Bicycle Mechanics - Removing frame guard stickers from my bike.

I have a few of those clear stickers on my bikes to protect the frame from the cables that I want to replace. Can I use a goof-off type product on a carbon bike without damaging it? How about a Ti bike with nice paint?

Those stickers are there to prevent your frame from getting trashed because of cable rub. Leave them on.

I have a few of those clear stickers on my bikes to protect the frame from the cables that I want to replace. Can I use a goof-off type product on a carbon bike without damaging it? How about a Ti bike with nice paint?

I guess the OP wants to put new ones on...

Those stickers are there to prevent your frame from getting trashed because of cable rub. Leave them on.

I'm replacing them, on one bike they're very old and look bad (corners coming up & such). The carbon bike I'm replacing the cables and the stickers will be in the wrong place.

I use naptha for almost all sticker and adhesive remover. I've never had it affect any type of plastic. I buy it at the hardware store, but you can get smaller amounts as lighter fluid.

I guess the OP wants to put new ones on...

Oops.

Try a hairdryer to remove the sticker, and once its off, WD40 to get rid of the goo.

Peel them off with your fingernails as much as possible, then use "Goo Gone." Goo Gone is pretty mild and I have never had it damage a finish I used it on. It is not as strong as "goof off," but goof off has damaged soe finishes in my experience. Both are probably available at any hardware store.

Kerosene or Mineral spirits should work and not damage the frame or paint. They are the solvent in a lot of chain lubes so they are safe around both carbon and painted frames.

Try a hairdryer to remove the sticker, and once its off, WD40 to get rid of the goo.

+1. My method exactly.

If you can get the stickers off then one of the new orange cleaners are usually pretty good on the residual adhesive and usually harmless on the bike paint or carbon surface.

I remove stickers off of equipment daily. 95% of the time I use silicone spray lubricant to dissolve the adhesive. It loosens almost all forms of tape/sticker adhesive. The trick is to let it soak in behind an edge. I think it is milder than Goo-Gone, and leaves less residue. Especially important to clean the surface to remove what ever product you use so that the new stickers adhere well. I usually use simple green to remove the residue.

3M Citrus Adhesive Remover. Very effective, doesn't harm most paints and surfaces and isn't a mess to clean up.

Denatured alcohol works well also.

If you can get the stickers off then one of the new orange cleaners are usually pretty good on the residual adhesive and usually harmless on the bike paint or carbon surface.

NEVER EVER EVER DO THIS!!!

almost ALL orange cleaners use D-LIMONENE as the active cleaning ingredient,..this stuff will EAT PAINT! and can dissolve a cured resin like epoxy, or polyester and thats what carbon bikes are made of!

READ THE LABELING ON THE ORANGE CLEANER!! it says "DO NOT use on PAINTED surfaces" and as most of you already know just about all carbon or Ti bikes are painted with at least a clearcoat (usually polyurethane)

the suggestions for heat and mineral spirits, or wd-40 are all considered acceptable methods for removing a self adhesive decal or protective mask.

I work in a body shop as a painter and have seen and re-shot enough "orange cleaner damaged" cars to know that using an orange based cleaner on any kind of painted surface is a bad idea.

I don't mean any kind of disrespect to the person that posted this info, sorry if I offended you by posting this, but your information is incorrect.

Denatured alcohol works well also.

To polar, as is acetone. Mineral spirits works best with the least amount of mess. Dab a little on a rag and rub it off. The other nonpolar solvents will work but they aren't necessarily as easy to apply.

Silicone spray lube over Goo-Gone!!!! I work on IT/retail hardware, PCs, printers, scanners, etc. One of our users tried to remove paper label that had gotten stuck on a printer imaging drum with goo-gone. It was so caustic that it completely removed all of the photo-electric coating. $$$ Today I worked on one with the same problem, but sprayed silicone lube on a paper towel, and wiped. The adhesive came off in about 3 wipes. A lot of the equipment has a variety of after market stickers that need to be removed to return it to OEM appearance before we can use it again. I have a 2 year old bottle of goo-gone that I think was used twice, and then only because the silicone spray failed to lift the sticker that had a different type of adhesive. Silicone is definitely less caustic, and it may not work, but always a first try option.