Stock paint has crooked emblem, clear coating over it, what to do?

[oldGSfan]

My red bike got a fresh 2K clear coat, which looks quite nice. The blue bike's bodywork is not quite as good, but it's OK and will look fine with clear. Unfortunately, the tail section has a crooked emblem that's giving me grief. It's stock paint. Somebody goofed in Suzuki-land. I've written a letter to them (kidding).

It was also cracked from the sun and looked bad. In prep for the 2K, I sanded it back. But it's still hanging around and I'm not sure I should go any further. See the pic and pardon the paper towel fluff. When I spray water on it the paint looks great, and my experience is that 2K clear will do the same.

Choices that occur to me.

1) Keep sanding it back. I'm worried I'll break into the paint
2) Lay the new decal over the old, all crooked-like. That sort of stinks, maybe it shouldn't bug me.
3) Lay the new decal over but straight. I think it may look janky It's also off-center vertically. It seems to me anyway.
4) Try dissolving it with Goof Off
5) Consult a psychiatrist.

The decal is abutting the straight part of the cowling pretty much where it should be alignment-wise.

[Cipher]

Several very sharp razors to score the perimeter then score a medial line to beneath the decal.
lift and with a suitable spatula and solvent work away

[Rob S.]

Ride the Norton. All necessities provided, all anxieties tranquilized, all boredom amused.

[Big Block]

Try dissolving it. If that doesn't work I would see if I could find a matching colour spray bomb. If you can then I would keep trying and if you do end up with a blemish you can fog it in with colour before clearing.

[oldGSfan]

Ride the Norton. All necessities provided, all anxieties tranquilized, all boredom amused.

I have only just gotten to the point where I am confident it's not going to blow up after 1000 miles. I'm a worrier - this is basically me....

[oldGSfan]

OK, good suggestions. I am a little leery of using a razor for fear of going too deep and scratching it. As for spray, I have researched a lot and no can's a direct match, some close but different flake sizes. There are a lot of threads and I think I read them all. Some recommend having it matched by a paint store and they will make a can. I tried several shops in my area and none would do that. Maybe try a bit more Goo gone. I have some xylene which is pretty strong but may be too much so.

[Big Block]

Have you tried warming the decal with a hair drier and carefully trying it to lift it with a razor blade? I know it's tricky with it being so old.

[oldGSfan]

Have you tried warming the decal with a hair drier and carefully trying it to lift it with a razor blade? I know it's tricky with it being so old.

I think I will give that a try. I can't tell if I'm through the clear completely on all of it, but I guess I'll find out.

[Cipher]

I think I will give that a try. I can't tell if I'm through the clear completely on all of it, but I guess I'll find out.

Be vary careful with heat you may well peel a large swathe of clear completely off along with specks of colour coat down to metal.
A metal block to sand the centre of the decal may get you through to a point where you can peel it away but again peeling without scoring may well pull off more than you bargained for.

There is one useful youtuber out there who shows a stripe being removed from a tank's "spine" but it involves an aggressive sanding and is on a newish part.
if you use a never dull razor swapping to new more frequently than you think you have to and cut in an angle so the tip is under the edge you should be fine.

Maybe make friends with a dermatologist they can wield a blade with shocking accuracy and sensitivity.

[oldGSfan]

Be vary careful with heat you may well peel a large swathe of clear completely off along with specks of colour coat down to metal.
A metal block to sand the centre of the decal may get you through to a point where you can peel it away but again peeling without scoring may well pull off more than you bargained for.

There is one useful youtuber out there who shows a stripe being removed from a tank's "spine" but it involves an aggressive sanding and is on a newish part.
if you use a never dull razor swapping to new more frequently than you think you have to and cut in an angle so the tip is under the edge you should be fine.

Maybe make friends with a dermatologist they can wield a blade with shocking accuracy and sensitivity.

Thanks, great info. it's ABS underneath. I am nervous with a blade, frankly. My fine digital motor skills ain't what they used to be.. (she said). I will do some research on that razor etc before diving in. I have finished the bike except for the bodywork and don't want to screw it up now. I'm trying to imagine peeling it off cleanly, that would be ideal but it's delicate work. Maybe a combination of a bit of heat, nothing crazy, some scoring, and some solvent which may get into the scoring and loosen it up enough to lift?

[chuck hahn]

get some adhesive remover from paint supply store. it wont hurt the paint. red shop rag provides a litte abrasiveness. spray on and let it set a few minutes and then get after it

That or just sand it off and repaint it

[Big Block]

I have one of those eraser wheel thinkgies for a drill but I've never had much luck with it. Thing is you can try it somewhere else but each decal is differernt I find. I use to peel lots of them off trucks, trailers and containers, but they aren't as delicate as a loved old bike.