I lost my very first mountain bike frame because I removed the LBD. I got the frame used and was cleaning it up and decided to strip off the decals. All was going well until I hit the LBD and it was under so much stress that the frame just snapped like a twig! Really, it was like releasing a big spring and the frame fractured with a loud BANG and popped right open. I know most LBDs aren't that bad but some of those things are under enormous stress and removing them can be downright dangerous. Maybe the frame was damaged or something, I can't imagine it was designed that way.