[Closed] Two types of mtb owners - invisiframers and non invisiframers

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Yeah I don't like my bikes to be attractive to thieves, also keep them a long time, and almost constantly dirty.

edit: Wouldn't say I'm proud about it, or that I think people shouldn't look after their bikes properly 😀

I get the argument that it preserves the value of the frame better, but I've never bothered with it either. After a few rock strikes no-ones going to be looking at the scratches anyway!

Probably correlates with people who always keep their bike clean as well - never seen the point in that either!

does that mean i'm a third type where one of my bikes is invisiframed and the other isn't? did my carbon framed bike with one eye on re-sale value later down the line and i think people are generally more wary about scratches & chips on a carbon frame (often wrongly). didn't do my alu e-bike as i figured i'd ride it till it died or the age of the motor was the main concern to future buyers rather than frame marks - kind of wish i had now though as looks a bit of a mess

I invisiframed my Aether 9c from new.

Like the OP, I tend to run my bikes for a long time.

I've seen invisiframe provide an additional slip plane for a couple of friends carbon bikes when dumped on rocks over the last few years and I'm pretty certain the accumulation of small scale damage to carbon has been all but eliminated by the stuff.

I'd not bother with it on a metal frame like my hardtail.

I'm not one for selling bikes. My 2020 Bird replaced a 2008 Cotic Hemlock. I invisiframed the Bird. I was quite happy to spend the couple of hours on a thing I might keep a decade, and I'd happily do it again, but a year later there are a lot of paint chips on BB shell and near the NDS dropout. I also bought a Pipedream Moxie frame last year and I didn't invisiframe that, even though it has a far nicer paint finish. I sort of wish I had, but it's not something that bothers me. I helitaped various tubes and high wear points and it probably took as much time and the cost of the tape wasn't insignificant. Invisiframe kit and time worth the money over the job I did with helitape, for me. Maybe not vs just a few cable wear spots and under the downtube. You pays your money....

Might there be an argument that Bird paint is fragile?

I too am both types.

Most my bikes are steel so I don't feel the need but I will definitely be doing my new yeti arc frame when it arrives.

(Hand up)
Third type: After getting my M-Trax stolen I decided that the replacement (A metallic-orange V-Link) was going to look as shite as possible, so wrapped it entirely with black electrical tape 👍🏼

(Hand up)
Fourth type: Fancied something different on my Specialized so sanded it down and brush-painted (in acrylic) some of my favourite landscapes and stuff all over it. A few fish here and there. Then finished the forks off in rattlecan flouro-green so other trail/road users could see me. Then topcoated the lot. It looked ace (to me) 😎

Never bothered, but then my mtb is raw alu.

On my gravel bike I just put a bit of helitape in the usual cable rub areas but that's only because it has matte paint. TBH the tape looks worse than rub would as it's shiny.

They're tools to be used.

I put protection on contact points where cables would rub through or areas where frame bags attach. I don't mind the odd stone hit but I have a custom paint job on a steel frame that I don't want worn away just yet.

i dont invisiframe or similar any of my bikes. I kinda like the battle scars it receives from being ridden.

It might hurt the second hand value slightly, but it doesnt bother me.

They’re tools to be used.

they are indeed, but unfortunately for the bike and any potential future resale value, i'm the tool that's using it! it has a hard life, so it probably deserves a little protection

It’s a no from me, bikes look better with a bit of history, and 2nd value is of no interest to me.

I have only ever put a few protection patches in areas likely to get rubbed but if I were buying a carbon frame I wanted to last I think I would splash out on the invisiframe.

I have never previously thought about using invisiframe, but have a new hightower showing up today and this thread is exactly what I was looking for although it hasn't helped me decide. The bike its replacing was a 2012 Covert Transition and if this bike lasts 9 years I doubt I'll care about resale value then. BUT theres still that little niggle in the back of my mind that I should do it.

I have a couple Invisiframed, the rest not. Obviously not the Ti ones.

My bikes aren't cleaned very often though (mostly when I'm riding in a different area), so I don't think there's a correlation there either.

BUT theres still that little niggle in the back of my mind that I should do it

if you are going to do it, do it before you ride it when the frame is nice an clean. still give the new frame a wipe down with IPA, but doing form new always gives a better finish than doing after a few rides no matter how well you clean it

I just whack on a couple of layers of duct tape in areas at risk of rubbage

I've never sold a bike so it would just be wasted money and effort for me. Also, I kind of like honourably acquired battle scars.

Yes from me - it’s the best thing about a new bike 😀

Scratched invisiframe looks just as bad as a scratched frame. Sometimes worse if the edges peel or go yellow. It reminds me of badly scratched phone screen protectors. Or old wrapped text books while in school.

I was going to put it on a frame until I read how hard it can be to remove and potentially damage the paintwork. Ended up just cutting a piece of old tire to fit on part of the downtube. Looks quite good too and easy to remove/replace without damaging the paint.

It's a nope from me.

£90 + fitting buys a lot of rattle cans and wet&dry.

A bit of tape to keep cable rub at bay and that's it.

I've got an old inner tube wrapped around the chainstay, does that count?

I'm not fussy about my bikes, they're nearly always covered in mud but when I bought a carbon frame I thought it worth spending the cash (& waiting). 6 years later (& thousands of mile of riding) it still looks as good as the day it was bought it, so money well spent in my eyes.
My next bike, I just went stright out and rode, it looked like shit within a month, and though it had no great value (prestine or not), I regretted it. My last bike was invisiframed and I will do any bike I buy from now on. I think it's well worth it, whether or not your going to sell it.

Am I alone in this as an abusive owner or is the desire to spunk another £90 plus fitting on protecting the aesthetics of the frame a preserve of those who also hang their spanners in the correct order know the torque settings of every bolt?

My Nan, bless her used to cover new Sofas in plastic, but she grew up dirt poor so I sort of got it. I like to think that because I get to benefit from the graft my Grandparents and Parents put in, I don't cover my sofa or my bike, I sometimes wish I did, usually when I want to sell it to make buying the next one slightly less painful.

That said, does it really make it easier to sell, or more valuable in a meaningful way? I'm not so sure and as I like a bit of character to my bikes, I don't think I'll ever change.

That said, I do know the torque settings of every bolt on my bike, because Bird product a brilliant exploded diagram of it, My spanners live in a box which keeps them in order.

Also, and some might argue, Bird paint, especially when it's new... not the toughest, and the do seem to love to dent the down tube. I know a lot of Bird riders with carbon or rubber downtube protectors.

4th type, as I don't use invisi-frame, but I do clean after every ride. Weird, right?

That said, does it really make it easier to sell, or more valuable in a meaningful way? I’m not so sure and as I like a bit of character to my bikes, I don’t think I’ll ever change

It gives buyers less opportunity to chip at the price, based on the condition. Even if they like a scratched bike, they want to put their own marks on, which they can if they want. If they buy a pre beaten one, it’s not the same.

If two bikes are identical in every way, save for one has near pristine paint, the other one battered, would you offer equal money for both?

Did my carbon intense

Didn't do my Ali bergamont

Meh

Only bike I had done was a carbon Cube Stereo logic being that it would help save the frame a little from impacts etc. Never Invisframed any metal bike, they wear their scratches with pride and I don't care about re-sale as bikes generally come here to die (except that Cube as I didn't like it)

I've invisiframed my last few bikes not for resale or to protect the frame from crashes (even invisiframe has it's limits) but because all the wear marks from things like shorts rubbing the top tube, seat/chainstay rub from shoes or muddy tyres just make the bike look a bit shit IMO and I'd rather use invisiframe than apply poorly cut bits of tape here and there.

Used to get it when I had more disposable income.

Now I apply poorly cut bits of helitape.

I'm not naturally a fanny about keeping my bikes pristine, but it's a very satisfying product (as long as someone else fits it IMO).

On a £5-10k carbon bike it’s worth it. Too easy to scratch paint in everyday use to the point someone may question carbon integrity on resale of £2-5k after a few years use.

had my last few bikes wrapped. meh. new Reactor came ready protected in a few key areas, thought 'that'll do'

big mistake - absolutely peppered with paint chips!!

I've never bothered with the full invisiframe job but similar to others, I'll always put a bit of clear helitape on the high wear areas of a frame.

Then again, my riding is more focused on XC miles nowadays with a bit of light trail, so I'm rarely involved in any sort of crashes that might tarnish a frame.

If two bikes are identical in every way, save for one has near pristine paint, the other one battered, would you offer equal money for both?

When was the last time you had two identical bikes for sale side by side?

That's not to say it doesn't have a value, but I've never struggled to sell a bike I wanted rid off and they've all had a health amount of patina on them.

I guess I'm type 1.5 then! I buy a generic Zefal kit of Amazon for about £20. It comes with a bunch of precut sections, including big ones for the top tube and down tube and is a piece of piss to apply Gives a nice matt bubble free finish with only a bit of prep.

I just did my brand new shiny carbon bike - first one I've invisiframed, but I wanted to keep it nice ish.

It looks ok, but the dusty dirt is already showing up on the edges.

Haven't bothered with any metal bikes, but I might get my steel hardtail resprayed when it gets really bad (on-one fragile paint).

My local paint shop will strip and powder coat a frame for £30, which I've done a couple of times. But generally I'm happy with a few battle scars - often reminders of interesting times.

But then my bikes are mostly bought second hand (being a bit specialist / unusual) and whilst not having great value, they do seem to hold it fairly well.

So I'm with the OP.

When was the last time you had two identical bikes for sale side by side?

That’s an extreme example but there’s usually a top and bottom price for a particular bike, and battered, scratched bikes rarely go for top price...

Put one big strip of helitape on the downtube of my bike. So many little chips just to either side of it...

I can see the point of it if you are likely to sell the bike second hand while it is still a sellable item.

Personally, I tend to keep my frames for so long that they become out of date, no amount of molly coddling will preserve and intrinsic value, and they gain a for higher sentimental value.

If I was looking at two identical frames for sale, of go for the one that said 'Invisiframed from new', not so much because it would likely have less chips, but the general perception that the previous owner probably took some care of it.

I've only ever had two done. A Production Privee Shan Gulf painted beauty that was all about the gorgeous paintwork. Would have been a crime not to try to take care of it.

Then I've just spent nearly 4.5k on a knee bike so I want to try and retain as much resell value as I can on that.

I always end up with a steel frame and like the scars gained from riding. Bit of protection in high rub and most prone to damage areas and that’s it. I can’t even get a screen protector on a phone without royally ****ing it up so wouldn’t even want to try InvisiFrame

Never cross my mind to do this tbh. A bit of helitape in the most high wear places is as about as coddled as any of my bikes has ever been.

This.

“Never cross my mind to do this tbh. A bit of helitape in the most high wear places is as about as coddled as any of my bikes has ever been.”

Exactly.

the general perception that the previous owner probably took some care of it

Presumably that's exactly what they want you to think, but is it the case?

I know people that get Invisiframe so they can ride thousands of miles, then take it off before selling and pretend it's basically new. Dunno if that helps the value more than "Invisiframed from new", but it surprised me that someone would go to the bother.

Only one bike I have now has Invisiframe, because it came included. Seems like a good idea. If any bike deserves it this one does. But had it not been included I'd probably just clear tape under the downtube. My bikes are bought to be used. It's not done any real damage but I did notice the two places being rubbed by cables and the top of a bike rack clamp are, of course, missed by Invsiframe. The only other frame I previously enquired about getting done they didn't have a kit for and weren't interested in doing custom. Seemed odd considering it's high end, and more common than some of the obscure frames listed.

I think the real niggle is this should be fitted from the factory, likely at much lower cost. Or better yet, use a paint or finish that doesn't need wrapping to stop scratches and big chips flaking off. Some are better than others. Had a matte frame recently that never chipped and scratches would polish out.

Helitape doesn't stop frames cracking, I usually keep frames to failure. Some last a couple of months. some last a couple of decades.

Some protection in high wear areas. I find that paint get's scuffed anyway riding in muddy gritty conditions so you'd need to do the whole lot. For a metal frame I'd sooner put the money to a powder coat after a couple of years. £80 will get me a standard gloss £130 will get me something from the posh special range.

Scratched invisiframe looks just as bad as a scratched frame. Sometimes worse if the edges peel or go yellow. It reminds me of badly scratched phone screen protectors. Or old wrapped text books while in school.

Maybe we should wrap bikes in wallpaper?

I'm willing to pay a bit more for an invisiframed bike and I know many others are too.... So it helps protect the investment in my eyes.

It’s not for me (not that I’ve ever had a bike that would come close to warranting it anyway!), but Mrs M’s new bike arrived on Tuesday and I’ll be wrapping it tomorrow. Horses for courses.

Mrs Devbrix 2015 SC 5010 was Invisiframed from new and looked horrendous with loads of scapes and dings after a year or so. She put it up for sale last year and I stripped off the Invisiframe and the frame really looked like new. Was very impressed how well it had protected it. If you do intend to sell a bike in future def worth doing.

I had a bouncing 9c delivered last week and I opted to invisiframe it. I’m not completely sure why, but I thought it was worth a punt.

I don’t know if I’ll ever sell it, but I can get a bit precious about new stuff. Plus it’s my first carbon bike and by far my most expensive. Maybe this’ll help me cope with the first knocks a little better 😀

Worst that can happen is that I wasted a bit of cash and don’t do it next time.

I’m one type - just wouldn’t bother. I kind of like the wear and tear look. Mrs M is the other, and I’ve just invisiframed her new Transition. We’ll see how it lasts, but as Benos said, worst that happens is a bit of cash gone and not doing it again…

Meh, cover the high wear points of cable rub etc. but otherwise crack on regardless. For the cost of an invisiframe kit your more than half way to a good respray, either to give your bike a new lease if life or for resale value when you sell.

Did my MY15 Spitfire myself. Wasn't to bad a job and was about £55 for the kit when i bought it. Kind of a waste as the frame was replaced under warranty. The replacement was the anodised black MY16 version, and I was told no point doing that one as it wouldn't stick properly.

Ended up using black Gorilla tape where it was needed, but there was bird I missed i e. Where my shorts rubbed on the top tube. Frame snapped and invisiframe wouldn't have helped.

Got the HB160 done by the shop from new. Couple of nicks but nothing major, and the carbon is canny hard and clear laquered. Rockguard is useful as it wraps around the lower down tube and I've had a couple of rock strikes where the OEM guard isn't.

BFe came find second hand done with a mix of gloss and matt invisiframe. It's battered but not as bad as it would be without it.

It's not the type of owners: it's the type of frame.
Boutique carbon fibre = Invisiframe
Titanium = nothing
The rest = bits of helitape in high wear areas.

Sorted!

or is the desire to spunk another £90 plus fitting

If you look for invisiframe sponsored athletes they have discount codes for 10%-20% so will lessen the cost.

Fitting isnt that tough, I managed it on my new bike over several nights in not ideal conditions (freezing garage) and the fit is fine with no bubbles or gaps between pieces, cos you soak the frame and piece of kit you get lots of attempts to get those pieces exactly where they need to be, bubble free.

I initially only wanted the pieces for my frame to cover the rear triangle for footrub, the cost of the those pieces made it more sensible to buy the full kit.

Two types of mtb owners – invisiframers and non invisiframers

I think the above posts probably tell you that you're wrong there.

My 2015 RM Instinct looks so battered from uplift days and the like that it'll effect what it sells for, when/if I sell it. So when I bought an immaculate 2nd hand bike, also carbon, I Invisiframed it to keep it looking that way. First time I've done it.
I have a ti bike - no Invisiframe needed. And a 29er Hardtail - never considered Invisiframe.

Having sold two carbon bikes in the recent past, I would 100% invisiframe a new carbon or alloy bike. My current bike is steel and powdercoated, so i'm not bothering as it's a very robust finish and easy (and cheap) to get repainted.

ETA - I can absolutely guarantee I would have made back the cost of the invisiframe kits (and more) when I sold the bikes on.

What about us 'middle of the road' types - i.e. heli tape. I've got the tape on all cable rub areas, downtube, and doubled up on the chainstay, as well as shorts rub area on the top tube.

Does occasionally need changing.

Use it also on the road bike, chainstay, and cable rub areas.

For me, there is definitely an aesthetic I like about acquired wear as long as it doesn't compromise the strength of the frame. Something beautiful about a well used high quality tool that is very different from a pristine bit of kit. I feel the same way about other items as well (eg well used high quality leather boots). Always struggled to understand what it was, but apparently the Japanese have terms for it which seems to come close (at least that is my naïve understanding): wabi sabi.

A new bike is on the cards to replace my orange five, possibly a bird aether 9. I'll either go raw aluminium with some helitape (or maybe its not even needed) or carbon. If carbon, the thread seems to suggest I should invisiframe that. Hadn't really considered that as something I might need to do.

Last new bike I bought was 1998, so battered and bashed is ok for me.

But I think its just something else the industry invents to get us to shell out more money. Apparently it preserves resale value, but Im not sure its worth the extra costs, given the threads and YT vids about the difficulty in applying it, air bubbles and normal depreciation anyway.

And tbh falling in areas where things like rocks protrude at all angles isnt going to protect it to the degree, nor is any of this tape free from damage itself. A bit like having set lottery numbers, you feel you need to always replace it to keep it looking shiny. A bit addictive and thats just more money.