Sticker removal - a cautionary tale..

8142 Views 17 Replies 11 Participants Last post by junipertoxic, Jun 19, 2019

E.J.

Discussion Starter · Apr 21, 2017 (Edited)

2

So I removed that sticker from the fuel tank (y'know the one: "Put petrol in me when I'm empty, try not to set me on fire, etc. etc.") today, but I managed to make a right old mess of it!

I think the central tank panel is covered with some sort of vinyl, rather than being painted, going by how it looked when I peeled off a good two inches square! @James Barber managed to perform a sticker-ectomy with much more success (here: http://www.xsr700forums.com/forum/49930-post341.html); the difference is, I didn't heat mine up before I peeled it off, so I guess that's the trick. Oops..

I've covered it up using a really rather naff-looking tank protector; doesn't look very good, as the colour's a mismatch (but not enough of a mismatch to look deliberate!) and it's still not a very good fit for the shape of the panel, even after having trimmed it. It actually looks worse in person; the photograph doesn't do it justice (or, er, does it too much justice, I guess?) so I may try to replace it with a fancier tank pad at some point, if I come across one, but it's the sort of thing I reckon I can live with so I doubt I'll be spending much on it or replacing the panel or owt!

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PazzoTazzo75

· #2 · Apr 21, 2017

E.J. said:
So I removed that sticker from the fuel tank (y'know the one: "Put petrol in me when I'm empty, try not to set me on fire, etc. etc.") today, but I managed to make a right old mess of it!

I think the central tank panel is covered with some sort of vinyl, rather than being painted, going by how it looked when I peeled off a good two inches square! @James Barber managed to perform a sticker-ectomy with much more success (here: http://www.xsr700forums.com/forum/49930-post341.html); the difference is, I didn't heat mine up before I peeled it off, so I guess that's the trick. Oops..

I've covered it up using a really rather naff-looking tank protector; doesn't look very good, as the colour's a mismatch (but not enough of a mismatch to look deliberate!) and it's still not a very good fit for the shape of the panel, even after having trimmed it. It actually looks worse in person; the photograph doesn't do it justice (or, er, does it too much justice, I guess?) so I may try to replace it with a fancier tank pad at some point, if I come across one, but it's the sort of thing I reckon I can live with so I doubt I'll be spending much on it or replacing the panel or owt!

**** EJ, would this cover it?
https://www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk/prod...ccessories&partcode=B34-F4841-00-00&year=2017

or this:
http://shop.sw-motech.com/cgi-bin/c...showrub--brands.yamaha.xsr700&typid=252285483

There's quite a few options that'll look better than the tank pad imo!

Steve

chop_juice

· #3 · Apr 21, 2017

Hey, is removing the sticker actually removing the paint?!! I removed mine on first day with no heat and dead easy. If a residue is left on tank use wd40 or similar. Or even better.... sticky stuff remover. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mykal-Sticky-Stuff-Remover-250ml/dp/B000TAT4GM ...its amazing stuff!! Admited i did use sticky stuff remover to get rid of residue.

Jeeper

· #4 · Apr 22, 2017

I removed mine on day 1 as well and it just came off easily. No resistance at all. Or a mess.

mattswan2512

· #5 · Apr 22, 2017

Ej have you cut and polished the surface?

E.J.

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 22, 2017

Thanks for your advice, all!

@PazzoTazzo75, yeah, I think either of those'd fit nicely. Good finds, thanks! Don't think I'll be spending that much right now, but p'raps in future..

@chop_juice, It doesn't appear to be painted - it seems as though there's some sort of glossy covering (I'm guessing vinyl), that's vacuum-wrapped over bare plastic. There's no sticky residue on the exposed patch, and the section that came off didn't flake off like paint - it came away as a loose sheet, almost like fabric, stuck to the back of the sticker. (I'm can vouch for sticky-stuff remover, though - as you say, it really is great stuff!)

@mattswan2512 D'you mean to try and buff out the mark? It's not like a scuff or scratch in a painted surface - it's a physical, plastic-ey glossy covering (like I say, I'm guessing vinyl) that's missing, I'm afraid!

mattswan2512

· #7 · Apr 22, 2017

Ah im with ya.... its taken the gloss top coat off the vinyl cover then.....bummer mate....what about a custom made xsr sticker? Maybee £20 and u can have whatever u want ?

kenme

· #8 · Apr 22, 2017

Took the sticker off today without pre-heating on my Garage Metal XSR. No problem what so ever. Is it only the 60th Anniversary XSR color scheme that has this glossy vinyl cover?

Ben

· #9 · Apr 22, 2017

E.J., I'll go to the dealer If I were you. Maybe It's a malfunction.

chop_juice

· #10 · Apr 22, 2017

Hi EJ, how long have you had bike? Still under warranty? Without mentioning sticker Id be taking back to dealer and asking why vinyl is peeling from tank.

Other option ...this may be your saviour?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222402994300

Or use as a chance to go full custom and spray a new colour?

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chop_juice

· #11 · Apr 22, 2017

Ah, just realised its a marked item, doh.

Artorius

· #12 · Apr 22, 2017 (Edited)

I removed the small with alcohol and I took some paint from the outer layer

. Not really a big deal.

For the big one I used a hairdryer to warm it up and went off easily.

I´m surprised how easily the paint fades in this bike. Disappointed.

P.S: My color is tech black.

mattswan2512

· #13 · Apr 22, 2017

Its widely reported that yamaha paint is wafer thin.....

E.J.

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 23, 2017 (Edited)

@mattswan2512 - A custom vinyl sticker, that's a good shout! They seem to be only a few quid a pop. Would definitely be in yellow, so would hafta figure out a way to get an accurate digital representation of the bike's "Kenny Roberts Yellow" colour to email to the sticker printer, though!

@Ben, @chop_juice - Going back to the dealer is another good plan - they're pretty cool, and it would o'course be free! They're a little way away from me though; I might swing by theirs next time I'm nearby, just to put it to them and see what they say...

TheCrow

· #15 · Apr 25, 2017

This is very interesting... hmm :O

I didn't think the paint would damage that easily though, gotta keep this in mind!

Tigerjohn

· #16 · Apr 25, 2017

I'd recommend always using a bit of gentle heat (eg hair dryer) before trying to remove any label. It will soften the adhesive and minimise any chance of lifting paint or lacquer. Clean up any glue residue with WD40 and then polish the tank. One day, perhaps, manufacturers will stop putting these daft labels on our fuel tanks - I guess it'll be when the bureaucrats or company lawyers say so!

Reactions: 1

Artorius

· #17 · Apr 25, 2017

Tigerjohn said:
I'd recommend always using a bit of gentle heat (eg hair dryer) before trying to remove any label. It will soften the adhesive and minimise any chance of lifting paint or lacquer. Clean up any glue residue with WD40 and then polish the tank. One day, perhaps, manufacturers will stop putting these daft labels on our fuel tanks - I guess it'll be when the bureaucrats or company lawyers say so!

Amen

junipertoxic

· #18 · Jun 19, 2019

2018 red one and mine didn't come off easy either. It's still half on there. Have tried both heat and light solvents, gonna just have to scrape it bit by bit.

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