[Closed] Helitape on Carbon 456 downtube...is it necessary?

I use duct tape on mine.Ghetto all the way.

Frame marks very easily, brambles etc.

I use Matte from Paragon tapes for my ibis which is a raw non gloss finish and it's barely noticeble.

Remember to put some on the non-drive side chain stay, couple of muddy rides and I've scuffed that with my heel on my C456.

I certainly haven't bothered, but mine was one of the earlier ones with a raw carbon finish so looked all scuffed anyway to the untrained eye.

So carbon needs sticky tape to protect it? Is it really a suitable material for an MTB frame then ? Don`t think many will be in use in 25 years time like some of my steel ones

Surface scuffs, a bit of tape helps. How robust is it in 5/10 years of hard riding? who knows. time will tell I guess.
If mine breaks it breaks, no worries as long as I walk away ok.
Anyone broken one yet?

At £299 for a naked carbon one, helitape will cost nearly as much!

(yes, I know for the STW massive, it won't - I'm just making a point)

Paragon tapes on ebay. The matte finish matches the naked carbon frame perfect. It wont protect from rocks etc but it does stop it getting white scratches all over the matt finish.

Edric 64 - Member

So carbon needs sticky tape to protect it? Is it really a suitable material for an MTB frame then ?

Because of course, nobody has ever helitaped a painted metal frame.

I've tried a few types of helitape, and have found the stuff supplied by Biketart to be the best. It's almost completely transparent, and sticks really well.

I love my C456. If it broke tomorrow (which I don't think it will - it's solid) I'd happily pay £300 for a new one. It's that good. Assuming I wasn't mangled that is.

I painted my own frame and wanted to protect it so I covered the rear triangle,top tube & down tube and BB in Paragon tapes gloss tape, it's very tough and has withstood many a rock with just the smallest amount of surface marking.The matt looks good on satin surfaces. I also was bothered about chainsuck damage so I made a stainless steel plate that I formed to fit perfectly around the drive side chainstay just behind the sprockets it's done the trick so far.
I'd buy another tomorrow too if it ever broke. and I've tried a few times up to now with no luck!!)

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