Tank Sticker Removal

Message

indiGO · #1 Post by **indiGO** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:37 am

This is a rather mundane question, but I'm trying to get all of the factory warning stickers off of my tank and fairing. Picking at them with my fingernails is an exercise in futility so I was wondering if anyone else knows of either a product or technique to get them off without damaging the paint too badly.

mgdavis · #2 Post by **mgdavis** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:45 am

I just picked them off with my fingernail the day after I bought my Strom. Came right off, left hardly any residue. Did take a little bit of patience.

Some people swear by heating them with a hairdryer to soften the adhesive. Others like to use WD-40.

#3 Post by **Wrider** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:12 am

Like MGDavis said... WD40 sprayed on, then let soak, then heat with a hair dryer and they come right off.

shane-o · #4 Post by **shane-o** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:41 pm

Stickers on the faring I would use a hairdryer thats how I have done all mine in the past, but do not heat the surface to the point of melting

As for the tank, most branding is done under layers of clear coat, so, only way to get them off is to sand off then a respray.

hope that helps

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indiGO · #5 Post by **indiGO** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:13 pm

shane-o wrote:Stickers on the faring I would use a hairdryer thats how I have done all mine in the past, but do not heat the surface to the point of melting :)

As for the tank, most branding is done under layers of clear coat, so, only way to get them off is to sand off then a respray.

hope that helps

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Sand them off!? You're joking right? Yes it helps - by giving me a baseline to better judge your responses to other posts.

Will WD40 hurt the paint on the tank? I don't mean will it hurt it in a relative sense when compared to sanding, but more in an absolute sense wherein people who are concerned about the appearance of their bike wouldn't typically recommend it.

#6 Post by **Wrider** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:26 pm

Nope, he's serious. Most of the tank decals saying the manufacturer are applied right after the paint and before the clear-coat.

havegunjoe · #7 Post by **havegunjoe** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:11 pm

I took mine off with GooGone. It took a few applications and I used an old credit card to scrap it without damaging my tank or paint but it worked.

indiGO · #8 Post by **indiGO** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:22 pm

Wrider wrote:Nope, he's serious. Most of the tank decals saying the manufacturer are applied right after the paint and before the clear-coat.

Well apologies to Shane-O then. Mine's not under the clear-coat in any case though, it had a thin, clear plastic layer which peeled right off and has left me pick, pick, picking at the rest of it in vain.

I considered the GooGone as well and I guess if the WD40 doesn't work I'll give it a try.

mgdavis · #9 Post by **mgdavis** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:13 pm

Just wash off the WD/GooGone/Whatever after you use it. It might take some time to get all the fragments now that you have removed the top layer. Mine came off all in one go. The big stickers on the tank came off pretty easily too.

shane-o · #10 Post by **shane-o** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:39 pm

indiGO wrote:
shane-o wrote:Stickers on the faring I would use a hairdryer thats how I have done all mine in the past, but do not heat the surface to the point of melting

As for the tank, most branding is done under layers of clear coat, so, only way to get them off is to sand off then a respray.

hope that helps

.
Sand them off!? You're joking right? Yes it helps - by giving me a baseline to better judge your responses to other posts.

Will WD40 hurt the paint on the tank? I don't mean will it hurt it in a relative sense when compared to sanding, but more in an absolute sense wherein people who are concerned about the appearance of their bike wouldn't typically recommend it.

geezuz christ mate, what ya think I get my jollies by tricking people into throwing paint stripper on their bikes for sh.its and giggles

I might get on here for a few laughs from time to time but when I offer advise on riding or maintaining bikes I always do it sincerely and from my own experiences, I would never intentionally be the catalyst for some one putting them selves in harms way or damaging their bikes.

I am shocked at the negative, hurtful, and insulting response you afforded me, when my intention was to help you to the best of my knowledge. I did not want to see you scratching and heating your tank in the off chance your tank decals where like mine laying under god knows how many clear coats.

I forgive you, and I can only hope that this small infraction and negative judgment you made toward my original intentions has served as a vessel of education on how to approach others whom you dont know and their heartfelt advise they offer you to ensure you have a safer and more satisfactory riding pleasures and enjoyments.

yours lovingly

Shane-o

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