Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Before you even start, I'm not asking because I want it to look like a Harley. I just hate decals on vehicles in general. I want to take off the thick, plastic tank logo on my new 05 Vstar Custom. It's glued on there real good, though.

Has anyone done this before? And if so, How'd you do it to minimize risk to the paint, and to get off anyresidue?

I plan to remove the decals on mine too. I'm looking at a GS500 and EX500 and the logos on both of them make the bike look weird.


My guess would be a hairdryer. It works on other things (it softens the glue and allows it to be removed easily) and I don't see why it wouldn't work on a motorcycle. It would leave a residue however but you could probably remove that with a wash.

Decals should be easy to remove with a hair dryer and some GOO GONE or maybe some acetone.
Unless they have a layer of clearcote over them. Like mine.
My decals aren't that bad though.
If you drop it then you have an excuse to repaint.

I used a heat gun (powerful hair dryer) to soften and remove the bulk of the decal, followed by acetone to remove the rest of the mess.

Don't worry about acetone on your paint, it didn't hurt a thing and I used it on my Valkyrie and the wife's V-Star. Note, either remove seat first or stuff a thick rag between the seat and fuel tank as the acetone may damage the vinyl seat.

Don't forget those unsightly white decals on the lower frame tubes of the V-Star. You have twice as much work to do here due to the bilingual factor.

Follow up with a wash-up of the area worked upon with a mild (car wash soap like Mother's or Meguiars) wash, rinse and dry with a soft cloth and you are done.

For tank emblems, heat them with a haridryer and then slip a length of fishing line behind one of the edges and begin "sawing" through the adhesive backing. It's easier with two people so one can hold the hairdryer while the other saws. After that, denatured alcohol or CitriSolve will remove the gooey adhesive residue.

It should be pointed out that "sawing" does not mean jerk it up and down rapidly, rather pull one end slowly and smoothly towards you, then do the same with the other end of the fishing line. Work your way through.

You can remove any other decals on V-Star but the tank sticker, I believe it is under clear coat. If you remove this will ruin your paint and you have to repaint your tank.

I believe if it is 05 V-Star it should be metal tank emblem which I've heard ppl recommend using frost to cut of glue to remove it.

I removed 3 Yamaha stickers on mine due to 06 V-star is a Star brand no longer Yamaha LOL. I used hair dryer to heat while peeling off the stickers after that Honda Pro to clean the residue.

Cant add much to this since its already been said...but if you can get the stickers off I agree, I much prefer my bike 'debadged'.

canuckerjay wrote:Before you even start, I'm not asking because I want it to look like a Harley........

You know its a good job the Harley riders on this forum are of a good nature..............................

No respect, I tell ya....

I removed window tint with a product from Canadian Tire, can't remember exactly what it was called but it was something like goop. It worked very well though.