Removing stickers

What is the best way to remove stickers, and the residue left behind.

Both my side covers have stickers on them. At one time one of them had a large sticker on it which was removed, leaving it's residue behind. Then they stuck a smaller sticker on it, with the residue from the large one still showing ??

These are sweet original side covers, with the factory paint. If I can remove the sticker mess without damaging anything, these side covers should end up looking almost like new.

Anyone have suggestions on how to deal with this ??

I'm sure this is very old school but I used to remove vinyl graphics back in the 80's we would soak the area with kerosene and and a rag work very well didnt effect the paint wash it off with windex and apply new graphics

I am sure there are special cleaners for it now that are more enviro friendly but it worked great
Ronsol lighter fluid works well without damaging paint pull the vinyl top layer off and just soak and rub

Get a 3M eraser wheel from your local NAPA or online. Peel the sticker off, put the wheel in the drill and go to town. Not to much speed or youll burn through the paint.

I also use zippo fluid but the problem I've found with stickers on bikes is that they're often left on for years with heavy exposure to heat and UV wich breaks down the adhesive resulting in paint damage. Hopefully this is not true for you.
Stay away from products like goo b gone.
These WILL attack the paint and leave you with no other option but to repaint.

WD40 -- allowed to soak in for a minute or so -- often removes the adhesive residue when wiped away, without damaging the finish. Be gentle, and re-apply if not left soaking long enough.

Good Fortune!

Liquid Wrench silicone spray will probably work, but I do not know if it will attack the old stock paint --- probably not if your paint is as tough as the paint that was on my 81 650. The stuff does not affect modern urethane paint --- I use it on my tank & side covers from time to time.

A heat gun, and to a lesser extent, a blow dryer on high, will soften old adhesive, allowing one to peel sticker material off, exposing adhesive...good old mineral spirits or VM&P Naptha on an old t-shirt will safely soften/remove adhesive. Removal of very old stickers CAN reveal discoloration where the original paint has been protected from UV exposure fading.

What Patton said X2

Patton wrote: WD40 -- allowed to soak in for a minute or so -- often removes the adhesive residue when wiped away, without damaging the finish. Be gentle, and re-apply if not left soaking long enough.

Good Fortune!

Believe it or not, but I always only used wax. Like Turtle Wax or any other wax for paint jobs. The solvent in the wax breaks down the glue. It may take a little longer, and little bit more rubbing, but it's obviously made to be rubbed onto paint. Put it on heavy over the glue and let it sit a while.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions !! I will give them a try and see how it goes.

It will make me very happy if I don't damage the paint, and even more happy if there's no discoloration from the stickers.

I have high hopes, since the bike has been sheltered most of it's life...We'll see......

Thanks !!

I used lighter fluid to remove mine. It's cheap and really affective.

I soak the stickers with wd40 and scrape it lightly with a plastic scraper. It always works well.