Question on the steering stem build date decal

I finally have the 900 down to the frame. The bike is in untouched condition. How important is keeping the build date decal? I would like to powdercoat the frame for durability, but can't decide on whether to preserve that decal or not.

PRESERVE IT !!!!!!!!

Post edited by: patmann, at: 2007/09/25 16:57

how would one go about preserving it?

If you are powdercoating, I'm not sure what would hold up to the process...but a simple repaint would require masking the area. Oddly enough, if you are doing a restoration, the decal is what contributes to the validity (= value) of the bike.

Here'a an extract from this
link


There are many ways to mask parts that need to be protected from the coating. Silicone rubber masks, high temperature tape, Teflon tubing, magnetic metal masks all work well. One of the really unique things you can do with powder, especially on a one at a time basis (versus a production line) is to coat the whole thing. Then selectively blow off the areas to be masked with a fine tipped air nozzle. I have used this method many times, and is a lot easier than picking off adhesive tape masks after curing! If you screw up, you just blow the whole thing down and re-coat. It does require some practice / experience, but it sounds much harder than it is.

Thanks, I go with paint.

What type would you recommend? I have a sprayer.

Patton:

"In order to use powder, parts must be able to withstand the curing temperatures of powder. This usually means 350°-450°F for 15-30 minutes. This pretty much rules out plastic substrates and things that might warp like cylinder heads."

I think they were reffering to metal areas that needed to be masked. A thin paper and plastic sticker would not hold up to these temps much less the cleaning process.