Ok, so I managed to get the decals off the tail piece of my bike nicely (ok, my dad done it for me :P) I ordered the new ones to go back on there and they have been sitting around for a few weeks now as I am not confident about putting them on!!!These are the decals I am replacing, the old ones got badly scuffed by my sidi’s when I went pillion!!
A few people have mentioned using water with washing up liquid in it, can someone tell me how this works? and give me any tips on doing this!!
It’s always fiddly putting decals on… I used to change mine quite regularly on my motocrosser and my main tool was the hair dryer!.. Its a pain but it will make life much easier taking the fairing, etc off and applying the decals on like that.
I stickered up a race car the other week - just took my time doing it, cleaned/polished where they were gonna go & sprayed the area lightly with water, this allows you to move the stickers around once you’ve applied them incase their not straight etc and then I used a heat gun to dry the area and the stickers - came alright!
It was the 1st time I’ve done this sort of thing really & didnt wanna mess it up 
Ok, found this on google, sounds pretty straight forward, will let you know how I get on!! :blink: think I am going to go for the wet application method as I want to make sure both sides are level 
Dry Application Instructions
Bottom Hinge Method
1d, Surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned before applying your vinyl graphics.
2d, On a flat surface use a squeegee (or credit card) to wipe over the whole sheet (lots of pressure) to ensure that the application tape has adhered to the front of the vinyl.
3d, Accurately mark where the sign is to go, then tape the sign into position using small pieces of masking tape.
4d, Use wide masking tape to create a hinge with half the masking tape on bottom of the sign and the other half on the application surface. Squeegee the masking tape hinge firmly into position.
5d, To apply, lift the sign away from the surface and fold back on the hinge. Peel off the backing paper (exposing the vinyl adhesive) before starting at the bottom center to squeegee up and outwards towards each edge. For large pre-spaced signs do as above but slit between each letter so that every letter can be applied individually.
6d, Now carefully remove the application tape diagonally. Air bubbles can be removed by puncturing the bubble with a pin and squeegeeing the trapped air towards and out of the puncture. Finally re-squeegee the sign again paying particular attention to the edges.
Wet Application Instructions
This method is used when applying large or multi-coloured signs and helps greatly in the elimination of air bubbles. The application of a liquid to the adhesive forms a barrier, which temporarily neutralizes the adhesive and allows the vinyl to be repositioned several times.
1d, to 4d, as dry application method
5w, Make up a lukewarm solution of water and enzyme free washing up liquid, in the ratio of approx. 3 drops of soap to 1 pint of water.
6w, Lightly wet the substrate and the sticky side of the vinyl with the solution, best done with a hand spray.
7w, Starting at the bottom center squeegee up and outwards towards each edge or if no positioning masking tape was used the sign can then be floated into position. When correctly positioned dab the sign down to hold the sign in place. Now firmly squeegee the image working from the center outwards towards the edges. This should remove as much of the water solution as possible to enable adhesive action to commence. After allowing 30 to 60 minutes to pass (temperature dependant) re-squeegee the entire image to ensure maximum evacuation of the solution and thus maximum adhesion.
8w, Carefully remove the Application Tape diagonally ensuring that sufficient adhesion has been reached by the lettering. Finally re-squeegee over the entire sign again, paying particular attention to all leading edges.
Soapy water and the edge of a credit card as a squeegie does it for me:cool:
Good luck
The OCD guide to applying vinyl 
+1- always seem to work for me,it give you some flexibility with movement
Good luck
Lol, I did think that but I can be a bit OCD sometimes and I really don’t want to fug it up!!
I know what you mean but if you just take your time and think about what your doing aftert you’ve read the advice on here its not that difficult really, if you’ve got any spare vinyl or off cuts you could practice with that 1st
Cool, thanks for the help guys Wish me luck!! :w00t:
Thought you were too scared of fugging them up I’ll do the decals, you’re doing the service 
Well you better do them again, those big ones on the side are well pi$$ed Mark!!
