Invisiframe – self fit or shop?

helitape and Invisiframe are quite different.

Ooh, tell me more…
I thought they were both ~0.x mm thick see-through tape. Just one was cut into special shapes.

Ooh, tell me more…
I thought they were both ~0.x mm thick see-through tape. Just one was cut into special shapes.

Proper Heli tape is way thicker than invisiframe, probably as its intended to protect helicopter rotors and not mountain bike frames

All with 3m tape from the local autofactors

First version, top (in a rush – needed protection) relief cuts, .
Improved version, bottom, relief shape cut out plus infill piece.

top with relief cuts
bottom, stretched to form with heat. This was about the max I would go and it needs installing with very little soap so it grabs better.

left, relief cuts
right, cutout plus infill.

Invisframe use the relief shape technique on the frame I’ve done with full xpel film kits. Hence me trying it that way

Not a job I liked doing but with the right kit it is a quick and easy job. As others said do it in a warm house. Warm water to spray on and a hair dryer. Should have stripped the bike first but could not be bothered too. Would have saved some time. With help from my 6 year old doing the hair dryer it took about three hours. A few bubbles that I removed with a hot pin and hair dryer.

Yeah, as pothead said, Invisiframe is thinner and more stretchy, and also the helitape I’ve used didn’t require water to position and cure the glue (hence bubbles, which you don’t get with heli). It’s not quite as ahem, invisible as Invisiframe after application.

I’d be happy to fit a pre-cut invisiframe kit in future. Probably wouldn’t do what i tried this time and buy a sheet and cut my own templates to try and save a few quid. Harder than it looked!

Cheers dirksdiggler
Looks good

No sign of the OP, probably busy with the helitape and a scalpel

I’m currnetly waiting on a new bike and decided to pay the extra to get it done and just use paypal 3 monthly payments to pay the extra.
Was going to try it myself but been told by friends who have done it in the past that it can be really frustrating, annoying, and can take hours and they all said they wouldnt want to do it again.

I’m still here! Appreciate all the advise but it hasn’t bloody helped…..

I have fitted invisframe before, when it’s going well it’s dead easy but when it is not, £175 seems like good value!

Saying that, I wouldn’t pay £175, I’d just helitape the high risk areas and ride it.

I’ve used snakeskin custom wrapping, and he can wrap up to 95% frame inc forks/cranks for less than £175-00 and does a fantastic job

I’ve done it on a new hardtail frame with this stuff.

An evening or 2 spent sitting on the floor listening to music with a hair dryer, old credit card squeegee and spray bottle of soapy water, I found it quite soothing and enjoyable if taken slowly.

One tip I would give is don’t put too much soap in your water, I needed literally a drop or two.
Too little and it dries up fast and the tape starts sticking before it’s properly positioned, too much and it never dries out and the tape slides around for ages.