Reigniting your passion for dirt biking can be tiring, especially when feeling burnt out with life. Usual activities get boring, and you start to feel like there’s nothing new that you can do.
Well, if you’re getting bored with the appearance of your motorcycle, custom dirt bike graphics should do the trick!
This idea raises the question, “How to install dirt bike graphics?” Do not fret because you’ve come to the right place. We will show you a step-by-step guide on how to put graphics on a dirt bike in the neatest way possible.
Table of Contents
Simple Steps to Install Graphics
What to prepare
- Graphics of your choice
- Soap for bike cleaning
- Alcohol/contact cleaner
- A razor blade/a small knife
- Adhesive tapes
- A pair of scissors
- A hard card/credit card
- A heat gun/ a regular household blower
Step 1: Clean the surrounding area
First thing, you need to prep dirt bike plastics for graphics. Whether you’re using new or old dirt bike plastics with graphics installed, it is essential to clean the plastic first to ensure that the installation will go smoothly.
The previous adhesive from old graphics and dirt can mess with your dirt bike decal kit, causing them to have bubble patches.
For this, apply soap, regular alcohol, or a contact cleaner to the plastic and wipe using a rag to remove dirt or oiliness.
Ideally, it is also good to remove rough scrapes or bumps from the plastic–if there are any–by lightly running a razor blade or a small knife to the plastic to ensure that wrinkles will not form once you apply dirt bike graphics.
Step 2: Align the graphics carefully
Take note of how your graphics look and how you want to place them. Some decals have designs in a specific orientation. So if you know which way it is, it will be easier.
Start from the bolt holes and edges of the plastic because you can use them as guidelines to align the graphics perfectly into the plastic. Once you get your ideal alignment, you can use adhesive tape to keep the decal in place.
Another way you can keep the graphics in place is to cut the backing paper horizontally into two, leaving a space in the center (as seen in the video, installing number plate graphics). This way, you can perform the next step without much hassle.
Step 3: Remove the backing paper to set the graphics in
To do this efficiently, press down on the decals from the inner part, working your way out slowly towards the edge. This way, you can minimize the number of wrinkles as much as possible.
If any bubbles or wrinkles appear, you can lightly peel the decal to stretch and adjust it or use a small squeegee or even a sturdy calling card/credit card to push them out.
Step 4: Heat the edges of the graphics to finish
Once you put the dirt bike stickers on how you want, use a heat gun or a regular household blower to mildly warm the graphics. This way, you’re sure it stays down for a prolonged time.
If bubbles that are hard to fix are still present in your decals, the heat gun also helps push those out, but be careful not to damage the stickers.
After all these steps, the best way to ensure your graphics perfectly bond to the motorcycle’s plastic is to leave your bike in a cool, dry place overnight or for at least 24 hours. Immediately using the dirt bike might cause the decals to fall off.
Reheat the sharp contours and edges of the stickers using your heat gun to finalize the bond.
If you’re working on a flat surface such as the swingarm, a dirt bike graphics application fluid can help.
What this does is you will essentially install the dirt bike graphics wet, buying you time to adjust and align the decals according to your taste before it sticks completely.
Push the excess fluid out using a squeegee or a credit card once you achieve your desired alignment.
Installation Tips
Ruining a perfectly good sticker can be awful, especially when applying a dirt bike graphics kit for the first time, so here are some helpful tips to ease your work:
- Start with the easy parts. If you plan to apply graphics all over, the number plates and the bike shroud are good parts to get a feel of how it is to install vinyl graphics on a dirt bike.
- Cut a portion of the backing paper and start from there. Installing graphics on your dirt bike area by area is game-changing.
This trick will help you become more efficient because it’s much easier to align and adjust when you work on one section at a time, especially if it is a large decal.
- Don’t rush. Taking your time to apply graphics to a dirt bike evenly is the key to its good overall quality and appearance. After all, this activity aims to be a relaxing and enjoyable task to make your motorcycle look better.
- Heat the graphics as you go. If you don’t have a steady hand and end up with bubbles every time you apply your decals, it’s a good idea to heat the sticker slightly so you can easily adjust and push the bubbles out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make your dirt bike graphics?
The short answer is yes. There are now websites specifically made to be dirt bike graphics designers. These tools are enough for beginners because of the straightforward options. Choose your brand, model, and number, and they will make a design for you.
If you have Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, you can also make custom dirt bike graphics yourself. A simple search will bring you detailed guides on how to create one.
How long does it take to install dirt bike graphics?
Depending on your experience, the complexity, and the number of decals you want to put on your bike, placing graphics can range from as fast as 30 minutes to a couple of hours.
Utilize the tools available to you to make your task faster and easier. Remember to take your time installing dirt bike graphics to ensure good quality. It’s not about how fast you finish when you apply motorcycle graphics.
Cost to install dirt bike graphics.
The price when you install an ATV graphics kit is from $40 to $150. It can get expensive because you need durable materials for decals to withstand extreme situations, especially on a dirt bike.
Some premium and intricate graphics sets can shoot up to as much as $200 to $250. So it’s best to set your budget and canvas local shops to know what’s the right fit for you.
Conclusion
Next time you have a free day, set this day aside and give your bike another chance. All you need is a little patience, and you’ll have your motorcycle looking brand new with the coolest dirt bike graphics.
Whether you burn yourself out or not when it comes to dirt biking, we hope that we set you up for an exciting activity ahead and learn how to install dirt bike graphics from us.
