Ok so vinyl wrap??

[GS1150Pilot]

It comes off pretty easily if you are using high quality wrap. That said, if it's been on for longer than, say, a year, it will still be some serious work to remove. I have removed one wrap on mine before having it done in the new color. Good for about 5 years-longer if you garage it.

 

[80GS850GBob]

Sorry, but that ain't the same with auto grade vinyl. 3M is by far the best wrap. Avery has a great color selection, but has adhesion and grip issues. The guy who did my bike wraps Lamborghinis, etc., and he won't touch anything other than 3M unless the customer signs a waiver. Lesser stuff would be even worse. Why start off half-@ssed if you want something good? If your carbs need overhauling, taking them off just to spray them down with carb cleaner won't give the best results.

Here's a good overview on automotive vinyl:

http://wickedwraps.net/about/wraps-explained/

There's a vinyl red metal flake out there....looks total old school paint job {70's} but the vast majority of the reviews on it say it doesn't stick for "#@! even with adhesion promoter spray...have to pass.

My burl wood vinyl is 3M, but my matt red chrome is Vvivid..........what's your take on Vvivid?

 

[80GS850GBob]

we have a sign/print shop here at the university, the "expensive" vinyl and the "cheap" vinyl are manufactured in the same plant.... the expensive is just "drop shipped" to us. we cut the middle man out. we do have some wrap material, looks EXACTLY like the expensive stuff, but it is the cheap stuff...again... you can't tell the difference between what is expensive and cheap. side by side, no difference, not even the backing. the patterns match up everything. level of expertise I will agree with... a good mechanic can make sh*t out of shine-ola. The base material seems to be the same for the custom work we have done, what you pay for is the "custom pattern". anything that is normal sale...like wood grain, camo, electric, etc. comes from the factory that way, honestly, they come in the same box regardless if they are "expensive" or "cheap" with the wrap and what we use for vinyl signage. can't hurt to give it a go

Can you toss us brand names on those vinyls?....I'd be curious of this....

 

[80GS850GBob]

Well with what im trying to do its going to be expensive.. custom print plust install is deffo gonna be $$

Our local shop {Phat Bros} can print custom stuff and laminate it, which is what makes it expensive. It's pretty darn hard to lay a layer of any vinyl and then try to add a clear protective layer over that....Laminate is a better way to go if one has the money.

My two cents {fwiw}-
-get a quote for custom printed/laminated vinyl and install.

-Next option, find a vinyl background color you like {that light turquoise is gonna be a hard one to find in a solid color though}, then find a good AB painter to paint the flowers/stems/petals onto the vinyl using hand cut friskets or spray templates ...then you could 2k clear over that.

...see which one appeals to you finish/money wise....

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

A pattern like this would be cool too

 

[80GS850GBob]

Lol...I was going to suggest "tiger"....just don't do cow{kaw?}.......

 

[GS1150Pilot]

There's a vinyl red metal flake out there....looks total old school paint job {70's} but the vast majority of the reviews on it say it doesn't stick for "#@! even with adhesion promoter spray...have to pass.

My burl wood vinyl is 3M, but my matt red chrome is Vvivid..........what's your take on Vvivid?

Like I said, the guy who did mine does $5000 auto wraps Monday through Friday, and he says 3M is in a league of its own. I trust his knowledge, since he's been doing these things for eight years.

 

[limeex2]

Like I said, the guy who did mine does $5000 auto wraps Monday through Friday, and he says 3M is in a league of its own. I trust his knowledge, since he's been doing these things for eight years.

I work for 3m automotive. What other uses does this film have? If they can corner a market they will do it and do it so good no one can touch it. Has anyone here done this? If so, what did it run?

 

[Blue Falcon]

Can you toss us brand names on those vinyls?....I'd be curious of this....

im on vacation til the 20th, will get the brand names then

 

[80GS850GBob]

im on vacation til the 20th, will get the brand names then

Great.....this isn't a witch hunt or anything....just curiosity. Take for example the kenmore brand.....while labeled as such, those who know it know that it's always made by some other company and simply rebadged with the kenmore name ...it's just who?

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Save for the fact that sign grade vinyls are not the same as automotive vinyls, and that in the world of automotive vinyl, 3M remains at the top of the hill.

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

Lol...I was going to suggest "tiger"....just don't do cow{kaw?}.......

Definitely no cow hahaah, been wanting to do something in rainbow zebra/tiger since high school though.. that may be the ticket

 

[dorkburger]

Ted Nugent would approve.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

He might shoot first and approve later, but he would approve.

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

Haha he's a beast man

 

[GS1150Pilot]

He's only hominid, but definitely not the sapient variety.

Looks like you are going to have a fun bike, Brandon.

 

[Guest]

How about hydro dipped?

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Looks interesting, but what is the total cost?

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

Not a fan, panel's on my snapon box are hydro dipped its only a year and a half old and peeling and rusting

 

[BurntKittyForge]

I vinyl wrapped the plastics on my GSX1100G with "3D carbon fiber" , cheap stuff from eBay.
It had horrible paint to begin with. I didn't want to deal with too much sanding, but there's one scratch I lightly sanded and thought, "good enough" and it shows right through. (It's a "keyed" type scratch on one side/tail panel).
From time to time I spray some rustoleum 2x coverage clear gloss on the vinyl. Figure it'll help it last longer.

I'm very pleased with the results, BUT if/when I have it to do again, I'll use real carbon fiber and fiberglass resin over the plastics next time.
Carbon fiber can be found for less than expected these days ,and it would add functional strength.

Someday I'd like to get into sand casting, like the smoother "green sand casting" techniques (as seen youtube) and aluminum sand cast ,molded from the plastics. Fairing and all. probably would be unique/wild to see all polished aluminum body work...

The vinyl usually has tiny pin holes to reduce/ prevent bubbles and IF they're not sealed (like the clear coat mentioned), wax , oil, silicone spray, causes the adhesive to loosen as it seeps through by the way.

For a colorful pattern and the "carbon" it comes out ok overlapped. (I avoided cutting curves and overlapping except spots covered by components, still looked ok though there).
It's sort of the opposite of painting applying the stuff ,because I've found it best to work very slowly and redo spots by lifting it back works. Applying heat, and stretching the stuff, curves etc. is a darn learning experience.
Hope to see some pics if/when you go for it.

Oh, one chic (from the motorcycle course) asked me to help look out for a 150 scooter for her, especially in "red" she wanted. I was thinking right away, IF I found a project one to fix up for her I'd go straight for red vinyl wrap at the end, would've come out alright, i think...