Safari Tank Wrap Day

[Narsisco Lopez]

As some may know, my brother and I have been doing some experimenting with "sustainable" vinyl wrapping of my new black Safari tanks... with "sustainable" in this particular instance referring to making the vinyl SUSTAIN its adhesive properties and STAY PUT on these slippery damned tanks!

The first experiment, Safari Tank Wrap Experiment - Graphics Feedback Requested went very well,.. stayed put for more than 800 miles; no lifting, no bubbling, no nothing. So, we decided to pull off the first experimental piece and wrap both tanks using a method a few 3M big brains suggested.

The photos below show today's process...



Yes, that's a MAP torch and, yes, he's pre-heating the tank (and yes... we have a fully-charged fire extinguisher standing by )



Primer being applied



Placing the vinyl



Squeegee work



Fire is your friend when professionally-wrapping anything



Doing a proper wrap job is 100% proper technique







Right side done



Laying out the vinyl on the left side



More heat to help stretch the vinyl into place



A good squeegee technique is critical





Gretchen playing "watch" dog and keeping us company



Extra primer on the top leading edge



Right side done



Another shot of the completed left side



So, both tanks took him approximately 2 1/2 hours.

Next step: he'll cut my custom logos this week. Here's the Photoshopped mock-up of the design I came up with...



More photos and commentary when we apply the new graphics.

[TcRulz]

Let me be the first to say that looks AWESOME! You now know your in a 'Long term testing' phase and you have to keep reporting back on it's progress with updates

[Narsisco Lopez]

Originally Posted by TcRulz

Let me be the first to say that looks AWESOME! You now know your in a 'Long term testing' phase and you have to keep reporting back on it's progress with updates

Thanks very much!

To be completely honest... 1 month and 800 miles is a pretty short-term test. I'll consider "long-term" at least 1 full riding season. Let's see how it looks when I get back from this August's Dalton Highway trip

[xdbx]

Why the MAP torch vs a heat gun?

[Alti Tude]

I would guess there are other colors available right? How bout an orange vinyl to match the stock color as a base to then apply whatever logos and such one wanted?

[Narsisco Lopez]

Originally Posted by Alti Tude

I would guess there are other colors available right? How bout an orange vinyl to match the stock color as a base to then apply whatever logos and such one wanted?

Yep... there are a HUGE number of colors, textures, gloss/matte finishes. Your imagination is the only limitation (ok... your wallet contents is a significant limiting factor )

[DesertSurfer]

Can't believe doing this to new Safari Tanks. Many here to be thankful for your inquisitions. Wrap your side covers and tail section with all that extra cf vinyl. Your concept looks fantastic... I hope it sticks. I could foresee a variety of colors added to all Safari tanks... Imagine wrapping complete bike including yellowish SF tanks rally blue with RedBull team logos...
Deadly 99 could now easily change team colors with the seasons..
Love it...

[Geek]

David: your brother is an artist

I look forward to having him wrap my Sprinter's hood in carbon after we get back from Dinosaur

After the first question (which is will it bubble over time ) the other main question is how well will it hold up when you toss 'er in the pickies

[Peanuts]

I see this bubble was still there as the job progressed. Did he get it out at the end?

[Todd34]

It looks great.

[Narsisco Lopez]

Originally Posted by Geek

After the first question (which is will it bubble over time )

We'll see what happens over this season. He had a very long conversation with a lead 3M chemist when they visited last week. They discussed the various issues and she was confident it all came down to proper initial prep and proper installation. Again... time will tell. She asked to see photos over the next few months.

Originally Posted by Geek

the other main question is how well will it hold up when you toss 'er in the pickies

Yeah, that's the biggie, ain't it? Might have to have a set of crash bars modded to fit these beasts!

Originally Posted by Peanuts

I see this bubble was still there as the job progressed. Did he get it out at the end?

That isn't a bubble, it's an imperfection in the Safari tank (and these tanks have many )... big enough that we PROBABLY should have sanded it off. We'll knock it down on the next wrap

[liftedlimo]

Looks sweet! I am very interested in how these turn out for my own guilty reasons.

Good Job

[Hondo]

Awesome- can't wait to see the final outcome!

Hope it sticks well -

[Peanuts]

Originally Posted by Narsisco Lopez

That isn't a bubble, it's an imperfection in the Safari tank (and these tanks have many )... big enough that we PROBABLY should have sanded it off. We'll knock it down on the next wrap

Shame you did not spot it before :(

The tanks look stunning. It must take great skill to handle the wrap so you stretch it only where required.

[BaronVonDarrin]

Is this something I could have done at a graphics shop?