How can I remove my original decals?

[hdrider]

I finally found the butterfly that I want to place on my bike. The question that I have is how do I remove my original decals. I can take the ones that are on the side easily but I cant remove part of the whole decal that is on my gas tank. The part of the decal that is resting on the gas tank is covered by a thin layer of gloss that prevents the decals from peeling easily like the rest of it.

Is there a way that I can remove that part without messing up the paint?

[R1Gurl]

If you have a heat gun use that otherwise get a hair dryer. Warm up the decals and peel them off. Then use a polish to remove the excess glue.

I use plexis or honda polish. I've replaced my stock Yamaha decals and replaced them with red ones.

Make sure if you're applying new stickers that the surface is clean, not polished and slippery. You can then either use a wet application of the stickers or heat em up and work the bubbles out. A wet application is what i prefer.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o9/yzfr1grl/Motorcycles/IMAG0395.jpg

[PlayfulGod]

the ones under the clear there is no easy way to remove then w/o wet sanding and re-clearing the tank.

[TXZ0603]

^^^^^^

What he said. Hondas are bad about the clear on the tank. I sanded through mine, took off the stickers, then had to color sand some more - clear - buff.

Pain in the arse

[Lucky_Devil]

+2

Not worth the hastle and risk (of damage) IMHO.

[hdrider]

Well doesn't that suck. I'm better of taking it to someone who can do it vs me taking them off and doing all that.

[acalliste]

Just look at it like a good opportunity for custom paint to go along with your new stickers. You could then have the stickers you want under clear coat so they don't come off.

[hdrider]

Well if I have to go through all that trouble then i should just wait a little longer and get the bike painted and have the butterflies airbrushed instead of having stickers. But thats going to be a little longer.

[sofakingtore420]

do what i did .....i had my bike painted a solid color ...then i use temp tats for my decals ...the petroleum based tats will stick until you take them off with alcohol...here are pics of a few of them i did ..

[TXZ0603]

Thats pretty cool idea

[hdrider]

Yeah there is no piont in doing all that for stickers now I just need to find some one here in Houston. I gotta get someone to kinda sketch it out to see how I want it to look.

[acalliste]

do what i did .....i had my bike painted a solid color ...then i use temp tats for my decals ...the petroleum based tats will stick until you take them off with alcohol...here are pics of a few of them i did ..


Wow that is a brilliant idea!! Are they just on the top of the paint so you can take them off later, or did you clear over them?

[Lucky_Devil]

If you don't mind the stock color of your bike, then I would consider just having the tank stripped (removing the logo) and repainted the stock color. It will be much cheaper than having to repaint the entire bike.

If you remove the tank yourself, then you'll also reduce costs.

Keeping the bike the stock color will also help the bike retain resale value. I would not suggest clearcoating your butterfly stickers for the same reason. If you should ever decide to sell your bike, the market for bikes with butterflies on it isn't great.

Just my 2cents

[KAOS]

you can use a blow dryer too, if you use a heat gun and you have never done it before and you get them to hot, you will only make a bigger mess and hassle than you want to deal with!

dont mess with the ones under the clear (should be the ones on the tank) evrything else will come right off with blow dryere just warm enuff to peel!

good luck

[hdrider]

Well I just talked to the guy that fixes my car I forgot that he does paint and airbrushing. He has a shop and does a very good job and he said that he would give me a good price. I'm not to sure what I want to do but he can remove the stickers and fix the scratches I have on it.

I would like them airbrushed because it would give it a more realistic look but if I ever decide to get rid of my bike I dunno if I could find a chick that wants a bike with butterflies.

Does anyone have any ideas of how I can give the decals a more realistic look or ideas of what I could do?

[Lucky_Devil]

You could just find some butterfly artwork you like a lot and have some custom vinyl graphics printed using the artwork you've chosen.

It will be more xpensive, but it will probably look nicer

[Kawi Ox]

You said you already knew which butterfly decals you wanted on the bike...you can still use them if you just redo your tank the stock color and put the decals on them. If you ever want to sell it just take the butterfly decals off. If you want to redo your whole bike go to a tattoo artist and them sketch it and see how i looks.

[hdrider]

Well I want it to kinda have the idea of the butterflies flying off the sides of the bike. Thats the butterfly I want.

[Mysteria]

Well I want it to kinda have the idea of the butterflies flying off the sides of the bike. Thats the butterfly I want.

nice! however as you can see from my bike I love butterflies! Mine are down at the bottom because I realized how hard it was to take them off the tank since the decal is clear coated.

Good luck with it! :)

[hdrider]

nice! however as you can see from my bike I love butterflies! Mine are down at the bottom because I realized how hard it was to take them off the tank since the decal is clear coated.

Good luck with it! :)


I can't really see do you have another picture.

[sofakingtore420]

Wow that is a brilliant idea!! Are they just on the top of the paint so you can take them off later, or did you clear over them?

just on top of the paint i remove them with denatured alcohol

[duncanmoto]

do what i did .....i had my bike painted a solid color ...then i use temp tats for my decals ...the petroleum based tats will stick until you take them off with alcohol...here are pics of a few of them i did ..

Now that is a great idea. Very inventive. Did you figure that out or do the tat companies market these for this purpose? Can you tell me where you found the tatoos?

[duncanmoto]

Here's an idea for you. Below are a couple of photos of the RE/MAX bike which has won 2 1st place show awards for paint. The bike fell over in 2004 and dented the factory tank. I went online (Ebay) and found the exact same tank for $200 and it was perfect. Then I started collecting other factory body parts. $10 here and $60 there. Pretty soon I had a full set of factory plastics. Some perfect, some scratched. I had a full set for under $400 and a new tank for $200. Then I took all my perfect bodywork from the bike and the new tank and put them in bubblewrap in boxes in my storage. I then posted an ad on Craigslist for an airbrush artist. I described my project and asked people for bids. I found 2 guys who painted my whole bike in base color to match the car and then airbrush the car and the bike. They even fixed the dent in the orriginal tank before painting it. I had the whole job done for about 1/2 of what it should have cost, because they wanted to be represented at the shows I was entering into. It worked out very well and I always get stopped when we take that bike out to bike nights because someone has always seen it at one of the shows.

http://www.duncanmoto.com/images/HeaderMini&ducati1stplace.jpg

http://www.tedduncan.com/tedsrides/HIN2006/3.jpg

[hdrider]

Well thats not such a bad idea craigslist.

[bighammer]

Belt sander or angle grinder.

[sofakingtore420]

you can get the tats about anywhere ...just make sure they are petroleum based ...other wise the results wont be near as good or last as long ...ill take pics of all of them tomm.. 3 of them have still been there since i got the bike ...the one on the nose is ruff looking but he is staying put ...

[sofakingtore420]

here are the pics i added a few more to list

[sofakingtore420]

since i could only do 5 at a time those are the older ones ..these ones just went on yesterday after washing and waxing the bike

[misschief]

Cool idea temp tats! Are these the generic temp tats we find for kids of all ages?
Cant wait to try it!
Have you done this to helmet too?
Wipes off with alcohol...truly inventive and cost effective ...Wonderful!
I personally want to race my vintage sidecar with "stewie" from family guy as my sidekick....I need a sticker or tat placed where I can see it(him) from my racing hand holds!!!!

[sofakingtore420]

it could be done but you may need to have it specially made to suit your size needs ...and yes any kids tat ...as long as its PETROLEUM BASED will work

[ncdixie]

The temp tats are an excellent idea. I wanted to add back some grapics to my bike but was unsure what I wanted as I thought I might change my mind.
The temp tats would work great.

[sofakingtore420]

do it.. just lay it where you want it the rub it with a wet cloth ...the paper backing will slide off when ready and leave the tat behind

[ncdixie]

Where is the best place to look for the temp tat's? My tattoo guy? or where? suggestions please.

[sofakingtore420]

i get my from a company called alchemy tattoos ..they are the manufactures ..they sell in lil .50 cent machines

[ncdixie]

i get my from a company called alchemy tattoos ..they are the manufactures ..they sell in lil .50 cent machines

oK Thanks!
When I do this, Dale is going to think I've gone crazy. :lol: