How To: Installing Graphics

[Woody_393]

**Disclaimer - My process works, but may not be the best one... And be prepared to take some time, because it is a time consuming process!**

Ok, I'm sick of Zoo asking for these on every thread... So here they are. I'll post the ones of them on the bike when they are actually on the bike.

I thought I would also document the process of putting the stickers on the shrouds since quite frankly, I was scared to do it. I really didn't want to screw them up. But it was actually quite easy. Just make sure you have a hair dryer or heat gun, since that seems to help a lot.

Ok, here's the supplies (what I used anyway):
Windex - or whatever like it. (I've been told that good old soapy water is better since it doesn't affect the adhesive).
Alcohol
Cotton swabs
utility knife
hair dryer



One naked Shroud and One Graphic:



Now use the alcohol and cotton swab to clean the shroud plastic so it is nice and clean with no human oil or any other residue on it.

Then take the backing off the graphic. Take the windex and from a distance spray the sticky side of the graphic. When you spray it though, don't spray it directly as this puts too much on them and they won't stick at all (at least not until they dry a bit... Trust me don't put too much), indirectly spray them, e.g., I put them on the table and then sprayed the windex so it would fall from the air on them... Hope that made sense. It gave it 2 squirts.

Then do the same to the shroud. Same method, same # of squirts. I guess you could probably just do it to one of them, but I'm documenting *My* process so take it or leave it.

Now pick a spot that you want to start with and try to line everything up before putting the graphic on the plastic.

Initially you can move the graphic around so try to get it lined up as well as you can while you can still move it.

Now lay the graphic on the top of the shroud, and start working from the inside going out on the section you chose to start with. Once you have it where you want it, move to the next section. Go in sequential order, meaning, go from where you started and work your way around, always starting from the middle so you get the bubbles out.

In this picture I have done the front part of the shroud. The back part is touching but hasn't been worked yet.



I found that using the hair dryer helped in the process of getting the graphics to mold around the edges. Once they were heated you could do whatever you needed to them. I also found the hair dryer helpful if I really screwed one section up, because heating it will allow you to lift the graphic back off the plastic so you can get those bubbles that just won't move.

I also recommend trying this first on something a little easier, and less expensive. I bought graphics for my fork guards as well, and they were only $15 for the set, so I figured I'd start with them since they are less expensive if I really jack them up.

[Woody_393]

Here is a pic of the finished fork guards:



Different view:



Finish Shroud:



And Finally, All of them finished... Sans Bike.



I thought they turned out pretty good don't you? Now I just need to get them on the bike.

[Yardpro393]

looks sweet woody, great job

[psyklone393]

turned out great! you're right on about doing fork guards first if it's the first time you've put graphics on, that's what i did too so that i could get a feel for getting the graphics lined up and air bubbles out and not having to worry about screwing up something big like a shroud or tank graphic.

-Z

[YZ450Thumper]

Great job! Looks awesome!

John

[ThuMPerCR125]

They look excellent! great job!

very good write up on how to apply the graphics too, thanks.

[Imahoot393]

WOW Woody! Those look great. Nice description of the process too. Thank you.

[Dirtbikindad393]

Wow nice looking graphics now I want to pick some out and put them on my plain jane of a bike. Great write up Woody. KB?

[MATTXR250R]

Woody those are AWESOME,GREAT JOB. Those graphics are gonna look sweet on the bike. Did you get a matching seat cover?

[Racer#857]

nice, they look sweet on the black shroud.

[zoohoot393]

Sweet Woody, they look great. Excellent step-by-step write up. Now...we need some pics of them on the bike

[motomatrix00]

Yeaaaa!! Woody that was an excellent step-by-step description of the process. And they look awesome!!!
I’m going to do mine today.
I agree whit the guys ...we need some pics of your bike now. It’s a perfect day for that in Utah.
Don’t you thing?

[Mecrazyperson]

GREAT step by step wright up, Looking killer where are the picks of the hole bike now? with all the new shrouds.

[Jason]

lookin good woody, just need the finished pics on the bike. the graphics look much better on the plastics.

[TexasDirtNap393]

Graphics look great but what about the tank ? How ya gonna keep those graphics from yellowing ? Make sure you ask the question before you put anything on the tank cause yellow-brown on the graphics looks like crap.

Gonna be a sweet lookin bike when we see the final pics ! Nice work. Good writeup.