Tank emblem removal

[Squidward]

Does anyone know if the silver stripe on the gas tanks on anniversary models extends all the way under the emblem? I want to remove the emblems, but not if the stripe isn't continuous.

[BadgerOctane]

I think this topic might be in the sheetmetal forum too, so you might want to sneek a peek there as well.

But to answer the question, yes it continues under the emblem from what I've seen. I've also been told that you can't buy that stripe material from HD, and if the dealers have to return a tank for whatever reason, and that emblem is not on it, they get smacked with a $5000 dollar fine.

I just discovered that today from Rocky Mountain HD while I was pricing some new tins for a customer. I about sh!t myself when I heard that.

BadgerOctane

[RocKy]

Check this out

[jdbankey]

Curious why one would want to remove the emblem, certainly can't help with resale?

[Squidward]

Thanks for the responses, I think I'll give it a try. Jdbankey, to answer your question, my primary motivation in buying the bike in the first place wasn't resale, it was to ride it, and quite frankly, the anniversary tank emblems are a bit garish and overdone for my tastes. I think removing them will give the bike a cleaner, more flowing look. If I'm wrong, and it looks weird, I'm sure I can find some double-sided adhesive tape to reapply them, if I'm right, then I've got a unique modification that didn't cost a penny.

[Zadok]

Post some pics when you get done....interested
in seein the finish.

I used the floss method to remove my reflectors
from the rear fenders. Works like a charm.

[BadgerOctane]

The following is just my own personal opinion, please don't hate me because I choose to express that which I feel you too should express freely even if disagreed with. With that said:

Squidward you're alright and here's why.

Squidward wrote:

Jdbankey, to answer your question, my primary motivation in buying the bike in the first place wasn't resale, it was to ride it, and quite frankly, the anniversary tank emblems are a bit garish and overdone for my tastes.

Jdbankey I don't mean to insult you by saying this but please hear me out. Buying a bike for resale purposes is just as bad if not worse than being in realty. You buy a house, you live in it for a while afraid that your own fart will somehow stick to the paint in the hallway and then you plan to sell it for hopefully more than you paid for it. Is this a bad thing, well hell no, if you can invest your money in something, enjoy it, and then later on and actually make money on the thing, then hell I'd say you came out on top.

But lets face it, when dealing in the world of any kind of transportational vehicle, the moment you leave the lot its now worth maybe half of what you just paid out for it. Go ahead, turn around and try to sell it back to the dealer and they'll maybe offer you $8000 for a bike you just paid $20,000 for.

If you're buying a bike because of its resale value, you'd better buy it when you're about my age, in your late 20s and hopefully plan to sell it when you're in your late 70s, (hoping you live that long) but whatever you do, don't ever ride the damn thing!!! No one wants a 'used' vintage piece of machinery, and anyone that has a used piece of vintage machinery wants top damn dollar for it!

My own opinion is, if you buy it to ride it, then by all means ride and enjoy because life is just too damned short to think "I've got to sell this thing one day and try to make some good money on it." If money is our mindset then lets bend over and take it in the ass like every other yuppie we claim we are not. I'm not saying money is a bad thing, and granted I make plenty of money in my line of work, but if money is all I 'really' cared about I don't know if I could look myself straight in the mirror every morning when I brush my teeth.

Buy it, ride it, live it man, and if by some chance many years down the road someone thinks it still looks just as beautiful as the day you bought it and they make you a good offer on the thing, they by all means take the deal, buy something different and rekindle that 'new in the box' feeling you once felt when you bought your anniversary pieces.

We ride because we love the wind in our hair, the elements on our skin and that 'alive' feeling in our souls. Not so we can turn around a make a buck on this pile of machine that makes us feel so free.

Just my opinion, no offense intended.

BadgerOctane

[Cryptoboy]

I agree the emblem is a bit big, but I don't like the way the paintjob looks without it (based on the picture in the link). To each their own though! It's probably because I've seen the emblem now in the dealers for a whopping 14+ months! lol

[RocKy]

I have to agree with you, Cryptoboy. I've sat in my shop, staring at my bike, holding my thumb out in front of my eyes to block the emblem, visualizing what the tank would look like with the stripe but without the emblem. Just doesn't look right to me, looks incomplete somehow.

I guess one day I'm going to have to spring for a different paint job. That's too bad 'cause I love the gunmetal pearl on my RK. No one has ever told me they think it's an ugly color. To the contrary, everyone's remarked how pretty the color is. I think it is, too.

Now if I could only get that stripe off the tank...

[bushman66]

BadgerOctane,

While I agree with you, there is also the point about not doing anything "stupid" to a vehicle on the chance that you want to sell it. I think the whole issue of resale value comes into play oin the following situation: when you never know when you will want to sell a (car/bike/etc) to move onto the next project, not because you are buying the bike as an investment.

I have been messing with 60's Muscle cars for about 25 years and I can tell you that I have seen plenty of "modifications" that make me think "WTF was this guy thinking?" I have never had a garage queen, have enjoyed everyone of my cars out on the road, but I have also never hacked a dash to install a stereo, cut out the split rear window in a '63 Corvette, etc.

I think in this instance, removing the emblem is no big deal, since you can easily add it back with some automotive emblem tape, but would I start sanding/cutting/drilling things on the bike...probably no. (Never know when I might want to sell my current ride to pick up a new: fill in the blank:________).

My $0.02
B

[Zadok]

Bushman66 hit it right on......I personally like
the emblem...but its YOUR bike so have at it.
You are not going to hurt or change the bike
permanately by removing it. Ive changed
plenty on my 03 fatty....but nothin that a couple
hours work wont put back to stock.

Later.

[Diver]

IMHO the badge by itself might not look that bad. It's that flippin' stripe that messes the look up. Granted, on the two tone bikes it's a nice break between the two colors, but on any monochrome paint job, it sticks out like a sore thumb.

[jdbankey]

BadgerOctane, no offense taken!

Man what a response, sorry I asked. Anything else you want to get off your chest (just kiddin'). Enjoy your ride with or without emblems!

[Squidward]

I took them off this evening, it was actually easier than I anticpated. About 45 minutes fron start to finish. I removed the emblems with some fishing line slid between the emblem and the tank, that was the easy part, it only took about 10-15 minutes, getting all the tape residue is what takes up the majority of the time. I removed about 80% of the tape residue just by rubbing and pulling (ooooh) on it for a while, after that I squirted some bug and tar remover on it, let it soak for a few minutes, and that took off the remainder of the tape goo.
Two quick observations at this point:

1. The tape stripe under the emblems is continuous.

2. The tank looks a hell of a lot better without those ostentatious and
oversized emblems.

My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner, the tank now looks a lot cleaner and sleeker, removing the emblems gives it a bit of a custom look, and that unbroken horizontal stripe visually lengthens the tank. If you're thinking about doing ths as well, just do it, you'll be happy. I'll try and figure out how to post photos, I think you'll be surprised at how much of a difference this simple modification makes. I just hope the Emblem Police don't come knocking at my door tonight! If they do, I'll just tell them BadgerOctane made me do it!

[MPZ]

Frankly, I think the emblem looks a helluva lot better than the stripe.