So a buddy of mine just got a gs500
but the problem is the bike is red with pink factory decals on the side

The decals all say gs500 and then are surrounded by what is supposed to look like pink spray paint streaks on the tank and on the back side panels

These would be really sweet if he were a girl and it were 1991 and he could rock the bike while listening to M.C. Hammer but seeing as how he isn't and it isn't  :mrgreen: how do we get them off w/o hurting the paint or the palstic in the back

For the ones on the rear plastic, warm them up well with a heat gun or hairdrier and peel them off. Then buff lightly with 3M adhesive remover or goof off or some other goop remover.

The ones on the tank are clearcoated: can't take them off without damage to the paint. You can cut the clearcoat around them with a razor blade and then peel them off like above, but the paint under it won't be clearcoated.

I found the best trick id to use a heat gun and warm the decals up.  Once warm they peel off with fingernails/tweezers.
When I bought my '92 it was purple with the hideous pink decals and had to go.  I tried all kinds of solvents to no avail.  After giving up on the solvent I tried a hair dryer, but with mine being as old as it is it wasn't getting hot enough to melt the glue...so I bought an Ace Hardware heat gun for $15 and they were off in 15 minutes.


Good Luck

Here's to peeling off those LAME looking decals!!!!   It's worth the effort.  

I ended up using a ceramic room heater to warm mine up and they were gone in 10 minutes

I have a '97, so thankfully there were no lame decals under the clearcoat on the tank... just a nice, white "suzuki" lettering  :mrgreen:

I took my Pick decals off my faded red bike haha
The tank still has pick and purple stickers though haha

Thinking of painting it flat black, then just spray some cheap clearcoat over that so it won't get all scratched up

Believe me, you gotta BELIEVE me........you will NOT get these "stickers" off and still have your side panels looking smooth and pristine. I tried goo-off, goo be gone, gasoline, lacquer/paint thinner, coleman fuel, a hair dryer, single edged razor blade, nail polish remover, soaking in a scalding hot tub of water, soap and water, rubbing alcohol, and acetone. You WILL get the "stickers" off eventually but you will be left with the adhesive mess behind and when you get through it will look like hell. The ONLY way to remedy all of this and save yourself time and grief is to take it to someone that paints for a living (not out of a spray can) and get them to sand this mess off and repaint it for you. It is worth it and not expensive.
Mine finally FINALLY came out beautifully. Looks just like the factory did it.
I don't know WHY Suzuki does not hand you the decals in a box when you buy the bike and let You decide if you want them on or not. These dime-ass decals are a hassle and look like shaZam! if you ask me. Very unprofessional and dime store "looking". By the way my machine was only a year old when I did this and kept in a shed. So my decals didn't have years to bake on like others that you might've read about.  Hope this helps you...................Wilson

hm... thats funny.  mine took 10 minutes with heater and two wipe-downs with some bug/grease remover and my tail section looked sweeeeeet.

not sure why you had so much trouble with yours... maybe different adhesive was used different years?

You can also get a wheel for a drill or an angle grinder that is made to remove decals. I have heard it work wonders and leave the paint intact. I have not used it or seen it myself.
3M Adhesive cleaner and some elbow grease work wonders on the goop.

I've seen those used.  They work great.  don't damage the paint at all.  I'm not sure how expensive they are thought.

It took me about half an hour, with a blow dryer and WD-40 to pull the blue '03 stickers off of my new tailsection to put on my black '02.  Don't know what to tell you about the clearcoated tank decals.  Maybe JoeRocket or somebody makes CE armoured hammer pants you could wear.  Then you'd look the part at least.

I think it all depends on age and exposure.  I took mine off and I still have one side to finish cause it was a B!tch to get off.  I tried the haridryer, googone and all the standards.  Missed the 3M stuff cause everywhere I went they either didn't see it or we out.  I will have to go back and look again.

Tell me more about this wheel for a drill or angle grinder...  sounds hopeful.

Here it is:
http://www.handsontools.com/store/show_product/?product_id=4109

Kinda of pricey, but probably cheaper than buying all goop removers on the shelf.

Yeah I had a really hard time also. My situation is a little different though. I used chemical paint remover and the decal came right off real quick, but the adhesive didn't. i tried goo goon and some other crap but nothin worked i ended up using more paint remover. the only reason i could get awaywith this is because i am planning on painting.

I may just try that Stripe wheel...  Thanks!