Important
Never WD-40
Clean and degrease
Your plastics must be clean and thoroughly degreased.
Never use WD-40 or any similar product: it stops the glue from sticking.
Fitting guide
Fit your graphics kit like a pro.
Applying a kit takes time, precision and a little patience, but nothing complicated. One rule never to forget: never use WD-40 or any greasy product on your plastics, or the kit won’t stick.
Quick guide
The 3 golden rules
Before you start, remember these 3 rules. The full step-by-step guide is just below, with all the tips to make your graphics kit last longer.
5 to 10 times
Fit without hard pressure
Position your sticker by pressing gently at first.
You can peel it off and stick it back 5 to 10 times without any problem, as long as you have not pressed too hard. If you press too early, you risk distorting it when you reposition it.
Very hard
Press hard only at the end
Once everything is well placed and you are sure of the result, only then press very hard, like a beast, to seal the kit for good.
Your equipment
- A bright, clean space
- A cleaning product
- A degreasing product (good quality brake cleaner)
- A clean microfibre cloth
- A hairdryer or a heat gun
- Your vehicle and your graphics kit
- Masking tape, to hold the sticker in place
- A needle, for air bubbles
Step 1 of 5
Cleaning and degreasing the plastics
You are all set for fitting! Here are the steps to follow to get the longest possible life out of your kit.
This is one of the most important parts of the process. It is time to pamper your bike.
Clean all the plastics
Take your cleaning product and your cloth, and clean all of the plastics, not only the parts where the kit goes (I am watching you).
The plastics should come out looking like new!
Ideally, fit your kit on new plastics. If that is not your case, make sure they are not scratched and clean them well.
Degrease thoroughly
Use a good quality brake cleaner, and do not hold back: the more, the better!
Soak your cloth in the product and wipe it over the whole surface of the plastics, paying special attention to the edges and recessed areas.
Your plastics should turn dull: that is the sign they are properly degreased and that your graphics kit will last a long time.
Never WD-40
Never use WD-40 or any similar product.
These products leave a greasy film that completely stops the graphics kit from sticking properly.
Step 2 of 5
Applying the graphics kit
Start with an easy part to get your hand in: grab a front number plate and its matching sticker. These plates are often flat and make good practice before tackling the harder parts.
Check before peeling
Before peeling the sticker off its backing paper, check that it matches the plate.
Test the alignment and the positioning.
Two ways to hold it in place
- Use masking tape to hold the sticker (still on its backing paper) on the plate. That way you can peel it off bit by bit while keeping it well positioned.
- Or peel off a small part of the backing paper, stick that part on the plate, then peel off more to stick down the rest of the sticker.
Never peel off all the paper at once
Never peel the sticker off its backing paper all at once.
You risk damaging the glue with your fingers or with dust particles.
Tip
Start from the middle
Always stick the middle of the sticker first and work outwards to push the air out.
If air is trapped under your sticker, gently peel it back to remove it. If that is not possible, use a needle and prick small holes to let the air escape.
Heat it when it gets stiff
When the sticker gets too stiff or has to be bent to fit an edge, start using heat (hairdryer or heat gun).
Heat activates the glue, softens it and removes the air channels trapped in it.
Gently first, hard at the end
Do not press too hard straight away. Too much pressure activates the glue: if it is placed badly, you risk distorting the sticker when you peel it off to reposition it. At first, press only gently to hold it in place and adjust it calmly.
You can stick and peel the part you are placing 5 to 10 times without any problem, as long as you follow these precautions.
When you are sure of the placement and happy with the result, press very hard to properly seal the adhesive, like a beast. At this stage, you should not try to peel it off again.
Heat tip
Heat is your best ally
- If the graphics kit is too stiff or there is tension on some edges, warm it up gently with a hairdryer or a heat gun.
- Fit your kit in a room at room temperature. Avoid the cold: the stickers get hard.
- In the sun, it is perfect: the stickers are softer and easier to apply.
Steps 3, 4 and 5
Heat, admire, wait
Step 3
Post-heating
To increase the grip of the stickers, warm up the edges and the areas under tension.
Do not forget to press firmly on the area after heating it.
Step 4
Admire the result
Take a few minutes to admire your work. Grab your phone, take your best shots and share them on social media by tagging us: @decomotos_fr.
You can also send them to us in a private message, our team will be happy to share them.
Do not forget
Step 5
Wait 24 to 48 h
- Wait 24 to 48 hours before using your bike so the glue bonds properly to the plastic.
- Keep your bike in a dry place at room temperature (if it is too cold, the kit may shrink).
- The stickers may shrink a little in the days after fitting: this is completely normal.
- If the kit lifts in some places, press the affected areas again and warm them up gently.
Share
Show us your kit
Post your best photos with the hashtag #decomotos, or send them to us directly: we love to share them. To get great shots, read our photo and video guide.
Any doubt while fitting? Message us on WhatsApp, we reply within 24 to 48 hours. To make your kit last, also read how to look after your graphics kit. Do you also have rim stickers? Here is how to fit them.