Before applying
- Make sure the stickers are in good condition. If anything is wrong, now’s the time to contact us! We’ll help 😉
- IF the kit includes a test sample (like this one), first follow the instructions on the sample.
Important notes
- DO NOT USE WHITE SPIRIT OR OTHER SOLVENTS TO CLEAN PLASTIC
- If you do use them, wash the plastic with soap and then with alcohol.
- Apply the primer to the plastic, not the adhesive layer of the sticker.
- Cosmofen 20-140 cleaner cleans without dissolving the surface, while white spirit, gasoline, or acetone dissolve everything they touch.
- A heat gun is EVIL.
- If the painter’s base coat is crumbling, have them apply one layer of clear coat, let it dry, and then apply the stickers according to the instructions.
- Don’t apply PREMIUM film to water. It already has air channels that allow you to easily and gently remove it from the plastic and try again. We glue without water.
- The PREMIUM film must be thoroughly heated with a hair dryer after application to melt the channels in the adhesive layer and evenly fill the contact areas between the plastic and the film, ensuring a strong bond. Otherwise, the film can be easily removed (this is a positive feature, not a fail).
- If you have any doubts or something went wrong, please contact us. We always help in one way or another if we know something is wrong.
- Light lamination is for beauty and street riding, not for forests and tin.
- For motocross bikes, the lifespan of our decals depends on riding style: some last 120 hours, others 12 hours. We will look into each case individually and thank you for the photos!
- For sports and street bikes, in our experience, on average, our decals last longer than your plastic.
Surface preparing
- Try and get rid of all the scratches and imperfections on the surface
- For the best results, polish the surface if possible
- Degrease it
- Make sure that you are in a relatively clean environment. That means there are no dust or other fragments in the air
- Install your stickers in a shaded area away from direct sunlight when the temperature is above 10°C and below 30°C
Applying stickers with soapy water
You can apply most smaller decals without using water. But if you are new to this activity, or for larger stickers, wet method is a life-saver.
- Take a bowl of water (1L) and mix with some dish washer detergent (1 big drop)
- Spray some soupy water on the adhesive part of the sticker
- Next apply the soapy water to the area where the sticker will go
- This will keep it from adhering immediately and give you time to reposition if necessary, so you can place your sticker just right
- Remove any bubbles and axcess of water using a squeegee or a plastic card
- The soapy water will dry and leave your sticker firmly affixed
- Wait an hour and then warm the stickers using a blow dryer, especially at the edges, gently pressing the stickers
- For better results, do not ride your bike at least 24 hours and don’t leave it in a cold or wet place if possible
- The next day check if there are any bubbles left at the edges and remove them if necessary
Applying stickers without water
You can apply smaller stickers and stickers on transfer tape without using water. If you try installing larger stickers on a dry surface, you will need a steady hand and the following instructions.
- Make sure you know exactly where the sticker will go
- Cut a strap ~1 сm wide of the paper backing in the center of the sticker
- Position the sticker and put it on the surface
- Take off the rest of the backing paper, applying the rest of the sticker
- Warm the sticker with a blow dryer pressing the edges and getting rid of the the bubbles using a squeegee
- Leave the sticker for 24 hours and let it “settle”
Applying lacquer over the stickers
To keep the vinyl graphics looking good and to keep them protected, you can clearcoat them.
- Make sure you apply stickers on a surface that is already completely dry
- Leave the stickers to settle for AT LEAST 24 hours before applying the next coat of lacquer. Otherwise the stickers will shift under the clearcoat and ruin it all