Reproduction decals install tips

I am having my local body shop paint my body set for my 76 Kz900LTD the oem red color from paintworkz. I also bought the striping kit from reproduction decals. However , my painter doesn't want to do the decals. So my question is : how hard are these to put on? I have tried to do decals once before and had trouble getting the actual vinyl off of the backing paper. Any tips would be greatly appreciated . I just don't want to screw these up.

If it was mine, I would find another painter; one who had experience painting motorcycles with decals. I would expect the painter to apply the clearcoat OVER the decals as the factory did on some models (such as on the fuel tank on the KZ650-C1). There's no way the painter should expect you to apply the decals then return the items to the painter to finish the job. Ed

I would get good pictures of the orininal decals on a stock bike and find someone that made and installed vinyl decals. Someone that letters trucks for example. Roy

Bring the stuff to a sign shop.

Just talked to another guy who has done them before and he said to check out a sign shop also. Said the trick is to get all the air out from underneath them.

I used to work at a sign shop. Do they come pre masked? If not, you need to mask the front(a sign shop is well equipped for this) and then tape the whole deal onto wherever you're putting it. Then you peel off the backing, smooth down the masking and decal, since you've already positioned it where you want it. You smooth it down with a plastic squeegeee, and you dont have to worry about scratching the paint since its all masked, so you can press hard. Once its all smoothed out, you peel off the masking carefully and you're done!!

Sounds good , Thanks

Reproduction Decals should have sent detailed instructions with the decals. They are trickey to put on since the decal sheets are flat and the parts are curved, but if you follow the instructions and wet the parts you can pull them off if they go on crooked and try again. And it is important to follow their dry times for paint and reclearing.

Make sure you have a spray bottle handy. Keep everything wet and you will be ok.


I put these stripes on my car in about 30 minutes.

you will be re-doing em......you did buy extra sets right..

i am not being a dick...any idea why the guy with experience told you he does not want to do em..,


they are work even for the best and there is great gap in the look.. between done perfect..... and everything else imo


at close to 200 with shipping a set it aint like changing tires....if the guy has not started painting yet p.m me for a better painters info

i researched it and talked to the pro

i decided that i had waited 25 yrs to have a bitchen paint job and i decided like you to do a perfect stock look and wanted it to pop....why go through all that to try for the mark and then try and teach and learn on this paint job....not me....i wanted the best...i had waited years...200 in paint and 200 in decals before i even get it to the post office...forget about the painters bucks!!and all the time and effort...it was going to have to be right....it is