950 gas tank paint blistering

Fresno · 10-23-2012, 10:30 PM

2004 950 blistering / bubbling of the paint. It is confined to the right tank and only on the clear coated decal.

Is this from fuel? Any history of this on other bikes?

It happened on a short ride. I cleaned the bike before the ride, perfect paint. In 20 minutes right tank was covered in small blisters. Herpes?

TheMuffinMan · 10-24-2012, 12:24 AM

Happens, 's well documented. Mine has it a bit.

gefr · 10-28-2012, 12:14 AM

One shortcut is to pinch the sticker, helping the gases to escape and stick the decal back on. I tried back then for a warranty, cause some people managed to get new tanks. I didn't get any.
Cheers.

MortimerSickle · 10-28-2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fresno

...
It is confined to the right tank...

Don't worry, just wait a while, and your tanks will match again.

Dustodust · 10-30-2012, 09:52 PM

it helps to warm the area with a hair dryer then poke the bubbles with a sharp razor knife or needle and rub them back down

Zuber · 10-30-2012, 10:27 PM

Plastic is like a sponge. Fumes from the fuel will eventually out-gas and pop off a big sticker. These tanks are glass reinforced nylon, primered and painted. On the raw plastic dirt bike tanks one tip is to wipe it down with acetone before putting on stickers. Supposed to 'seal' the tank and prevent sticker shock.

The RotoPax tanks have some type of coating inside them. Wonder if that's to prevent gas passing?

MortimerSickle · 10-30-2012, 10:39 PM

FWIW, my 8 year old bike still has the original stickers intact. They do have bubbles, and have had them for at least 4 or 5 years. Every now and again, I stick them with a needle, and press them down. After a while they come back, and I do it again. It is an unending cycle, but the bike still looks pretty good.

Johnf3 · 10-31-2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zuber

Plastic is like a sponge. Fumes from the fuel will eventually out-gas and pop off a big sticker. These tanks are glass reinforced nylon, primered and painted. On the raw plastic dirt bike tanks one tip is to wipe it down with acetone before putting on stickers. Supposed to 'seal' the tank and prevent sticker shock.

The RotoPax tanks have some type of coating inside them. Wonder if that's to prevent gas passing?

Tanks, to be DOT legal, can't leach fumes. Besides, the paint would bubble just as bad as the stickers, and it doesn't. On top of that, it is random. My 2006 has zero bubbles in the decals.

I agree 100% on dirt bike tanks that the plastic leach fumes. Everyone knows that. I just don't buy the gas fume theory on the Adventures. Not that this hasn't been discussed a billion times.

10-23-2012, 10:30 PM	#1
Fresno ^OP Adventurero Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Fresno, California Oddometer: 616	950 gas tank paint blistering 2004 950 blistering / bubbling of the paint. It is confined to the right tank and only on the clear coated decal. Is this from fuel? Any history of this on other bikes? It happened on a short ride. I cleaned the bike before the ride, perfect paint. In 20 minutes right tank was covered in small blisters. Herpes? __________________ www.pistolrange.com www.fresnoccw.com

10-24-2012, 12:24 AM	#2
TheMuffinMan Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2010 Location: Denver, USA Oddometer: 3,691	Happens, 's well documented. Mine has it a bit. __________________ "Civilize the mind, but make savage the body." To the house of a friend the way is never long. "Show respect to all, but grovel to none." '12 690 Enduro // 690 Wiki

10-28-2012, 12:14 AM	#3
gefr Life is a trip Joined: Nov 2005 Location: East Med, Greece Oddometer: 3,102	I believe the heat evaporates the sticker's glue. One shortcut is to pinch the sticker, helping the gases to escape and stick the decal back on. I tried back then for a warranty, cause some people managed to get new tanks. I didn't get any. Cheers. __________________ There is always a reason!!

10-30-2012, 09:52 PM	#5
Dustodust Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Crestline CA Oddometer: 672	it helps to warm the area with a hair dryer then poke the bubbles with a sharp razor knife or needle and rub them back down __________________ 04 KTM 950 S 04 KTM 525 EXC street plated

10-30-2012, 10:27 PM	#6
Zuber Zoob Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Main Street, Shedd, Oregon Oddometer: 984	Plastic is like a sponge. Fumes from the fuel will eventually out-gas and pop off a big sticker. These tanks are glass reinforced nylon, primered and painted. On the raw plastic dirt bike tanks one tip is to wipe it down with acetone before putting on stickers. Supposed to 'seal' the tank and prevent sticker shock. The RotoPax tanks have some type of coating inside them. Wonder if that's to prevent gas passing? __________________ "Dad, can I get a motorcycle when I grow up?" "Son, you can't do both"

10-30-2012, 10:39 PM	#7
MortimerSickle Semi-Adventurer Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Rainville, Orygun, where moss is a road hazard. Oddometer: 9,822	FWIW, my 8 year old bike still has the original stickers intact. They do have bubbles, and have had them for at least 4 or 5 years. Every now and again, I stick them with a needle, and press them down. After a while they come back, and I do it again. It is an unending cycle, but the bike still looks pretty good. __________________ I miss round headlights. "When I was a young man, I liked to race my horse...." - G.H.W.S. 1878-1962

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