OE vinyl on fairings, OK to sand for paint

[redciv1]

I just wanted to know if it was ok to sand down the oe stickers on the fairings when I am sanding the body. I will be using 80 grit.

[rexazz2]

I would suggest removing vinyl by other methods ,cause you are going to hit adhesive and that will be a mess

http://katriders.com/vb/showthread.php?t=80754&highlight=remove+decals

[redciv1]

Thansk for the link. I think I will try the boiling water first.

[Scout]

When I took mine off, I simply used a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive a bit, and peeled the sticker off. All remaining adhesive came right off with a bit of Goo Gone.

[ctandc]

Peeling the sticker works well with a heat gun or hair dryer..but you still have to clean the adhesive.

If you plan on repainting anyway, and if the stickers are older than a few years old, just hit it with 120 grit sandpaper. It'll take it right off.

Although an EASIER way (meaning less work) is to buy one of the 'eraser' or 'magic' wheels for your drill. It's like a giant pencil eraser, and you just 'buff' the sticker and adhesive off. Be easy with though, it'll remove the sticker and adhesive without alot of 'gorilla' assistance.

[JZ67]

When I took mine off, I simply used a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive a bit, and peeled the sticker off. All remaining adhesive came right off with a bit of Goo Gone.

[katman9680]

Peeling the sticker works well with a heat gun or hair dryer..but you still have to clean the adhesive.

If you plan on repainting anyway, and if the stickers are older than a few years old, just hit it with 120 grit sandpaper. It'll take it right off.

Although an EASIER way (meaning less work) is to buy one of the 'eraser' or 'magic' wheels for your drill. It's like a giant pencil eraser, and you just 'buff' the sticker and adhesive off. Be easy with though, it'll remove the sticker and adhesive without alot of 'gorilla' assistance.

The eraser wheels are definately the way to go! but On the plastic yo have to go slow and easy or you will mar the plastic.

[kharma]

i did not need to use anything to take off the vinyl on mine.. it came right off by pulling veeeeeeeeery slowwwwwwwwwwly. at a 90 degree angle.

[redciv1]

i tested the 80 grit on a small section and seems pretty good. I got down to the adhesive seems like. It is all white but is flush with the paint around it. Gonna try some more today.

I forgot to mention the bike is a 94 600 with 14K. Original paint and graphics. I tried to pill off but did not work.

[katanawarrior]

Yeh ... i think the adhesive on the stock vinyl could have held the titanic together. Sanding it if your already sanding won't hurt anything. Just make sure you prep/clean your fairings VERY well before laying any paint down, other wise, you get to start over, which sucks

[redciv1]

Tried a little more today after work and it worked. Whew, that is a lot of sanding. I think I'm going to look for a wheel for the drill. Those graphics on the main fairings are huge. I have the Red with Pink, lavender and red graphics.

[redciv1]

That boiling water is definitely the trick. My kettle is small, but it is quick and messy free. BTW, the S U Z U K I letters are invdividual, what a pain, lol.