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Frame paint wearing off
The paint is wearing off my frame quite easily where it's in contact with cables – I can see the metal of the frame. I bought my GT Sensor '11 last year (11mths and 5 days on today).
It started at the back, where a cable is touching the frame (seat post) which is moving because of the rear suspension going up/down. Then it was at the front, because of the steering… and now it's everywhere a cable touch the frame.
I'm cleaning my bike almost every time after a ride, plus I bought some 'CableWrap Frame Protectors' which helped but c'mon I'm not gonna put one on every where a cable is in contact. My Kona frame from 1998, without any those hasn't got any signs of this problem… I suspect some saving on the varnish coats. Is that something normal these days? Could I claim this under warranty?
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Unfortunately everywhere a cable rubs the frame requires a frame protector. I would assume they would call it normal wear and tear so not warranty.
It started doing that on day one of my new bike, so I went back to the LBS and they gave me some little clear oval protectors that stick onto the frame and prevent paint damage. I would imagine that most LBS would have them, but I can't suggest anything for existing damage.
Yep, frame protector stickers needed everywhere a cable is in contact with the frame. Standard practice. Without frame skins, it's not just the paint that will wear off - the cable will eventually wear a gouge into your frame (alloy or carbon). Definitely not a warranty issue. Can't explain why it didn't happen to your 1998 Kona - maybe you're doing more riding these days.
http://www.frameskin.com/
Apply the stickers wherever the cables touch the frame and get over it.
Keep your eye on them - they wear and need to be replaced periodically.
Agree with all of the above - frame protection wherever a cable touches the frame. I also go one further and put them where the frame sits on the bike rack, and a large patch under the downtube where gravel sprayed up from the front tyre tyre has a sand blasting effect!
In fact my Giant bike came with a little pack of various shaped frame patches, which I thought was a nice touch, but they were quite thin and yellowed in the UV, so I replaced with "bike shield" which is the biz!
If I knew earlier about putting those patch…!
Do you think if I made those patch of clear vinyl sticker myself it will be enough?
I did use my Kona quite a lot. I will have a look again tonight.
Frameskin is the schiz! www.frameskin.com.au
Well to put in perspective the front brake tube rubs on my 07 trek fork (the arch just over the front wheel), over the years it has worn away the front fork say 3 to 4 mm. There is now a groove where the tube keeps rubbing. I estimate in 18 years time it will rub its way all the through....................