How To Apply Custom Graphics

How do I apply my graphic kit the right way?

You want to apply graphics like the pros? You’ve come to the right place. We’ll show you how!

Step 1

Before we start

Gather the materials/tools needed for your installation:

1. Brake Cleaner
2. Plastic squeegee
3. Heat gun
4. Exacto knife or blade
5. Lint-free cloth

Find a suitable environment

The biggest enemy of adhesive material is dirt, grease and oil residues, and temperature. For Example, your cold and dirty workshop during the winter isn’t the best environment to install your graphics.

Depending on your preference, you can install your graphics with the plastics on or off the bike. We prefer to do them on the bike so the plastics aren’t moving around. If you’re installing your graphics on used plastics, you should smooth out any imperfections such as scratches with fine sandpaper before installing your graphics. Then clean the plastics thoroughly.

Step 2

Clean and degrease

Meticulous preparation and cleaning are essential for the best result! Like anything else, the result you get depends on the effort you put in.

Thoroughly degrease the plastics - whether used or new - with the brake cleaner. Especially on new plastics, there is often still a lot of silicone residue left from production. Once the surface appears slightly dull, you can start to apply your graphics.

Tip:

The installation should be done with clean hands. However, the surface of our skin has a natural oily film, so cleaned surfaces should not be touched again if possible. It is recommended to proceed step by step and first degrease one part of the plastics and stick the graphics to it. Then degrease the next part and apply your graphics.

Step 3

Apply the graphics

Important!

The basic principle is: Always work your way from the center to the outside! For large-area parts, the backing paper should be removed first. Cut out a one-inch wide strip in the middle and then put the two halves of the backing paper back onto the graphics to install them.

Heat it up!

Sometimes it gets tricky on curves, corners, or the edges. This is where the heat gun comes into play. Use the heat gun on low to carefully warm up the graphics, this softens the material and makes it easier to apply. If the graphics are to be applied directly to the bike, you should be extra careful when handling the heat gun around the gas tank and gas lines.

Here we go!

Align the graphics on the plastics. We recommend using the holes when possible to make sure you are lining everything up correctly. Once you have everything lined up, proceed to push down on the graphic where you cut the one inch of backing paper away from the graphics.

Now, starting from the center, you can peel off the backing paper piece by piece and follow along with your hand or with the squeegee to apply everything firmly. For smaller parts, it is ok to remove an entire half of the backing paper and then also work from the center outwards, then remove the remaining backing paper and work again from the center outwards.

On flat surfaces, this should work without any problems, but if an air bubble becomes trapped, simply pull up the graphics a little bit and push out the air bubble.

Step 4

Done!

Smooth out the last irregularities with the help of heat and the squeegee. Finally, use the heat gun to heat up all the graphics once again, especially on the edges, and press everything firmly into place, this way the adhesive can develop the best effect.

Leave the finished bike for 24 hours, ideally at room temperature, and touch up the next day if necessary, warm up one last time with the heat gun and push down the graphics where it’s needed.