer tourers frame. Any plans on touring this summer? Regards, Vlad

[@CyclingHabit]

I'll be busy with something else this summer, so will do a few short tours in the UK, however, I'm preparing for a very very big one next year. Watch this space!

[@zigzag8111]

Wait what.....how did I not know about this. It would have saved me loads of time touching up my paint work 🤔

[@JohnSmith-on7zr]

Is it more neon yellow or leafy green?

Nice trip!

[@Vam1500]

I choose not to use a hairdryer on my carbon frame. I worked out he bubbles then rubbed the tape firmly, back and forth with a microfiber cloth. The heat from the friction of rubbing seemed to help it set in firmly.

[@magnumllama400]

Carbon frames and their gay owners

[@CyclingHabit]

People who see alloy frame and think it's carbon...

[@jh5124]

@@magnumllama400 hahahaa

[@CyclingHabit]

This is actually an aluminium frame

[@WaleshiddenhistoryMD]

With a carbon fibre fork.. 😂😂😂

[@curvenut]

your video need more explanantion not music ! music is completely useless. Why you need to use a hairdry ? how did you cut the plastic ? how did you manage to place the pieces that seems to move a lot when placing them ?

[@momocamara]

Agreed the music is a bit annoying

[@smokyofstormwind420]

you know what's more annoying than the music? the fact he made this video and does not reply to the comments.

[@2darkdragon]

huehueheuheheh

[@CyclingHabit]

Noted 🤣

[@CarpyChronicles]

moaning bastard hhaha

[@BrentonCollas]

Nice job. Doesn't have to be perfect to do the job...

[@robchristie5231]

Great video, thanks. Do you think it would protect the top sheet on a ski or would it peel off in the snow? Thanks again

[@CyclingHabit]

You can only peel it off when it’s heated. I think it would do the job!

[@theejoeylee]

My phone was more than my bike...I still want to protect it

[@RICHOWASP]

looks great why wouldn't you do it. I'm gonna do it on my dirt bike

[@tvd9015]

Can you explain the need for the soapy water? At a first look it seems you are trapping soap between the foil and metal

[@CyclingHabit]

It let's you to place the film on to surface and move it around and adjust it's placement. Without the soap it would stick immediately and you won't be able to adjust it

[@sparkeyjones6261]

I'm digging the music.

[@samuelshelton8042]

I'm putting the ams honey comb pads together with some rhino 3m tape for some added customisation. Can you cut this tape into small, intricate peices for intricate fitting?

[@CyclingHabit]

Yes you can

[@samuelshelton8042]

@@CyclingHabit thank you.

[@StuffOffYouStuff]

thanks useful

[@granto6712]

This looks f hard as hell

[@CyclingHabit]

Worth it!

[@ChrisWright2000]

10/10 top man.

[@raptor7547]

What do you spray on the tape before applying it?

[@CyclingHabit]

Soapy water. Fairy dishwashing liquid in this occasion

[@maurocastillo1769]

​@@CyclingHabit does it leave a residue?

[@CyclingHabit]

No

[@alexchiperi]

@@CyclingHabit A bit to much soap, IMO

[@rakistangpinoy4745]

bro why did you spray the clear tape with soapy water at 2:56 and then blow hair dryer on it? Is that better than just sticking the tape directly? Im planning to do this tonight on my new ride so hoping to hear back from you asap. Thanks

[@brandonbernard6751]

How did it go?

[@tbh5932]

Question - Can you use a hair dryer or heat gun on a carbon frame?

[@CyclingHabit]

Hair dryer is ok just takes longer

[@HDMOVIECREATOR2012]

is that just soap or using a detailer? Can I use dish soap with water?

[@CyclingHabit]

Dish washing soap

[@myscreen2urs]

So, what were you spraying on each strip? I thought that was a cleaner. Do you have to spray? Is it water adhesive or something?

[@brvnguyen]

It's just soapy water in a spray bottle that will prevent the tape from adhering immediately, allowing you to readjust it.

[@161gum]

I've never seen the blow dryer in other tutorials, does that help it to dry so you don't have to wait 24 hours to ride?

[@CyclingHabit]

Heat activates the glue. You cant apply it while it’s room temperature

[@DeltaCharlie72]

@@CyclingHabit Really? When I taped my frame, it was sticky as hell straight off the roll.

[@jh5124]

@@DeltaCharlie72 I am taping my frame up. First time. I didn't use the hairdryer. Use soapy water to spray the sticky tape and my hands before handling. I adjusted the tape into position at room temperature and worked out the bubbles. Well almost all. lol. Without the soap on it you don't have the luxury so much of adjusting. After it dried it set but I guess a hair dryer is if you want to ride the bike immediately. But I'm not in a rush.

[@shtstirrer]

stumbled here because of my new Brompton .. I watch this not for the instruction but for the music .. wow .. whats the title and who's the artist ?

[@Detroit3Pistons]

Does a hair dryer just make the helicopter tape easier to form to the edges?

[@iiKeMoSaBeii]

If helicopter tape is anything like vinyl the heat is probably to shrink the tape to conform to the shapes of the tubes maybe 🤷

[@helloworld1712]

why don't bike's all have helicopter tapes on them before you buy them new 😩

[@CyclingHabit]

The cost!

[@FUUUUU1111]

@@CyclingHabit $10? xD

[@Ryan-pz2wh]

@@FUUUUU1111the installation and service is what would make it expensive not the tape itself.

[@bogusparasite6655]

does it come off under hot sun?

[@CyclingHabit]

No

[@casper1234ist]

does it come off every time you wash your bike?

[@CyclingHabit]

No, it stays permanently unless you heat it with a hair dryer or a heat gun. The corner don’t peel off too

[@manolitoampoorter2969]

Can you provide me with the article reference of 3M?

[@olegpetelevitch4443]

WASTE OF TIME IF YOU LIKE YOUR BIKE TO LOOK LIKE SHIT!

[@dvieitez]

@@olegpetelevitch4443 I guess it's up to him to decide, right?

[@olegpetelevitch4443]

@@dvieitez Spot on !

[@Murrell84]

So do they protect rhino's with the other tape???? 😁

[@mindless7577]

Murrell 😂

[@-John-Doe-]

They haven’t been using it

[@jasonhorn696]

Did you use a template to cut the pieces?

[@CyclingHabit]

No, just eyeballed it

[@stoenchu122]

How thick it is?

[@CyclingHabit]

Less than a millimetre I’d say... Thick and strong enough to keep tour frame from scratches and scuffs

[@georgepirpiris7309]

Am I wasting my time doing this (beyond the brake line rub points) on a bike painted with matte/powdercoated style paint? Specifically I have a Specialized Roll Comp. Also how often should I peel the tape and replace it? Thanks folks!

[@CyclingHabit]

This tape will last you years

[@jh5124]

You can buy tape that has a matte finish. You probably know this by now. I hear the matte finish actually makes the tape tougher.

[@marius4166]

What brand mudguards on this bike?

[@CyclingHabit]

SKS

[@tahntalus]

Just started cycling, what tools should every cyclist have in their toolbox?

[@CyclingHabit]

Start with a multi tool and tyre levers.

[@kennethyan4583]

After finished the film, can i wax my frame?

[@CyclingHabit]

I can't see any reason why you couldn't!

[@marcg611]

@@CyclingHabit Im wondering if you can apply sealant /wax before applying heli tape to remove any micro swirls first, will it still stick?

[@JAFO.]

Infinity, Dayton audio or ? speakers in the background?

[@CyclingHabit]

Cambridge audio

[@Andrew-ty4zw]

So 1 is a 6 by 72 inch roll enough to do most of the frame. And are you spraying the soap water on the frame and tape before applying.

[@CyclingHabit]

Should be! Yes, soapy water!

[@mtm1607]

If you described what you were doing step by step it would be helpful.

[@mtbmoto8341]

hahah can't follow a video? Life must be hard for you.

[@brianbassett4379]

Scratches? LOL!!!!!!!! Yer kill'in me! HAHAhahahaha.... scratches.

[@TheFRidekid]

How much weight does this add?

[@CyclingHabit]

Not much, I’d say definitely less than 100 grams

[@MarcAntoine01]

Not even 50

[@TwoSocksO]

There are a few dumb questions here but this is the dumbest.

[@whitchellegera291]

Never ride your bike. That's the most weight.

[@TheWildernessEnthusiast]

Hell yeah! The more stickers, the more horsepower it’ll get!

[@mesmebestwick3175]

Unless we're talking about a top of the range, carbon fibre bike, what bikes are 5 or ten times as expensive as a mobile phone?!

[@CyclingHabit]

We are talking top of the range. My most expensive bike is 6000 pounds worth

[@ooldmka]

Mobiles start at sub100$ so that's not really that much of a deal..

[@willparsons32]

Good video but the music is a bit too rad! Had to stop watching because of it!

[@sglaze6421]

Why are you playing porn music?

[@sparkeyjones6261]

lol, jeez, what kind of porn were you in to?

[@capeman10]

So you forgot to give us a step by step. You can always do a voice over and fix this.

[@saj00l43]

I think you should take this video down seriously you don't need none of those things you used just clean the bike and place the tape that simple

[@tomaskonkol8894]

If you don't like then don't leaving that dump comments. Look somebody shows you how to do it properly and to be last for years. Look car wrap its also sticky then why they use soap water and heat gun?