Replacing KTM decals -- say goodbye to Mr. Bubbles!

[twodollardoug]

Originally Posted by Geek

How about this?







Before you flame away.. I currently own 3 bmws (car included) and have owned many others over the years. Its a joke!

ya be careful geek. i opened my mouth when it was probly better i kept it shut. ive had a couple bmws my self.

[Orangecicle]

Originally Posted by KTMDAD

I have a question, how do you remove the stock stickers? Do they just peel off?

The stock decals are just vinyl, but they are clear coated over at the factory. My plan is to take a razor blade and just nick the clear coat at the edge of the vinyl. After that, I should be able to ease off the old decals with a little WD-40. I'm planning on skipping the clear coat with the new decals, but we'll see.

[Brauhausbier]

Originally Posted by Orangecicle

The stock decals are just vinyl, but they are clear coated over at the factory. My plan is to take a razor blade and just nick the clear coat at the edge of the vinyl. After that, I should be able to ease off the old decals with a little WD-40. I'm planning on skipping the clear coat with the new decals, but we'll see.

I'm very curious to see your results. Good luck!

My right side tank started bubbling this past year.

[CodyY]

Thanks a lot.

I've had my 950 for four days and now I've got a paint scheme in mind.

Pics forthcoming, maybe.... could be a surprise.

[MrSandman818]

ive toyed with the idea of getting the ktm orange jager "graphics" and just sticking the orange lettering and logo on the lower portion of the black ktm decal.

Both side decals on my bike are bubbling horribly. Ive taken the time (and many beers) to pop all the bubbles at least 4 times during the summer and they'd show up within the week. There has to be a better option out there.

[Geek]

The bubbles are formed by fumes venting through the tank correct?

If so.. wouldn't this happen again to replacement decals unless you coat the tank in some way to stop the vents?

...or use that "mesh" decals like dirt bike tanks do?

[Johnf3]

Originally Posted by Geek

The bubbles are formed by fumes venting through the tank correct?

If so.. wouldn't this happen again to replacement decals unless you coat the tank in some way to stop the vents?

...or use that "mesh" decals like dirt bike tanks do?

The KTM tanks on the Adventure don't leach gas fumes. It's a completely different plastic than the poly tanks on a dirt bike. If gas fumes were the problem, the paint would be bubbling and flaking much worse than the decal.

My decals are perfect, luckily, after four years, and not all the decals have issues. I think the issue is just crappy quality decals.

[Geek]

Gotcha... so under those decals the paint is pristine?

[Tslapper]

The bubbles bother me too.

[sstewart]

My bike is near perfect,except for the damn bubbles in the decals. It started on a hot day and hasn't stopped.

[cjracer]

Cool, I like the compass too. Keep us posted.

[Orangecicle]

Well, now that I've dropped off the tracings of the old decals, I'm pretty much fully committed to this project. Also, in talking to the sign shop owner today, he needed to know exactly what is under the decal to know what method to use in making the new decals. If the tank is nice and orange under the old decal, we may decide to just make a new black decal with cut outs for the design so that the tank paint shows through. So, it's time to find out:

Notice the very delicate cuts along the border. I just wanted to give the clearcoat a weak point so that it would break without tearing. It's not really a cut but more of a scoring.

I started out just trying to peal away the old decal. In about 50 F. weather here, the decal was rock hard and well stuck down. {Who woulda guessed???} I tried my old trick -- a little WD-40. Didn't work. I tried some Goof Off. Um, that desolves the old glue -- and the paint underneath. What finally worked was a little heat:

I've had really bad experiences in the past with heat and, therefore, no longer own a heat gun. Luckily, Mrs. Orangecicle is understanding and loaned her hairdryer. {Now I just have to put it back before she gets home and finds out!}

Geek, to answer your question, the tank is painted under the decal but not clearcoated under the decal:

I have a lot of residual decal glue to clean up still, and I still have some designing to sign off on at the sign shop.

Stay tuned!

[Geek]

[ginslung]

Originally Posted by cjracer

Cool, I like the compass too. Keep us posted.

+950

[The Walrus]

Originally Posted by Geek

+1

Black tank + bubbles = IN

problem is PITA......solutions would be great........