Ok, so today i removed the hideous pink and purple GS500 decals from my '97's tail.  I also finally plucked the gross looking sky-blue 'SUZUKI' from the rear just above the tail-light.

It's terribly overcast today, so I haven't had a chance to check the bike out in sunlight yet, but it looks about 10,000 times better without the stickers.  the paint that was underneath is somewhat nicer than the surrounding paint, but not enough to be noticeable... at least not in garage light (see above).  I was wondering what options I have for decals.  I was looking at tricktape.com and around on the web and everything just looks lame to me.  I was thinking about a 2x2" red suzuki "S" as far back on the tail as it would go.  I'm only looking to spend a few bills here... no flames licking down the bike or anything like that.

maybe I should leave it 'au naturale'  for a while  :dunno:

hey dude sounds like you good project going there.      a long time ago i had a virago with black paint,and owner before me put a slitz bull sticker on the tank.  after i took it off,in the sun you could still see where it was.  see ya .

Cool.  I want to do the same to my 97.  What did you use to remove?

I just held a little ceramic heater next to the decal and warmed up the decal as I pulled it.  It took all of about 5 minutes to pull each decal.  Then I used some citrus-based degreaser to remove the adhesive residue.  Total time was about 20 minutes.

if my little ceramic room heater worked, then I'm sure a hairdryer would do the trick as well.  The only caveat to this is that my GS has been garage kept its whole life, so it hasn't baked in the sun for 7 years... i'm not sure what that might do to the decals.

The blue 'SUZUKI' on the tail came off without any heating, then I degreased to remove the residue.

piece of cake  

now all that remains is to roll it into the drive on a sunny day and be sure that the area under the stickers doesn't show too obviously.  Sitting in the garage it looks soooo much better.  I can't believe I waited this long to get rid of the decals.

Thanks.  You have inspired me to do this tonight (my valentines gift to the GS).  I still have to order some sort of windsheild.  I like yours.

Thanks

Quotein the sun you could still see where it was.

yeah, when I'm really paying attention and looking with a MagLight, I can see the outline.  Its really pretty paint... midnight with blue metal flake.  Anyway it doesn't seem too drastic, nothing that would catch the eye... you'd have to be looking for it to see it.  And of course as i ride it will only fade more to match the already aged paint (assuming I don't go for a paintjob sometime).  A small price to pay to lose the GS500 decals...

if you've never seen a 97, they picked the most disgusting color combo of all time that year:




and good luck with your project jag69

yeah, ive got a '97 myself, black? w/ blue metal flake., and the decals

quick update... took the bike out for another invigorating 10 minute ride at 30 degrees today   .  In direct sunlight, the removed decal profile is unnoticeable unless you know what you are looking for... I am so glad I pulled those things off.  So glad that I may become the Pablo of decals... "congrats on your new GS, now PEEL THOSE DECALS OFF!!!"  

jag69, how did your removal go?

agree about the decals...

Vtlion, well let's just say it didn't.  I took my Wife and kids out for a Valentine's dinner, then put the kids to bed early, and well........ let's just say no time for the decals.  I will do it tomorrow  

I'll let you know how it went.

Man, you're lucky the decals weren't clear coated!! What year is your bike? My '93 had the pink decals under the clearcoat. Even so, I opted to destroy the clear coat to get rid of the stickers. Then I wetsanded the whole tank and hit it with a few coats of clear out of a rattle can. Not quite as deep as a factory paint job, but unless you really looked at it, it was pretty damn good.

Octane,

The '97 scheme has white 'suzuki' lettering under the clear coat on the tank.  no other decals on the tank like some other years that have that triangular, pointed thingy on the tank  

I was refering to the small, sky-blue 'suzuki' on the tail section above the tail light and the NASTY pink/purple 'GS500' on the sides of the tail section.  Only tail-section decals are off.

I'm thinking about a suzuki "S", red or white, 2"x2" on the sides at the extreme rear of the tail... that would look trick  :mrgreen:

Gotcha. As long as you're doing decals, why don't you design something custom and have a sign shop cut the vinyl for you?  Or just leave it plain! I like to keep 'em guessing - especially since my bike isn't instantly recognizable as a GS500 anymore (at least not by someone who doesn't ride one!)