Installing ST1300 Fairing Decals Caution: Decals are best applied when ambient air temperature is 60 degrees or higher. Do not apply in direct sunlight. Do not allow the decals to get wet while they are still on the backing paper. If you are not confident in your ability to apply these decals seek professional help with installation. We can not be held responsible for installations that go wrong due to user error. Tools Required 1. Glass Plus window cleaner or soapy water in a spray bottle (Do not use Windex as a substitute for Glass Plus because it has ammonia in it) 2. Bondo spreader or credit card (make sure the edge of the credit card is smooth) 3. ¾ wide masking or electrical tape 4. Clean, lint free rag 5. 5/8 x 7/8 Removable labels supplied with decals Please read through the instructions entirely before starting Installing vinyl graphics is pretty easy as long as you follow directions and go slowly. You want to apply the masking tape and decals at eye level where the decals are going to go. So you will need to be sitting near this level when applying the graphics to the bike. The picture below shows the decals installed. Notice the back edge of decal is about 1/8 from the edge. Use the back edge of the decal as your guide when placing the decal on the fairing. Decal Identification (Right Side Decals Shown) 1
TOP DECAL MIDDLE DECAL BOTTOM DECAL The first step is to thoroughly clean the area where the graphics will be applied to. Clean the area with a cleaner like the Glass Plus or other cleaner. It is important to remove all dirt and oils from the surface. Make sure the rag you use does not leave lint on the surface after cleaning. Avoid using a cleaner/polish (Honda s cleaner/polisher) since this will leave a protective finish on the paint. The next step is to apply the first piece of masking tape. The picture below shows two pieces of tape applied. You do not have to put the top piece of tape on at all. Place your ¾ wide masking tape along the top edge of the fairing opening as shown in the picture below. Make sure to maintain the same angle of the tape all the way across the fairing. It is important to place this tape correctly or the whole decal will be off location. The picture below shows where the tape is applied. 2
1 st Masking Tape The next step is to apply the Right Side Bottom decal. Spray the Glass Plus or soapy water on the area of the fairing where the decal will be placed. Spread the spray around with your finger so that the total area is wet. Dry your finger, and then take one of the small white rectangular labels (that were attached to the decals) and place a small bit of it on one of the corners of the decal you are going to apply. Only put the white label on about a 1/8 inch of the decal. This is used to lift the edge of the decal off the paper without bending the corners. Once the decal is off the paper slightly, hold the decal gently and remove the white label. You will use this white label again so do not throw it away. The picture below shows a decal being lifted off the paper using the rectangular labels. 3
Gently peel the rest of the decal off the paper and put the decal on your lap with the sticky side up. Spray the sticky side of the decal with the Glass Plus or soapy water. You do want to soak the decal, just spray enough so that you can spread the spray around with your finger to wet all of the decal. After the spray is spread out, apply the decal in place on the fairing. Because both the decals and the fairings surfaces are wet, the decal will slide around and this will allow you to place it where you want. Make sure you do not overlap any of the tape with the decal. The picture below shows where the decals should be placed. You want the back edge of the decal about a 1/8 of an inch from the back edge of the fairing. Once the decal is in place hold it there and take your bondo spreader or credit card and lightly move over the decal s entire surface and pushing all the excess moisture and air bubbles towards the closest edge of the decal. Once you have all the air bubbles removed and are satisfied with the decal s position you are ready for the next step. 4
Apply the second piece of masking tape right along the top edge of the bottom decal you just installed. You want to make sure the tape does not overlap the decal at all. You can then repeat the steps outlined above and install the middle decal in the same manner. Once you have all the moisture and air bubbles pressed out of the decal, you may need to take a clean rag and press in on the decal along the curve of the fairing to get the decal to adhere to the surface. Just hold that area for a minute and the adhesive should hold it after that. The area that may need held in place is outlined in the picture below. 5
Check all the applied decals every 5 minutes to make sure no other air bubbles have surfaced under the decals. If air bubbles do surface, press them out as described above. After the second decal is installed, place a piece of masking tape along the top of the middle decal making sure the masking tape does not touch the decal. Repeat the steps outlined above to install the Top Decal. After all the decals are applied leave them sit for an hour so the decals have a chance to dry and then carefully and slowly remove the masking tape. The decals may not be totally dry for 24 to 48 hours depending on the ambient temperature. Do not attempt to clean or polish the tank for at least 48 hours. Do not ride the bike for 24 hours after installation! 6