WebreaderShopNewsletterTop dealers & workshops

MTB frame guard

Daniel Hooper

 · 09.08.2010

MTB frame guardPhoto: Daniel Simon
MTB frame guard
Foils, rubbers, stickers: protect your mountain bike frame from scratches and dents with these DIY tips.
You should protect a new or freshly painted frame from stone chips and abrasive cables. A piece of old road bike tyre plus inner tube or a piece of plastic tube from the DIY store are suitable as impact protection for the chain and seat stays. Either adhesive films (BBB, H & S Bike Discount) or rubber protectors (Jagwire) protect the down tube and under the shift and brake cables. Lightweight washers (size: M5) and cable ties are also required to build cable guides. To clean the adhesive surfaces, use a cloth and chain cleaner, for example. You will then only need side cutters, combination pliers and scissors for cutting and fitting.Photo: Daniel Simon You should protect a new or freshly painted frame from stone chips and abrasive cables. A piece of old road bike tyre plus inner tube or a piece of plastic tube from the DIY store are suitable as impact protection for the chain and seat stays. Either adhesive films (BBB, H & S Bike Discount) or rubber protectors (Jagwire) protect the down tube and under the shift and brake cables. Lightweight washers (size: M5) and cable ties are also required to build cable guides. To clean the adhesive surfaces, use a cloth and chain cleaner, for example. You will then only need side cutters, combination pliers and scissors for cutting and fitting.

Cable routing: So that the outer sleeves do not rub against the head tube

Proper cable routing is mandatory - but is not enough to protect the frame from rubbing cables. Rubber pads help. Basic rule: Shift cables and brake cables are always routed so that they cross over the head tube.
Photo: Daniel Simon

Protect the chain stay: How to build your own chainstay protector

Rattling chains destroy the chain and seat stay in the long run. An old tyre (preferably a road bike) or rubber tube from the DIY store is ideal as protection. This is first shortened to the correct length using scissors.
Photo: Daniel Simon

Down tube protection: Protects the down tube from stone chips

The down tube is often pelted with stones when biking. Protect the paint and anodised layer with a special film from the shop. This should be mandatory for carbon frames! First clean the down tube with chain cleaner or silicone remover.
Photo: Daniel Simon

Material: You need these products

Detailed solutions to protect the MTB frame

The brake hose must be flexibly mounted on the rear triangle of full-suspension bikes because of the spring deflection. Trick: Thread a cable tie through an M5 washer. The cable tie should lie loosely around the brake hose. This ensures that it is optimally guided but remains in place.
Photo: Daniel Simon


The entire article with these workshop tips is also available as a PDF download below.

Downloads:

Frame protection (pdf)

Home

Most read in category Workshop