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Putting Stickers On Your Motorcycle? Should You Do It?
Many people love the idea of adding decals to their motorcycles. They believe that they enhance their bikes and give them a unique look.
You’ve probably seen someone with their bike covered in stickers. One thing is for sure: that person knows how to customize their motorcycle! But is it actually cool? Some people think it is. Some people think it’s lame.
Can you put stickers on your bike?
Yes you can but it might not always be a good idea. Read more at the bottom of this page.
How To Install Decals The Easy Way:
Why put stickers on your bike?
There are many reasons why riders put stickers on their bikes. Let’s look at them one by one:
1. Personalization:
One of the main reasons riders put stickers on their bikes is to personalize them. This can be anything from the color of the paint to the style of the bike. Some riders like to customize their bikes to make them look like they’re on a different bike. Others like to customize their bikes because they want to express themselves. It’s all about personalization.
2. Covering a gash, scratch, or crack
A sticker is a cheap way to fix a gash, scratch, or even a tiny crack, especially if you don’t have the budget to fix it. Thus, stickers are a great way to cover a small problem.
3. Paid promotion
Some riders are paid to add stickers to their bikes. This is usually done for promotions. For example, some people ride their bikes to promote their businesses or products.
4. Some brands bring pride
Certain brands bring satisfaction to anyone who buys their product. They want to show their love for their brand by putting their logo on their bikes. For example, Harley-Davidson riders put stickers on their bikes because they love the brand.
5. Show group affiliation
Some riders put stickers on their bikes to show their group affiliation. For example, if you’re a club member or a group, you might place a sticker on your bike that says “CGA” or “BMW Riders Club of America,” or even the 1%er.
Are stickers cool?
Stickers are an excellent way to personalize a bike, but they become ugly when you go too far. So, a well-placed sticker or group of stickers would work as cheap and an excellent way to personalize your bike. However, if you put stickers on your bike that cover up too much of its real estate, you get the opposite effect. In short, it’s tacky.
Putting decals or stickers on your motorcycles
I’ve had my share of motorcycling adventures, and I know how difficult it can be to figure out how to apply decals on a bike. I also know how frustrating it is when you get it wrong and end up with a sloppy mess instead of a neat, professional finish. My goal is to make applying decals to a motorcycle as simple as possible for all of you, so I’ve compiled a list of helpful hints.
A decal is a sticker applied to an object to change its appearance. Decals can be used to give your bike a new look. They are also a great way to decorate your bike for a special event, like a wedding or birthday party.
1. Decide on the location of the decal
Deciding on the location of the decal is the first step to applying a decal on your bike. It’s essential to choose a place that will make your motorcycle look neat and professional.
Without removing the backing, put the decals on. If you want to check the placement, use masking tape.
2. Adjust the placement
You don’t have to worry about the sticky part of the sticker because the masking tape allows you to adjust the placement of the decals.
You can use a water-soluble pencil to mark the top and bottom of the decals after deciding on the final placement. If you use a pencil to mark the location, you won’t have to peel it off, and the quality of the sticker won’t be affected.
3. Thoroughly clean the area
The area where you will be placing the decals should be washed with soapy water and a clean cotton cloth. It is advisable to dry the area. Washing it with soapy water ensures that the fairing surface is free from oil, chemical, and dust, which could weaken the adhesive on the decal. One of the best ways to get rid of oil and chemical is by giving it a good wipe-down of isopropyl alcohol.
4. Follow the marking
The decals should be applied according to your markings. If you use clear vinyl, make sure to peel off the backing first so that you don’t have fingerprints on the side of the decals.
5. Use a plastic squeegee
Move the plastic squeegee from the center to the outside to smooth the decals to push out any air bubbles. It might take several passes to get all the air out, so be patient.
6. Air bubble fix
Use a pin or needle to poke tiny holes in any air bubbles, then use the squeegee to flatten them out.
Vinyl is better
Here is an interesting statement: all decals are stickers, but not all stickers are decals. Most are just plain stickers – car advertising, product labels, shipping labels, etc.
However, note that although they are durable, vinyl still has a 3-year lifespan when used outside (e.i. on your bike).
Conclusion
Putting stickers on your bike is a fantastic way to personalize your motorcycle, but overdoing it ruins the look. If ever you decide to put stickers on your bike, make sure it’s of the highest quality.
Furthermore, you should be careful when you apply stickers. The best way is to use a good quality decal, apply it according to the markings, and then use a plastic squeegee to smooth it out.
Have you ever put stickers on your bike? How did you do it?
