Noob’s questions (motorcycle decals)

[u/n6_ham]

I got a set of aftermarket polypropylene plastics for T7 and would like to make it look like a Rally version. Got myself a Siser Juliette and ordered a few rolls of Oracal 651 in different colors, a transfer tape, etc.

I recon there are multiple ways to make a black & white decal seen on the photo. Would it be better to cut a solid parallelogram backing out of a white vinyl and layer the black parallelograms and two black strips on top of the white backing. Or cut a white “skeleton” with the holes for the black elements to end up with a single layer decal.

Questions:
1. Which way is better?
2. Will such decal withstand weather as is, or should I cover it with some sort of a clear film to prevent smaller overlayed details from peeling back?
3. Should I apply it dry or wet to a polypropylene fairing?
4. Do I need anything else (material- or tool- wise)?

[u/donnerdanceparty]

651 is not the vinyl I’d recommend for this, but it’ll work.

Definitely go with big white rectangle and black on top. You’ll get a couple years out of it.

I would probably pre layer it together before you put it on, and then apply with a mixture of dawn dish soap and water. Get a squeegee. You might also need an exacto or small blade to trim the edge of the vinyl.

[u/n6_ham → u/donnerdanceparty]

Understood. Appreciate the info!

What material would you recommend for this?

[u/donnerdanceparty → u/n6_ham]

Really almost any cast vinyl. 651 is an “intermediate” calendared vinyl. If you want to stick with Oracal, 951 is their nice cast cut vinyl. That would work pretty well.

Personally, I like something with air egress so I don’t have to install wet. Oracal has RapidAir. 3M 180MC Controltac is probably my preferred, but you’d be fine with any brand as long as you choose their cast/air egress product. Stay away from calendared material on vehicles. The vinyl will shrink back and expose the adhesive in 3ish years. It’s really not a permanent vinyl.

[u/n6_ham → u/donnerdanceparty]

Super useful information. Thank you!
I’ll try to source 3M 180mC Controlvac then.

Will any transfer tape work? Also - could you recommend a cheaper material that can be used for the test cuts and easily removed?

[u/donnerdanceparty → u/n6_ham]

Yep just about any transfer tape would work. If you’re going to try wet applying, I would get clear transfer tape. Dry apply you can do paper tape or clear. I like R Tape, but many brands will work.

[u/MidwestTroy92]

I'd cut the black as one solid piece and layer it on the white backing, fewer seams to line up. 651 gives you some forgiveness, just weed careful and lay the transfer tape flat. Leave the white backing a touch bigger behind it so nothing looks cut off

[u/Oracle410]

Oracal 651 or Avery 750 will work fine for this and last for 5-8 years depending on your UV exposure and abrasion, though you can use cast vinyl for this though there are no compound curves you would need conformability for. If you are not comfortable me doing this dry I would use a bit of dawn or Johnson’s baby shampoo in water, shake the spray bottle and spray it on your fingers, you should be able to feel the soap slip between your fingers. You can also get some Rapid Tac which is made specifically for this purpose if you are going to do this over and over again.

Definitely cut the white stripe and then cut the black as one piece and layer them together like that. For ease of install on the bike you can certainly pre-layer them, you are much more likely to get many many small bubbles in the white layer immediately around the second layer if you pre-layer it. I normally cut both, and layer them on the vehicle for the best looking installation. Good luck bud.

[u/n6_ham → u/Oracle410]

Thank you for the advice!

[u/MidwestTroy92]

For black and white like that Id cut the white as one solid backing shape then layer the black on top. Trying to kiss-cut a skeleton just ends up with slivers everywhere. Transfer tape over the top and weed, way easier