How to Install Motorcycle Graphics

In this video, I'm going to show you how to install motorcycle graphics using Attack Brand Graphics. Attack makes all sorts of motorcycle and ATV graphics in a variety of styles and for most applications. Attack is probably best known for its pre-cut custom number plate backgrounds. No matter what brand of graphic you install on your bike, following the steps in this video will make the installation much easier. To help with the installation, you're going to want a heat gun, scissors, razor blade, some contact cleaner, and a rag. We're going to start by removing the plastic from the motorcycle, then we can go ahead and clean the plastic. Using a razor blade, we're going to smooth out any of the scratches that may be on the plastic. With the heat gun, we're going to take off any stickers that may be there. When you peel off the stickers, make sure you get all the adhesive off. Regardless of whether you're using new plastic or old plastic, it's critical that you clean it well. New plastic actually comes with a little film of oil on it, so you want to make sure to get that off. We're using contact cleaner, that seems to work the best. However; it will remove the shine from new plastic, so use it with caution. With the plastic prepped, we can go ahead and get the graphics ready. We're going to start by cutting the backing paper off. Installing graphics can be tricky because we're trying to force the flat decal on curved plastic. This is especially difficult on the exhaust-side of most motorcycles. The graphic vinyl material is very flexible and will conform. The key is to install the graphic from the center and work it outwards, while pushing any wrinkles outwards evenly. If you don't do it evenly, you'll have wrinkles concentrated in one area, making them almost impossible to remove. In order to install the graphics from the center, we're going to have to cut out a center strip of the backing paper. Just peel the paper back, cut out your strip, and then apply the rest of the backing paper. Now is a good time to cut out any vent holes or bolt holes in the backing paper, as well. This helps you line the graphic up better. As you can see, we have a small strip cut out horizontally. This is going to allow us to line up the graphic on the number plate without the graphic actually sticking. I'm going to try to conform the graphic to the plate the best I can. Once I feel that it's lined up, I'm going to stick the center of the graphic down. Then once that's stuck in place, I can confirm I'm lined up the way I want to be. Then from there, I'm just going to start working the graphic out slowly. I'm going to start with the bottom. I'm going to peel back the paper on the bottom portion of the graphic, and I'm just going to run my fingers back-and-forth, slowly pushing the graphic out, and pushing any wrinkles or air bubbles out as I go. This takes a little bit of patience and time, but just slowly work your fingers over the graphic, pushing those wrinkles out. Once you get toward the end, you're going to notice that's where the wrinkles are the worst. If you add a little bit of heat with the heat gun or hairdryer, you can push those wrinkles out pretty easy. Be careful with the heat gun, not to get it too hot, you just want to warm it up a little bit to make that vinyl material a little more easy to work with. You definitely don't want to be stretching the vinyl more than you need to. As you warm it up, just push those last little wrinkles out. Once this half the graphic is all done, we can go ahead and start doing the exact same thing on the top part of the graphic. Peel back the paper a little bit, and slowly run your fingers back-and-forth over the vinyl, pushing it onto the number plate. Again, once you get to the end, you're going to have a little more wrinkles. This one wasn't too bad; I actually didn't even need to put any heat on this. But regardless, when I'm all done, I like to throw a little heat on, at least around the edges. This keeps the vinyl conformed to the plastic, helps it stick a little bit better. And there you have it. To install the airbox graphics, I'm going to make sure the airbox is cleaned really well. I'm going to use contact cleaner once again. Wipe it down really well. Jumping to the other side of the bike, I'm going to put the number plate on, this way I can line the graphics up on the airbox to the number plate; make sure all the stripes or design elements line up correctly. Then I'm just going to slowly work it on. Just like we did with the number plates, I'm just going to peel the paper back a little bit to help me line it up, then I can slowly push any wrinkles or air bubbles out. Once it's in place, I'm going to do the same thing with the heat gun. I'm going to warm it up a little bit. This will keep any wrinkles from popping up, especially on those edges. I want to show you how to install graphics using the Attack Graphics Application Kit. The application kit works best on flatter surfaces, so we're going to use it on the front number plate. Whether you use the application kit or not, just like the side plates, you want to start in the center and work the graphic out. Only with the front plate, we're going to start vertically and work the graphic out horizontally. We're going to start by putting the application fluid on both the graphic and the number plate. That application fluid allows you to line the graphic up; it keeps the graphic from sticking entirely so you can get the graphic lined up exactly how you want it. Once it's lined up, we're going to start in the center, and we're just going to start pushing the graphic outward from the center, using the squeegee. Using the squeegee, we're going to be able to get any air bubbles, wrinkles, and the application fluid to push right out of the graphic as we install it. Continue to work the graphic on with the squeegee. Give the graphic a few hours for the application fluid to evaporate, and then run your fingers over the graphics to make sure everything adhered correctly, especially in the tight spots. Then you're done. It's easy to give your bike or ATV a factory look with graphics. Just be patient and make sure everything is clean. Rocky Mountain stocks a huge supply of graphics. For more information, give us a call or visit our website, at www.RockyMountainATVMC.com.