Hey All - I'm new to the forum having just bought a '93 GS500E last Saturday. Everything I've read about this bike has been great.

The bike is red with silver lettering over pink paint effects decals. I'm sure many of you are familiar with that scheme. I'd like to remove them and wonder what the best way is to do that without damaging the paint finish. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

I'm always a fan and have used an eraser wheel. It is literally a giant round eraser that goes on a drill and takes off decals or pinstripes and does not damage the paint. You can also use alcohol and a hair dryer

Thanks, weedahoe. Interesting procedure. I'll give it a try on one of the side covers. Where do you get an eraser wheel, by the way?

I'm not saying do it like this, but i just watched this the other night. I would probably rather nail a nail through my foot then do it this way, but he does make a good point on how they or put on the tank.




P.S not sure if its the same strip applied method on the 93 though, probably sticker on 93?

I would NEVER touch my body or paint with a razor. I understand the tank decals are under the clear but if you cut the clear to get the decal off then you exposed the paint

You can get an eraser wheel from most paint supply shops

Quote from: weedahoe on March 05, 2013, 09:23:30 AM
I would NEVER touch my body or paint with a razor. I understand the tank decals are under the clear but if you cut the clear to get the decal off then you exposed the paint

You can get an eraser wheel from most paint supply shops

I'm not sure if the eraser well will do much with those layers of clear coat covering sticker, however I do not think the 93 is done the same way as the new models? I think its just a sticker in which case like you stated the eraser wheel will clean that right off.

My thought watching it was it is going to have to be re-clear coated in any case.  There is on way around it to make it look right as there will be no clear under the sticker. I'm thinking about painting mine later this summer, but I'm just hitting it with a good old sander cause I'm lazy and have to paint/clear it anyhow

On the tank, with the layers of clear and the age of the parts, when the decals are removed you will see the paint that was never exposed to the sun. It will be darker and richer in color.

For tail plastics, those areas will not exposed to the sun and elements (i.e. under the decal) will be shiny and vibrant - almost as if you had left a thin clear decal on the tail. I removed decals from old tails. It took a while to determine that the shiny was not some decal residue left but the original plastic, unaffected by the elements. I suppose sanding could help or maybe another clear coat. i gave up and instead went out and bought dozens of sets of tail platics to get just the ones I want. (Now I have so many in storage!)

I know the tank of which you speak. I have a new one in the box for an upcoming project. Just got in a new-old-stock right tail and am waiting for the left.

I have a bottle of adhesive remover. Goo gone I think.

Has a plastic scraper included. Peels right off and does not hurt the paint.

Quote from: jestercinti on March 05, 2013, 06:45:23 PM
I have a bottle of adhesive remover. Goo gone I think.

Has a plastic scraper included. Peels right off and does not hurt the paint.

I used some type of adhesive remover i picked up at I think walmart or autozone to use on my truck, it took off my clear coat and i did not even leave it on a full minute. I may still have it tossed in the back of the garage some where, but come with a green top and writing. I'll try to find it tomorrow just to give you guys a heads up not to use that brand.. It completely destroyed my clear coat.

Hair dryer on hot aomed at area where decal is pulling off the body work while peeling the decal off. Denatured alcohol and paper towels to clean up sticker schmutz.

Zwerski - What is aomed?

Quote from: dmoore on March 06, 2013, 05:52:33 AM
Zwerski - What is aomed?

Aimed*

Turpentine will also remove the sticker residue.

Oh. I see. Thanks.

^^^ Yep. Aimed. iPhone keyboard strikes again.

Quote from: wayne242 on March 05, 2013, 08:58:47 PM

Quote from: jestercinti on March 05, 2013, 06:45:23 PM
I have a bottle of adhesive remover. Goo gone I think.

Has a plastic scraper included. Peels right off and does not hurt the paint.

I used some type of adhesive remover i picked up at I think walmart or autozone to use on my truck, it took off my clear coat and i did not even leave it on a full minute. I may still have it tossed in the back of the garage some where, but come with a green top and writing. I'll try to find it tomorrow just to give you guys a heads up not to use that brand.. It completely destroyed my clear coat.

I could not find it so must of tossed it. I called the parts store i bought it at to ask for the name and they said they no longer carry it due to large complaints with it damaging paint. So it probably don't sell anymore now thankfully

Be carefull with "Goo gone" I think thats the name. We use it in the jail to remove graffiti that our inmates put on the walss and it takes off some pretty badass paint! I wouldn't use it on a bike unless I wanted to strip my paint off.


Toole

Goo-Gone as worked OK. The similarly named product "Goof-Off" destroys everything.

Ah thats it. Yeah that is some badass cleaner! It take poo stains paint and all off the walls lol.



Toole

Goof off is like lacquer thinner.  It removes everything.