I bought a used 2008 Specialized Allez, and I'm cleaning it up.

Are these two stickers



there to protect the headtube from the shifter and brake cables?? My inclination is to remove them, and the sticker shown below. Can I safely assume it won't damage the paint below? Is the paint likely to be faded, such that removing the stickers will leave a pattern?



Thanks,

Al

If it was my bike I'd remove them. A hair dryer may make them come up a little more easily. Since the bike's only 3 years old I doubt paint fade (if any) will be noticeable.

I would not take the HT protectors off, unless you are going to replace them, but I don't see anything wrong with the other one.

I think you're correct that removing the red sticker will expose a rectangle of paint that will be a slightly different color. There's is no telling how noticeable it will be. You'll have to decide if you want to gamble. As for the clear ones that are to protect against cable rub, why do you want to take those off?

Well, now that I know that they are indeed there for a purpose, I'll probably leave them. It's because they have yellowed slightly, that I would prefer a cleaner, sticker-free look.

The Frame protectors on the head tube - No, if you do, the cables will start to rub away the paint work, it doesn't take long for this to happen, these are there to prevent this.

For the Seat tube Specialized sticker - if you want, it's not doing anything useful, doubt there will be too much color discoloration, you could try peeling an edge first.

then replace that disgusting bar tape. Leave the stickers or replace them unless you prefer scuffed up paint.

+1 for the bar tape, that's real dirty

Try to clean them with an automotive cleaner like Scratch-X; it might take the yellowed layer off. I used that stuff on my old Schwinn Varsity and the clear part of the decals are now clear, and the white is now white.


As for the registration sticker, I think of it this way: If you try to sell the bike in the future and someone who knows their stuff looks at it and notices the stickers are missing, they may wonder if it's been damaged and repainted.

That's not a registration sticker, it's just one suggesting that you register it, if taken off, no one will ever know it was there in the first place

Would you prefer to look at a possibly-very-slightly-discolored area or the "Register Your Bike" sticker? Your choice.

I would not remove any of them. They're Load-Bearing Decals.

Yes, I can read.

Yeah, but they are so heavy.

Well, if you remove the pads on the headtube, the cable housings will then begin to remove paint, saving you even more weight! Go for it!

I agree that the bar tape needs either a good bath or replacement.

If it where my bike, I wouldn't take them off, Because, On my current head tube my cables are ti and it scratches my frame.

Yes, the paint has been scratched off on my bike (this is my wife's bike that I just got from craigslist - $360).



Don't worry the handlebar tape will be history after my overhaul and stem to stern super-cleaning.

When the frame collapses into a pile of aluminum dust...don't come crying to me.

Don't remove them permanently; those are to prevent brake/shifter cable rubbing away the paints. You can replace them however; see if your LBS can help you.

They prevent occurrences like this:

What is that seatstay arrangement we're looking at?

To the OP: You should leave the stickers on. I they're unsightly, see if your local shop has some laying around- lots of road bikes come with a few. To clean your bars, try some Simple Green on a rag, and twist it tight around the bars (like a motorcycle throttle) to clean it.

I have a love-hate relationship with those stickers. When I've used them, the cables either ended up moving them and smudging sticky stuff around on the head tube, or the cables turned out to rub more than the sticker covered. When I didn't use them, the cables rubbed the head tube and wore the paint thin. In the end, neither is a big deal and the bikes kept working.


I'm guessing it's a soft tail mountain bike frame. The chainstays are solid, but allowed to flex a little while a shock on the seatstays absorbs it.

Back in the 80's a 'buy a TV or washing machine and get a free bike' promotional was on, in nearby area,
so at the bike shop we got a lot of tune up challenges of these things straight away.

eventually my Specialized Expedition was re branded with the stickers off them,
as they were painted the same color shade of graphite gray metallic ..
Local joke was not so meaningful in Poland and Czechoslovakia, during the big tour.

Al, if you want to replace the head tube patches with something better there's a clear mylar film with a strong self adhesive backing called FasCal. The better graphics arts or sign shops should be able to supply it in sheets that you cut with scissors and peel away the paper backing and apply. Of course they may sell it under another name but likely they would recognize the "FasCal" name.

I'm still working my way through a couple of 18x24 sheets of the stuff I got back when I was in my 20's for model airplane use. I've used it to put "cut to fit" anti cable rub patches on my frames for years now and the oldest patch is just slightly scuffed by all the cable rubbing at this point. It's tough and it save the paint. It has also stayed so clear that you can't even see it without a close inspection for the edges.

PS: Check with some auto window tint places as well. They sell anti rock chip films which may well be the same sort of stuff or a very suitable substitute.

PPS: Try some GoJo or similar non abrasive hand cleaner on the grip tape. There was a hint a few years back right on BF about this and it worked super for cleaning my white bar tape and keeping it clean for years on the old single speed I had.

LOL So does she get to drive it already???

Just as added info - Jagwire makes rubber bumpers that go over the cables for this type of application. Problem is - I`ve only seen them in black and you might end up with `scuff marks` on that white frame.

Anyway -I`d say take them off if they bug you. If at some point you change your mind, clear protective film is available, but I`ve personally used electrical tape for those applications on CF bikes. Its actually available in yellow, blue, red and white as well as basic black. If you`re good with a pair of sissors you can get perfectly rounded corners.

I removed all of the warning stickers when I first got my trike. It didn't come with any cable frame protections...I didn't even know there was such a thing. With a trike there is a lot more steering and cable rub around the neck, so in no time the cables would rub the paint right off. I cut long thin strips of velcro with rounded ends and put them on both sides of the neck. (Rounded for looks and not as easy to catch on the cable.) I also used it any place my bags, etc. would be rubbing on the frame.

So anyway, for me if I took off the frame protectors for whatever reason, I'd put something back there.

Bob