WOLFCHIEF

I bought some new Gold-Chrome decals for my BIRD on ebay a few months back. Won't have them put on til after a new paint job (obviously). Now someone once told me that bikes from the factory get painted, decals put on and then the paint is baked somehow. Not sure what truth there is to that. But whatever the case may be, we can all wax our BIRDS and not worry about wax build-ups along the edges of the decals or the decals lifting up on the edges/corners over the years.

Now people have said that the decals go on after the new paint job and after the clear coats. Is this true? I would think that the decals would need to go on after the final coat of paint, then everything gets clear coated......this way, the decals won't lift up and wax won't build-up on the edges of the decals.

So what exactly is the correct way to go about putting decals on new paint jobs and getting that smooth finish like you get from the factory???

OZDave

Interesting question? I always thought they were put on before the clear coat. The chrome decals obviously would stop that happening...wouldn't it? I'm so confused!

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Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me!

flitemdic

Under the clear. My paint guy won't do stickers, he airbrushed the XX and Honda logos on just for the reasons you're talking about. No peeling, lifting, etc.

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N2YN 8/22/2004

speedygeezer

This is for Honda bikes only, which is the only brand I've worked on. Decals are always under the clear, but we've seen a couple on top of the clear, which were probably re-paints. Done properly, a decal will never peel once it has been clear-coated, and that is the preferred location for it. If a painter balks at clear-coating over a decal, you may want to find another painter, since that is an indication of his experience. Or lack thereof.....

Also, do not wax a new air-dry paint finish for at least six months - this allows the paint to cure properly. If your painter uses an oven, go ahead and wax to you're hearts content. Carnuba paste waxes (they last 6 months) are best. To clean up excess wax (and bug guts) in cracks and around screw heads, use a toothpick or one of those plastic tooth flossing aids that have a real sharp point. Be gentle....Honda polish in the aerosol can is a good bug cleaner, but it is also a terrific dust magnet.

tomek

I might be wrong on this but I think some of the stickers on XX are over the clear,most of them under.

Under the clear is of course better,more durable ,easier to wax,clean etc.

I`ve clear coated crome decals,so far so good,,,,,,,,.

Decals over the clear look very unprofesional and cheap IMHO if you had to ask,,,,,,,,,,,,

I use House of Kolor paint systems for my projects,clear coat is a 2 stage system, base clear and top clear,so decals are very easy to do,they go after a base clear ( UC 35) has cured.

xler8me

the ones on the xx's tank is clear coated but the other stickers all over the bird are not. This is the same thing as my 04 vl800 the frenders u can take the flames off, But the gas tank has many coats over them.

97xxca

My 97 XX has the tank decals cleared over, but the rest are applied on top
of the clear coat, because a friend of mine also had a 97 and removed all
decals except the tank cause he couldn't. Both are all original paint.

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chuck, black is the color (blackbird)

WOLFCHIEF

All the decals on my 99 XX are cleared over. Maybe the Birds came out of different factories?

fifer1967

Hi there,

I think the 07... are on top of the clear as the chrome detail is raised.

I thought aquiring a set ......they look the dogs......but getting the originals off would be a sod.

Decided to leave.

Cheers

Biometrix

My '01 has the tank decals cleared over but all the rest (front CBRXX and rear LBS) are just stuck on over the paint. I've only had the bike for less than a month but the decals that are just stuck on will be coming off as I think all surface decals look like crap.

Paint is in my future but the finish is still so nice that I'll wait until I get some road dings before sending her in for a new color. Still undecided whether I will clearcoat over new decals or just leave her de-badged and make people wonder.

gc33

the only decals i have come across on all the birds that are cleared over is the honda wings on the tank. I have had mine recently done and i chose to clear over the decals but they must be a good quality vinyl otherwise they will react with the clear coat.

rivabill

My 01 has clear over all the stickers

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gc33

ive got a set of decals for the 06 black model up for sale if anyone is interested.......

XXFirefighter

The tank decals are the only ones that are clear coated over...
It's the only ones I would re-clear over..
The others are re-cleared for a reason...
Replacement.
You drop your bird and it hits the fairing.. the clear gets peeled up with the sticker...

Non cleared will just mess the sticker... re-sand and reapply a new decal.

XXFirefighter

I'd relook if I were you..

gc33

some birds did come out with clear over on the fairings.n This i found out when i ordered decals a few years back. I had to order the earlier decals for the red bird as that particular year (01 i believe) came as cleared over and part of the fairing.
At leasat thats whAT

gc33

my lower fairing had already been painted but i needed the decal to put on it.