POSER SON KIT DECO
So you have your new graphic kit in front of you. There's just one problem: they're not on the bike yet. Don't worry, because it's not as difficult as you think. If you already have experience applying graphics kits, it may be a good idea to go through the process, as some information may be useful to you.
STEP 1: CLEANING AND DEGREASING PLASTICS
While the cleaning and degreasing isn't the most fun part of the process, it may be the most important. If you don't clean and degrease the plastics properly, the life of your graphics kit will drastically decrease or, worse, it could peel off. Since you don't want this, it's important that you go through the process and take your time doing it.
We always advise to apply the graphic kit on new plastics. If you don't have new plastic, first make sure your old or used plastic is clean. Remove all dirt and grease, even from areas where you won't be applying the graphics. There's nothing worse than sand under your graphics, and you'll feel really silly if it happens because you skimped on cleaning.
After cleaning your plastics, comes the most important step: degreasing. Although opinions vary wildly on what to use for degreasing, we have come to the conclusion that a good quality brake cleaner is the best choice. Start by taking a few rags that won't leave fibers behind, and spray a good amount of brake cleaner on them, soaking it. The more, the better.
Be sure to scrub every inch of the surface thoroughly, especially the edges and recessed areas. By doing this you may notice that the plastics become dull. The duller the plastic, the better. Take your time and put in the effort. If you forget a stress point in the graphic kit, it will lift, which will reduce its lifespan.
STEP 2: APPLYING THE DECO KIT
Now comes the fun part. Start with something easy, like a front plate for example. These plates are generally flat and provide good practice before you tackle the more difficult parts.
Take your stickers and, without removing the backing paper, check if it's the right one. Also see if you can line it up already. Knowing how it lays will help you once the adhesive is exposed, making its placement less random. There are two ways to do this. You can place the decals on the part with the backing paper still in place and use painter's tape to hold it in place. You can also remove a small portion of the backing paper, apply it, then remove more to apply the rest of the sticker. We do not recommend removing all the backing paper at once. This is a recipe for disaster.
When applying the deco kit, always make sure to start in the middle and work outward to eliminate air. If you push the air in you risk trapping it and you will have to peel the sticker off to remove it or drill holes to let the air escape.
When applying the deco kit, try to avoid using heat at first. Only when the decal becomes too stiff or when it needs to bend over an edge should you start using heat. The heat will activate the glue, soften it and remove any air channels in the glue. This means that the air will no longer be able to escape and the air bubbles will be more numerous and bigger.
When applying a sticker, apply strong pressure. The harder you press, the better it will adhere to your plastic. Pressing down hard on a sticker also eliminates any air channels in the glue, causing the glue to adhere more to the surface.
STEP 3: POST-HEATING
If all went well, your stickers should be applied fairly cleanly. The last step is to make sure they stay in place. To increase the life of the decals you will need to post-heat the edges and areas where there might be stress in your decals. The heat will activate the glue. With some vinyls you will need to heat them to 100 degrees Celsius, but that won't be necessary with these stickers. Just be sure to heat the edges and press them down firmly.
STEP 4: WAIT
Before taking your bike to the track to show off your new graphics kit, wait at least 24 hours. If possible, do this for 48 hours. The glue has not yet reached its maximum strength and it takes time. The bond between the plastic and the glue will strengthen over time. Make sure your motorcycle is stored in a somewhat neutral environment at normal temperatures to let it harden.
After 24-48 hours the stickers will also have shrunk a bit. This is normal, but it can cause the graphic kit to lift in certain places, especially around the edges and in the most stressed places. Be sure to press those spots again and warm them up a bit. If done correctly, the graphic kit will no longer peel off and should look good for a long time. Don't forget this step. If you ride and dirt gets under the sticker, you will never be able to get it to adhere properly and it will dramatically reduce the life of the stickers.
STEP 1: CLEANING AND DEGREASING PLASTICS
While the cleaning and degreasing isn't the most fun part of the process, it may be the most important. If you don't clean and degrease the plastics properly, the life of your graphics kit will drastically decrease or, worse, it could peel off. Since you don't want this, it's important that you go through the process and take your time doing it.
We always advise to apply the graphic kit on new plastics. If you don't have new plastic, first make sure your old or used plastic is clean. Remove all dirt and grease, even from areas where you won't be applying the graphics. There's nothing worse than sand under your graphics, and you'll feel really silly if it happens because you skimped on cleaning.
After cleaning your plastics, comes the most important step: degreasing. Although opinions vary wildly on what to use for degreasing, we have come to the conclusion that a good quality brake cleaner is the best choice. Start by taking a few rags that won't leave fibers behind, and spray a good amount of brake cleaner on them, soaking it. The more, the better.
Be sure to scrub every inch of the surface thoroughly, especially the edges and recessed areas. By doing this you may notice that the plastics become dull. The duller the plastic, the better. Take your time and put in the effort. If you forget a stress point in the graphic kit, it will lift, which will reduce its lifespan.
STEP 2: APPLYING THE DECO KIT
Now comes the fun part. Start with something easy, like a front plate for example. These plates are generally flat and provide good practice before you tackle the more difficult parts.
Take your stickers and, without removing the backing paper, check if it's the right one. Also see if you can line it up already. Knowing how it lays will help you once the adhesive is exposed, making its placement less random. There are two ways to do this. You can place the decals on the part with the backing paper still in place and use painter's tape to hold it in place. You can also remove a small portion of the backing paper, apply it, then remove more to apply the rest of the sticker. We do not recommend removing all the backing paper at once. This is a recipe for disaster.
When applying the deco kit, always make sure to start in the middle and work outward to eliminate air. If you push the air in you risk trapping it and you will have to peel the sticker off to remove it or drill holes to let the air escape.
When applying the deco kit, try to avoid using heat at first. Only when the decal becomes too stiff or when it needs to bend over an edge should you start using heat. The heat will activate the glue, soften it and remove any air channels in the glue. This means that the air will no longer be able to escape and the air bubbles will be more numerous and bigger.
When applying a sticker, apply strong pressure. The harder you press, the better it will adhere to your plastic. Pressing down hard on a sticker also eliminates any air channels in the glue, causing the glue to adhere more to the surface.
STEP 3: POST-HEATING
If all went well, your stickers should be applied fairly cleanly. The last step is to make sure they stay in place. To increase the life of the decals you will need to post-heat the edges and areas where there might be stress in your decals. The heat will activate the glue. With some vinyls you will need to heat them to 100 degrees Celsius, but that won't be necessary with these stickers. Just be sure to heat the edges and press them down firmly.
STEP 4: WAIT
Before taking your bike to the track to show off your new graphics kit, wait at least 24 hours. If possible, do this for 48 hours. The glue has not yet reached its maximum strength and it takes time. The bond between the plastic and the glue will strengthen over time. Make sure your motorcycle is stored in a somewhat neutral environment at normal temperatures to let it harden.
After 24-48 hours the stickers will also have shrunk a bit. This is normal, but it can cause the graphic kit to lift in certain places, especially around the edges and in the most stressed places. Be sure to press those spots again and warm them up a bit. If done correctly, the graphic kit will no longer peel off and should look good for a long time. Don't forget this step. If you ride and dirt gets under the sticker, you will never be able to get it to adhere properly and it will dramatically reduce the life of the stickers.