I just got the bike and I love it, but I've never been a fan of the tacky graphics so common on otherwise beautiful bikes. I have a feeling that if I try to just peel them off, it will quickly snowball into a sticky spectacle of cursing and regret. What should I do to keep from turning the project into a nightmare?
Here's the bike: (A friend has already made a very appropriate "Purple Rain" comment.)
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13ruceVFR750-side.jpg
The graphics are my only complaint with the bike. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
[image: View Post]13ruce, on Jun 17 2008, 03:51 PM, said:
I just got the bike and I love it, but I've never been a fan of the tacky graphics so common on otherwise beautiful bikes. I have a feeling that if I try to just peel them off, it will quickly snowball into a sticky spectacle of cursing and regret. What should I do to keep from turning the project into a nightmare?
The graphics are my only complaint with the bike. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Gently heat the decals with a hair drier to soften them and the adhesive. Don't keep the heat concentrated in one spot, keep it moving. Then pick at the edge of the decal with your fingernail until you can peel it off. Keep reheating the decal periodically to keep it pliable.
Once you have all the decal removed, spray the residual adhesive with WD40 and rub with soft cloth. Guaranteed to work or your money cheerfully refunded.
Heating method works pretty good, you can also use plastic razor blades (still chance of scratching) and an eraser wheel. Just giving other options.
The heat and slow careful peel is the only method I have used with success. I used that orange smelling cleaner on the gum. Try the wd40. Sounds cheaper. Rest of that bike is stellar. I remember the neon craze of the early 90's late 80's.
Beware that the sun and/or age may have faded the paint on your beauty. If you peel off the decals you might be left with ugly "shadows".
The decals suit the bike IMHO. But if you dont like them the hairdryer method will probably be the best.
It might lower the resale value afterwards though...
Bore Cleaner..........for firearms. I'm serious: bore cleaner removes almost every kind of sticky residue I've come across, and it has not damaged any paint or plastic. (I would test it in an inconspicuous area first, though)
I'd pull the stripe off too. If there is ghosting from paint fade I would get a decal shop to make you a new sticker without the purple. The stripe in silver alone wouldn't look bad at all.
Then again, purple has been so out it is almost in again.
It's a great bike you have there. Enjoy it and let us know how the removal goes. We all post our successes and mistakes here so don't be shy.
The VFR logo and stripe you can *probably* remove, but I think the Honda logo on the tank is clear coated on. I could be wrong though. The only stickers I removed were the warning labels. Those did come off easily with a hair dryer.
Replace the logo with a painting of the girl and the lake from Purple Rain. :idea3:
Only thing I remember of that movie apart from Prince. :rolleyes:
I would agree that you need to get rid of that purple rain sh#t....I like the idea of putting chrome or all silver replacement stripes back on it.
Just did my 92, it is now de-purple rained, not sure if i will add new decals as it looks pretty good naked! Let me know what you think. Gotta tell ya it was a bitch getting the gum off....I now how popeye arms!
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Leave the new decals off. It looks great! :fing02:
[image: View Post]Park800, on 11 November 2010 - 04:25 PM, said:
Leave the new decals off. It looks great! :fing02:
+1
I have never been a fan of stripes on any bike that I have ever owned!
A fellow RV'er once told me how to do it with a trash bag and, it seems like ammonia based cleaner. He said they will literally fall off afterward and if they aren't cracked to bad can be sprayed with adhesive and re-applied. He did this when he had his motor home repainted so he could keep the vinyls. I cant remembered exactly what the chemicals used were though, sorry.
Very nice bike BTW!! I would say just leave the decals off or go to something a bit more discreet.
Oh and baby oil also works for adhesive removal and I have never had it damage paint.
Yes, bike looks much better. Nice job. I removed the fugly VFR stickers from my Gen 4 side panels and have never looked back.
IG