Anyone have any experience or opinions about a vinyl wrap. Considering this for my trike. Thanks!!
Anyone have any experience or opinions about a vinyl wrap. Considering this for my trike. Thanks!!
I would worry about pitting but the do it on cars, so maybe it would hold up.
My friend does this for a living and he is busy as heck. There are 2 popular types right now, older style vinyl and newer type called "Expel". It actually self heals if nicked by a stone or debris. He wrapped the front of my Escapade trailer prior to my trip down the BRP last year and it worked great. He custom cuts all his installs, he even does full vehicle wraps including complete color changes to a car. ($$$$$) The car dealership I work in usually has 2 or three of these done every single day, the most popular being complete front bumper, fenders, hood and mirrors.
I really need to find someone around here that can do this on our trike's rear fenders.
Clint, if you find someone that does good work in our area I would like to know also. I am not for from you.
any auto body shop can install 3m protective film. Most shops would even have it on hand.
I bought a 2' x 8' roll of 3M film for $58 and made my own templates. Installing on rear fenders is really easy compared to the fairing. I love the stuff. A lot better then the ugly and destructive black leather bras.
Not going to pay $32K + for a bike and then HIDE it under leather covers.
This place is listed on Expel's dealer locator, not sure if it's a ride you'd like to make
http://www.forcefieldpaintshield.com/
I cut and pasted my response to an similar thread:
Not that mine have been on forever....But I had the SunTek Clear Bra installed on my 15 Tri Glide. 6700 Miles later and it looks great - and has stood up to gravel / Bugs and anything else that has attacked the bike to date {including a sometimes lazy passenger boot}. The SunTek product is slightly thicker than the 3M, but not enough to be noticed. It also has a healing property that is very cool. A couple of times I've had a healthy stone nick in the film. Left the bike out in the sun and the damn stuff heals itself....pretty cool,
http://suntekfilms.com/paintprotecti...rotection.aspx
I'd give it a look....I'd also suggest you put the film from the bottom of the fender across the top all the way to the taillight. It will help to protect the fender from passenger loading issues and puts the barely noticeable line much further back and much harder to see.
And again - Just my opinion - jc
Just my opinion
Okay I'm confused..... but what's new....!!!
Are we talking protective film like SeeThroughBraz sells or are we talking a vinyl theme wrap ?
I know I've had great luck with the protective file SeeThrough makes and you can do it yourself with no problem. As far as a theme wrap just about any larger sign company can create vinyl wrap with just about anything you want printed on it. Can be very tricky to apply.
Clint44 get hold of Meredith or Al at www.seethroughbraz.com. Their stuff is great and very easy to apply. Had it on my trike for over two years up here in the harsh Panhandle weather, snow tomorrow.
There has been an all blacked out trike on eBay a couple times that has great vinyl graphics with a carbon fiber look. Seems they were asking $50,000 for it.
8~\o
"Anybody can become an American but ya have to be born a TEXAN"
"Ya know I haven't been everywhere but it's on my bucket list"
As most of y'all know, we just picked up a 1007 Trike Shop/Roadsmith Roadhawk for Gloria.
She loves the trike but hates the color. She shopped around in Bentonville, Ar. and was referred to a place that wraps cars, trucks, semi trailers and such. She saw the work they do and was impressed. The Roadhawk is full of compound curves, nooks and crannies, but they will wrap it for $1500, any color and pattern of film they can get hold of. They will also design graphics like pinstripes, drawings or photos for about $60/hr, which is mostly computer time but includes printing. They will put an extra layer on the front of the fenders and the front of the boot behind the front wheel for protection of those vulnerable areas. She could get as wild with color and pattern as she wants, and it can be peeled off if she wants to change it or back to basic black again if time comes to sell it.
She also checked out traditional paint.
Most of the body parts would have to come off the frame to do a proper paint job, some body work (sanding, prep,etc), and reassembly. And it would still need the film to protect the fenders and fairing boot. Single color estimates were over $2000 at the low end and up depending on the paint. Pinstriping is around $30 - $50 per panel, and airbrushing and handpainted murals are even more.
She is going to wrap - I just hope she doesn't want a plaid or paisley, or a Jackson Pollack type pattern.
Don - 2004 GL1800 Champion trike, 2018 Can Am Spyder RT Limited
2 wheeler: 2013 Triumph Bonneville T100
FORR Local 11, AMA, MRF, Mid-South MILE Committee