VHS Launches Version 2.0 of Their Slapper Tape

Dec 23, 2020
by Velocity Hucking Systems  
VHS in all its unpacked 80s glory.


PRESS RELEASE: Velocity Hucking Systems

Just 8 months ago we launched our VHS slapper tape from our garage in Queenstown, New Zealand. Back in March, we were excitedly preparing to head to Lousã for the first round of the World Cup to launch our product and starting to film our launch video that we’d spent months planning. By the end of the month, the trip had been cancelled, our launch video was unfinished and New Zealand was heading into a nationwide lockdown. In the midst of a pandemic and with global economic uncertainty hanging over us we weren’t too sure how well our product would be received.

So we gathered what video footage we did have (thanks to our amazing riders KC Till, Mateo Verdier and Eddie Masters) and on April 1st (yeah we know...) we launched VHS slapper tape. We were truly overwhelmed with the response to the product and so excited to see everyone stoked on it. Yet it wasn’t quite the product we’d imagined from the beginning. Since launching we’ve been working to alter the design to ensure that it fits all bikes and offers more protection for your chainstay. We’ve been changing up manufacturers and materials and working with our local printers to bring you sustainably sourced packaging that's also biodegradable.

Our new version is finally here: VHS 2.0. Softer, wider, quieter, faster.

Loud about being quiet

by VHS
Views: 7,976    Faves: 60    Comments: 9


If you didn't know of Emma Olofsson you will now!


Air bubbles - Our clever yet simple design is just that, soft pockets of air that completely absorb the impact of your chain.


A custom QR code that will take you through to our handy installation video and free stickers! We can't imagine there's much to complain about here.


Product Details:

• Length - 350mm Width - 70mm
• Malleable silicone rubber
• $44.99 NZD / £24.99 GBP
• One size fits all / easily cut to fit
• Clean and easy to install
• Long lasting and effective
• Available now


Thanks to all the continued support through our launch in 2020, It's been an amazing journey to get this far and deliver a product we can be genuinely proud of. We're just getting started and we cant wait to show you what else we have lined up! Merry Christmas.

Emma making the most of Queenstowns newest trail, HotRod.


For more information click www.vhsmtb.com
Or follow us on Instagram @vhs.mtb

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Press Releases


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111 Comments

  • 131 10
 So much hate, yet so many people complain about sound of chain slap with more conventional protection. Also, for high quality rubber $32 is a totally fair price. I swear, some people just love to whine. Go find a therapist or something.
  • 15 3
 If this works and is pretty durable I would buy it. Sure I can make some DIY monstrosity of of mastic tape or old tubes for a few dollars but if this is clean looking and does the job I don't see why its not worth the price.
  • 2 5
 @sino428: mastic looks cleaner IMO... but ya, different strokes for different folks.
  • 6 7
 $32 isn't a lot, but why pay that when 3M mastic tape works perfectly and is easy to find at a hardware store. It only costs $10, it looks clean and a roll is enough for 5+ bikes. www.lowes.com/pd/Scotch-2228-Rubber-Mastic-10-ft/50014064
  • 11 3
 @ridingsteeps: Mastic tape doesn't look cleaner if you are trying to make something similar to this with the raised bumps. I can just slap a flat layer of mastic on there but its not going to work as well as this.
  • 7 6
 @sino428: road bike grip wrap works really well and looks neat
  • 7 1
 @sino428: I'm not a fan of the raised bump look, but that's just one guy's opinion, so party on to bump town if that's your thing.
  • 9 1
 @ridingsteeps: These guards with the raised bumps supposedly due a better job of quieting the chain than just a flat wrap.
  • 26 2
 @ridingsteeps: your mom seems to like em!
  • 2 1
 @OldScratchJohnson: epic roast my man
  • 5 7
 You do realize you're whining about whiners, right? Hypocrites are always a kick.

PS: please show me the source of your pricing of rubber, because I don't think you actually know what rubber costs.
  • 1 0
 @WildBoiBen Where are you getting the $32 number from?
  • 2 0
 @eriknasby: that’s the rough conversion to usd from listed retail price
  • 5 0
 @nickfranko: Wow you so smart :O. By that logic, calling anyone out on whining for any reason at all is hypocritical. Man, strawman arguments are "always a kick".

www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=rubber

Obviously, the $32 includes manufacturing costs as well. It seems like a fair price for this product to me. This company saw a niche opportunity in the mtb industry and decided to go for it. They do not deserve the hate they are getting here.
  • 2 0
 Late to the party, but to me all I mostly see are haters hating on the haters, not really anyone hating on the price
  • 1 1
 By high Quality rubber you mean what tubes are made of, that have way more rubber in them and cost about a third of the price. Your argument makes absolutely no sense.
  • 33 0
 We shouldn't really have to clarify on price but if it's going to help people to understand then here is a basic run down. Bearing in mind that we did our absolute best to keep the price low and even tried having a lower selling point.

Obviously we have our costs of tool creation, production, shipping, import, time. That's just the product, not to mention the high cost of our adhesive (so not just a bit of rubber)
The same goes for the boxes, they're made here in Queenstown, sustainably sourced material and 100% biodegradable, that's not a cheap choice but a good one.

Total that all together, now you have to sell that product to a distributor, whom also wants to make money, and then a distributor then sells to shop, that also obviously wants to make money.

We also have to account for marketing, video creation, advertising, running costs for websites and the cut each transaction taken by said website or service like paypal.

We actually loose Money on shipping aswell but wanted to make it as fair for people as we can possibly afford.

Also, I say we but it's just myself. I run every aspect of this operation, I don't pay myself and I still work a full time job. All Money made just goes straight back into buying more stock and improvements to the business. Imagine if there were employment costs to think about on top of all that?

We are also in development of a few other items, far different to our tape and far more costly to prototypes and produce.

So when you compare his product to an adhesive free 100% made in china, made in the tens of thousands at a time driving costs down you are still missing a lot of information.

Thanks.
  • 1 10
flag opignonlibre (Dec 27, 2020 at 5:33) (Below Threshold)
 Well 32$ is a lot for something you can doout of a small piece of an old tire tread and 4 serflex plastic collars and I am not really sure this looks so much cleaner once the bike is in the trail and full of dirt.

Having said that, do what the **** you want with your money.
  • 10 0
 @opignonlibre: think you have missed the point here.
You can make the same argument about Nearly anything you deem to not hold value, you could make your own table and chairs, cups and other general life items but you don't because of the convenience of the item already existing in a premade form.
Sure you can do what you have said, or use 3m mastic tape but it wont last.
As for out on the trail, Reece Wilson won world champs while running VHS tape on his frame and it didn't get clogged up with dirt.
  • 6 0
 @opignonlibre: $32 is alot when a decent FS bike costs $5000+ ??? Get a job...
  • 1 2
 @VHS: I actually build some tables but point taken Smile

@OldScratchJohnson: It is a lot for what it is: a small piece of rubber like tape that quiet a bit the sound of the chain slaps. FWIW my FS bike is decent and didn't cost me $5000, you can get a decent one for $3000.
  • 4 1
 @VHS: mines in the post i cannot wait to hear silence from my bike!

Consumers are so fickle it’s annoying. They want the best products made sustainably and locally at mass market unsustainable pricing
  • 43 1
 Why is it so hard for some people to conceive spending 30$ for something that significantly quietens your $5000 bike? Boggles ma mind so it does. Sure you can do some fancy 3M tape job but its nice to have the option no?

For anyone that has seen this and might be tempted, I have the V1 and its been spot on. Silent, looks clean, gets blasted by a power hose every week and is still intact. Happy days
  • 27 0
 It's very rare thing when a peice of advertising actually makes me want to buy a product. Well done.
  • 3 0
 Thanks!
  • 14 2
 This is such a RAD edit, what a BABE on a bike! And hilarious! - Take my money right now!! So many banging shots - LOVE this!!!
  • 2 1
 I agree. But one thing could be better in this edit. It should be completely musicless! Where is that silent ride without chain-slap noise ? Damn, I'd enjoy the sound of the forest and heavy breathing.
  • 3 0
 @KNS: we have had that, we will also have more RAW edits coming aswell.
We just wanted to have some fun with this one.
  • 1 6
flag opignonlibre (Dec 27, 2020 at 5:40) (Below Threshold)
 it would have been nicer without that last 10s of borderline homophobic content out. Maybe I am overthinking it but I can see how it would annoy the LGBT community. Like replacing the guy fleeing the other guy with just saying no I don't have any tape left.
  • 4 0
 @opignonlibre: yeah we think your are over thinking it a little, but we understand your comment.
The idea was never to be homophobic, far from it, it's the tape that's getting sexualized not the rider. Obviously we do play off that angle but point taken. We aren't out here to offend people just make people laugh. Thanks
  • 27 16
 Ribbed for someone's pleasure because $32.00 is a lot for a chainstay condom.
  • 3 0
 #BOHICA

That said, I would support Eddie in anything he does.
  • 3 0
 Thought specialized had a patent on ribbed chain stay condoms.
  • 6 1
 Try a section of that old Maxxis 3C you have lying around.
  • 6 0
 Y’all have your home remedies for reducing chain slap. But I just threw this stuff on my bike and it’s the best purchase I’ve made for it! My bike is near silent and can let me enjoy the purity of riding bikes and hearing that dirt. Hate all you want. But from someone who has this product, it works better than anything I’ve tried.
  • 10 5
 Definitely a much needed update. I installed the V1 tape and it lasted a month before peeling off my bike and separating from itself. Can't say I felt like spending another $30 to ship the 2.0 version from NZ though...

Seems to me that in order to get the toughness needed for the rubber pillows, they lost so much flexibility that the V1 couldn't contour to anything other than a flat wide chainstay.

Anyways, my custom mastic tape protector cost $0.50 and is just as quiet. And didn't take a month to arrive. And hasn't peeled off.
  • 95 1
 Hey, send us an email with your order number and we will happily replace your v1 with a v2 free of charge. There were definitely some issues with our first version. We have changed out martial and design to eliminate those existing issues. Vhs 2.0 is the product we had always had in mind, sorry v1 didn't meet all expectations but v2 certainly will. Thanks
  • 4 50
flag unrooted (Dec 23, 2020 at 11:00) (Below Threshold)
 @VHS: I just ordered some mastic tape, thanks!
  • 4 0
 @VHS: HAWT!
  • 6 1
 ???????? (clapping hands) @VHS:
  • 1 0
 my V1 has lasted for many months, no peeling or lifting.
  • 7 0
 I have the V1, bike is dead quiet!!! I would easily purchase V2.0 if my V1 fell off. I can't be bothered with the DIY BS of mastic tape abominations. Chur @VHS
  • 6 0
 These dudes need to put some 3M tape over their mouths! Or in this case wrap their fingers in it so they can’t drop whack comments. This advertisement rules. I will buy it.
  • 5 0
 I'd love to see an unedited, chainstay mounted gopro video of this (or any cs protection product) vs none to see how it works and how much sound it actually reduces.
  • 1 0
 This is actually a pretty hard video to create with all the other sounds that get picked up. We are working on something that will be done very well in that regard.
  • 6 0
 Great rider and she is gorgeous. Damn!
  • 5 0
 Usually when there’s ribbed rubber involved things get louder!! Just from past experience ya know
  • 2 0
 VHS for the win! What I love most about the VHS product is that the rubber itself and the shapes of the bubbles are actually soft enough and pliable enough for them to absorb chain impact.... OEM protection like say the Santa Cruz ribbed protectors are too hard and absorb absolutely nothing. Have VHS on my current bike and will be happily be putting it on bikes going forward!!
  • 2 0
 That’s weird. My SC is dead quiet. Stock piece works perfectly, in fact.
  • 2 0
 @CircusMaximus:
Santa cruz one is okay, for the most part but you get a lot of chain slap on your seatstay and the underside of your chainstay.
  • 1 0
 Watching the pinkbike huck to flats made me wince to think of my chain slapping on rock fairly regularly... maybe some sort of underside mounted stfu type contraption @VHS:
  • 1 0
 @JosMaple: Hey, you can actually still just use our tape on the underside of the chainstay. Thanks
  • 5 0
 Uhhh holy crap. Forget about the tape... Emma Olofsson can shred!! Why aren't we seeing more of her?
  • 2 0
 Like the looks of this, the air pockets are key, you can do the same thing with 3M tape, build up little ridges, then add a cap layer that is loosely stuck to the layer below, deadly silent!
  • 5 2
 Yall with the argument that you could make something cheaper and better, your solutions sounds like you make your own participation trophies.
  • 1 0
 Working on it with a distributor, soon we hope!
  • 2 1
 Just bought some at Vertigo Bikes in Queenstown to replace my VHS 1.0 (which has been awesome) and this stuff is legit, easy to apply and looks so clean. Well worth the wait! Used to spend hours doing a mastic tape abortion on my chain stay, this went on in minutes and looks like it came on the frame from the factory! Bravo!
  • 4 1
 "mastic tape abortion." I'm here for the poetry.
  • 2 1
 The only design flaw or negatives that I see is toward the cassette the chain stay guard might rub against the chain I think the bumps should gradually decline as Its get closer to the cassette or have an option peace that is only flat at one end
  • 1 0
 Yeah there a rw a few bikes with this issue, hard to create something for a small handful of bikes that cost effective for us to create at this time. This is tape though, you can cut it up and create what ever you want with it.
  • 6 0
 Damn! Lady can shred!
  • 6 1
 Girl crushes it! There was something for sale on here. Forgot. Nevermind.
  • 1 0
 I have the V1 on my my trail and DH bike. Really good product, looks great, sticks like s#:! to a blanket and has stopped chain slap on both (completely). The factory fitted stuff (Canyon & Radon) did nothing for noise, only protected the paint. I'd say totally worth the money, go for it.
  • 3 0
 MTB needs more small business startups like this! Love to see it! And the product looks rad and functional, hope its available in Canada.
  • 4 0
 I guess the days of wrapping your stay with tubes is done.
  • 4 0
 VHS tape, just remember to rewind after each ride.
  • 2 0
 How much is shipping to the UK?

Be handy to have that in the FAQ, I'm not filling in everything to find out it's as much as the tape...
  • 2 0
 Ah good point, it's $15nzd for shipping work wide to anywhere. We actually loose a fair amount of money shipping to spend countrys but that's the way it is.
If you spend more than $100nzd you get free shipping.

Thanks
  • 1 0
 @VHS: cheers, appreciate the reply!
  • 2 0
 @veero: no worries, sorry for the typos I'm currently at my day Job.
  • 1 0
 It looks nice ,and the price it’s not really expensive (think of grips ,they don’t last a very long time )so I think it’s a fair deal ,now how about using a grip for a Tenis racquet (not the over grip)
  • 4 0
 Any retailers in the US?
  • 3 0
 I'll wait for the "beta" version
  • 3 0
 Shimano Shark Fin. Best ever. Prove me wrong.
  • 2 0
 Wouldn’t be overly disappointed if we started seeing new videos of Emma riding every couple hours or so.
  • 3 0
 Who is the goddess in the video again? Its for my university project.
  • 1 0
 That Miss Vaugh is one piece of ...!!
  • 2 0
 THE most effective thing that has silenced my DH bike....... Single MFing Speed YO!
  • 2 0
 Any webshops in the EU that sells this?
  • 4 0
 Yes please @VHS send a few boxes of these to bike24 or bike-components
  • 2 0
 Cyclorise has them in stock!
  • 1 0
 @nolimit: they said EU...and since the ports are currently closed and you can only pre-order, that shop no longer qualifies...

Might get it faster from Down Under.
  • 1 0
 Slightly rippled with a flat underside.
  • 1 0
 That was an awesome video, I didn’t know I needed this but now I do!
  • 1 0
 Carpenter Brut was a solid choice for music. Nice work
  • 1 0
 The slapper is ribbed for your chains pleasure.
  • 9 10
 For 5 dollars plus shipping. I’ll send you an old tube cut to any length and a couple zip ties.
  • 1 0
 how much for extra zip ties
  • 2 0
 @Cyclehd: $20 gets you an assortment of colors. Everyone knows you make the profits on the accessories
  • 1 2
 I was wondering how long it would take for someone to make Specialized's idea available in a stick on for other bikes.
  • 1 1
 does it still delaminate all by itself like V1?
  • 1 0
 no, and as mentioned multiple times that is a warranty issue we will replace. thanks
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