Titanium Frame - 3M tape or no? - Page 2

mokofoko · #16 08-02-2020, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weisan

That takes a bit of finesse...in fact you need a certificate from beauty school.

Well, I guess I've got yet another employable skill to add to my resume then!

Mike V · #17 08-02-2020, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mokofoko

If people are close enough to spot the CLEAR tape on your headtube, they're way, way too close (for this age of covid19)

Even in these uncertain times it looks like crap from any feet away. Especially from my vantage point to my bike. That's the most important view.

Hilltopperny · #18 08-02-2020, 05:41 PM

I think it depends on how you use it. I did not protect my Drifter with any kind of clear tape and there is rub through the anodization on the headtube and the lower headset from my hydraulic brake cable. I only see it when I am cleaning the bike and it has been ridden in all kinds of weather and terrain since I had it built.

My titanium road bikes have not seen the same level of wear and I have let them be as well. The main difference is terrain and what type of weather they have been through. If you plan on riding in wet or winter weather or off road then I would cover the wear points unless you want to have some patina.

Matthew · #19 08-02-2020, 05:41 PM

Buy a handful of the round stick on protectors from Jagwire. They work great. Available on ebay for cheap. Then get a chainstay protector. Many types available, clear, faux carbon, whatever. Looks like crap in 5-10 years replace it. Far better than scratches.

avalonracing · #20 08-02-2020, 05:49 PM

If it is a brushed Ti bike and you get a little cable rub it's easy to take it back to brush. If it is a raw or blasted Ti that's a different story. But I have a couple of tiny dots of clear tape on my Ti bikes and clear tape on the chainstay.

mokofoko · #21 08-02-2020, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike V

Even in these uncertain times it looks like crap from any feet away. Especially from my vantage point to my bike. That's the most important view.

I've got tape on the HT of at least 6 of my bikes, the only deviants being the ones where the housing comes nowhere close to touching (and my TI gravel bike, already with plenty of marks). The only time I even notice the tape is when I'm up close doing maintenance. The sight of it never bothered me before, so I guess it's a personal thing.

There are a few folks in my bike groups who keep beautifully maintained bikes, and nary a scratch on the paint... aside from the headtube. It makes me sad to see paint loss in that location when it's easily prevented. With TI I'm not convinced it matters, but with paint... I wouldn't cover my whole bike in tape (may as well just bubblewrap it at that point), but it's just an inch or two of space.

Hellgate · #22 08-02-2020, 06:02 PM

Cables will scuff a Ti frame over time. As the Hipsters says "It's patina."

Davidson patina

The second photo is just a bonus one.

weisan · #23 08-02-2020, 06:19 PM

Hell pal, are we looking at the nipple or the armpit?

mokofoko · #24 08-02-2020, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellgate

Cables will scuff a Ti frame over time. As the Hipsters says "It's patina."

Davidson patina

The second photo is just a bonus one.

What caused the gouging of the lower cup?

Mike V · #25 08-02-2020, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mokofoko

I've got tape on the HT of at least 6 of my bikes, the only deviants being the ones where the housing comes nowhere close to touching (and my TI gravel bike, already with plenty of marks). The only time I even notice the tape is when I'm up close doing maintenance. The sight of it never bothered me before, so I guess it's a personal thing.

There are a few folks in my bike groups who keep beautifully maintained bikes, and nary a scratch on the paint... aside from the headtube. It makes me sad to see paint loss in that location when it's easily prevented. With TI I'm not convinced it matters, but with paint... I wouldn't cover my whole bike in tape (may as well just bubblewrap it at that point), but it's just an inch or two of space.

I bet I could see the tape and it would look worst than rub marks. Tape bad shudder. Rub marks no big deal doesn't look bad at all. It's a perspective thing. Ours are different. Yours I can understand. I like mine better. That's all. It what I thought the OP was asking.

weisan · #26 08-02-2020, 11:35 PM

I didn't read anyone bringing this up...with the tape, it will SURELY form a line around its parameter over time especially if you clean your bike and run a cloth or something over it. Dirt collects or gathers around the seams.