Wheel tape width

[JustKatie]

Hi everyone! I have been combing the search option trying to find what is the best width in wheel tape for our bike with no luck! So I have been viewing pictures of bikes on the forum that have wheel tape and it looks as if the 3/8 ( 9mm ) is the correct size but I would love some advice before I order it. Thanks in advance, Katie.

 

[JSP]

9 or 10mm I have seen used. Lots of places its just universal and they do not even tell you the width.

 

[Perdurable]

ya mine did not tell me

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[MNGreg]

Check out tapeworks. Nice selection.

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[Nastybutler]

It just depends on how thick you want them. You can probably fit up to 12mm on the wheels. I went with 10mm I believe. If you want them more like pinstripes, get them in 4 or 5mm.

 

[Blue-Sun]

I went with the 5mm (reflective) tape, I wanted more of a pin stripe look. It is all personal preference.

Here is the finished look...

 

[Nastybutler]

I went with the 5mm (reflective) tape, I wanted more of a pin stripe look. It is all personal preference.

Here is the finished look...

View attachment 26119 View attachment 26120

You sure those are only 5mm? They look about the same width as mine which are 10mm...

 

[Blue-Sun]

You sure those are only 5mm? They look about the same width as mine which are 10mm...

The package said 5mm, but it did come from China...

It could be the way the sun is bouncing off the reflective component in the tape making them stand out more.

I do like the way the reflective tape looks at night!!

 

[Sage]

The set I had on my bike for a while were 6mm

 

[danieljardim]

You sure those are only 5mm? They look about the same width as mine which are 10mm...

Being born in brazil and lived there for 25 years using metric system and going to school for mechanical engineering I can tell from the picture that is NOT 5mm. Could be the sun glare, but more likely china men were wrong in the package.

I bought for my bike a universal one for 7 backs. Was easy to install and I is about 8mm.

 

[Blue-Sun]

Being born in brazil and lived there for 25 years using metric system and going to school for mechanical engineering I can tell from the picture that is NOT 5mm. Could be the sun glare, but more likely china men were wrong in the package.

I bought for my bike a universal one for 7 backs. Was easy to install and I is about 8mm.

OK... I was starting to doubt the size, myself. So, I went out and measured the stipes and they are more like 5.5mm, but the package did say 5mm. Either the Chineese package was mis-labeled or the tolerances (when cutting) weren't that tight.

Yes, I think I paid $7 or $9 off of ebay. (free shipping)

Installation was easy, but I did have to use some chain cleaner on my rim to get some old lube/debris off. Once everything was clean, they went on nice and easy!!

 

[Gixerhp]

Katie, Jens is 9mm

 

[Rabbitman109]

I used these:

Rascal Grafik Reflective Wheel Stripe Kit - Street Bike - Motorcycle Superstore

And here is what they looked like:

 

[alaskanflyboy]

I have the same type as FZRBlack, only in white. I almost thought of yellow, but it'd have been the only yellow on the bike. Blue would have just been too much blue.

 

[bobski]

This is a real simple and dumb question . . but what's the best way to clean the wheels before aplying the tape. Just plain old soapy water, sponge, rinse well?

 

[int15]

This is a real simple and dumb question . . but what's the best way to clean the wheels before aplying the tape. Just plain old soapy water, sponge, rinse well?

That's what I would do.

-int15

 

[buzzbomb]

This is a real simple and dumb question . . but what's the best way to clean the wheels before aplying the tape. Just plain old soapy water, sponge, rinse well?

I considered the longevity I wanted, the fact it's basically a sticker, and also that I did not want to damage the coloring on my rims and got all anal about it.

After washing the bike and letting it dry, I used a kitchen degreaser, and then rubbing alcohol. It's amazing how much crap still came off those wheels.

 

[Nastybutler]

I used WD-40 first, then a clean towel, then rubbing alcohol, then another clean towel.

 

[Perdurable]

I used WD-40 first, then a clean towel, then rubbing alcohol, then another clean towel.

soap would work rather then wd lol but alcohol is a MUST!!!

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[Nastybutler]

But I like the smell of WD-40...