Leave the stickers on?
08-23-13, 11:20 PM
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Leave the stickers on?
This is probably one of the "odd" questions. What do you do with the stickers and labels that come with a new bike? For instance, mine has a label that indicates the frame size, some warnings about the carbon fork, and the LBS sticker. I didn't think much about them until my wife, who just got her own new bike, asked me why I didn't remove those stickers. I wouldn't really mind either way, but her question made me wonder what you usually do with them. Leave them on or take them off?
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08-24-13, 05:02 AM
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I've removed all the stickers from my bike...easy to do on a Ti frame...just a bit of acetone and scotch brite pads remove them nicely and give the frame a nice polished look.
All that is left is the Merlin head badge.
I removed them because they were scratched and nicked...looked pretty crappy...replacement sticker kits are available but crappy quality so sticker free for now.
All that is left is the Merlin head badge.
I removed them because they were scratched and nicked...looked pretty crappy...replacement sticker kits are available but crappy quality so sticker free for now.
08-24-13, 05:07 AM
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I would caution against removing them. Should you ever have to have the bike service those decals can tell the mechanic what size is your bike is (remember the shop can get very busy with a lot of different bikes), and more importantly aid in identifying that your bicycle was purchased from said shop.
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08-24-13, 10:10 AM
#9
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Some are under the clear coat .. on the frame. in particular , but I have peeled them off rims , particularly the Big ones ..
08-24-13, 08:27 PM
#10
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I took one off my wife's Surly and never have managed to get all the goo off. I have used the usual chemicals (Goof-Off, brake cleaner, etc.) without success and only made more mess. At this point I think the paint will come off before that amazing stickum. The experience has made me reconsider the practice of removing stickers.
Anyone who knows the magic potion is welcome to share!
Anyone who knows the magic potion is welcome to share!
08-24-13, 08:32 PM
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I took one off my wife's Surly and never have managed to get all the goo off. I have used the usual chemicals (Goof-Off, brake cleaner, etc.) without success and only made more mess. At this point I think the paint will come off before that amazing stickum. The experience has made me reconsider the practice of removing stickers.
Anyone who knows the magic potion is welcome to share!
Anyone who knows the magic potion is welcome to share!
08-24-13, 09:44 PM
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If the sticker could come off it did. Frame size, carbon fork warning, another frame sticker, bar code stickers on the inside of both crank arms and all the stickers off the wheels.
08-24-13, 11:42 PM
#13
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At work, I've had to do this a few times; we use a gel-like substance called "Aircraft Remover" -- it's a stripper that doesn't seem to take the bike's original paint off. Apply liberally, rub vigorously, re-apply until clean. Then finish off with some inert cleaner, like Simple Green.
08-25-13, 11:27 AM
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08-25-13, 11:39 AM
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08-25-13, 06:24 PM
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I got round to removing the carbon fork warning sticker. The bike was wet after I rode it in the light rain for 20 minutes, and it looked like that sticker would be easy to come off. One down. 
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08-25-13, 10:37 PM
#19
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You bunch of scoff laws! Next you're going to tell me you've removed the "Do Not Remove" tags from your mattresses and pillows! What's to come after that? Labels from clothing? How will you or future owners of said garments know how to wash them?
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08-25-13, 11:56 PM
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When I first got into bikes, I was amazed that people could tell what size a bike was just by looking at it...but you pick it up fairly quickly. I might not get everyone correct, but I can gauge the size pretty well by looking at the head tube.
08-26-13, 09:26 AM
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By the head tube? I'd have guessed the seat tube length would be the clue. Mine's 15-inch, which makes the top tube slope more since (obviously) the head tube of a smaller sized bike isn't that much shorter than that of a bigger model.
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08-26-13, 11:24 AM
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This bike is much smaller...
...than this bike
Yep, any citrus cleaner will remove the sticky residue left by stickers, tape, decals, etc.