Topic: Decals! Overlap on the tank stripes?

[drumstyx]

My painter has told me the decals for the tank ('78 750K) were kinda weird, and seem to have a large overlap (about an inch) where they meet at the lower front. Is this normal? Are you supposed to cut away excess so that they butt up, or just overlap them and clear overtop?

He said he didn't want to ruin my $100 decals, so he talked to me first, and suggests I have a sign/decal shop put them on, after which he can clear overtop.

[beemerbum]

Don't know if this helps. My decals from Canada went on pretty well. Did you provide the applier with a photo of a factory tank to see the correct placement? This a '77 but the decal is the same

[drumstyx]

I did give him a pic -- decals came from https://cbdecals.afegraphics.com/ and the decals come like this https://cbdecals.afegraphics.com/images/78cb750k-full-kit-layout-black-bike-500w.jpg

You can see the bend on the lower front of the tank stripes...they overlap the entire corner. Did yours look like that? IIRC this printer is in Canada too.

Can you take a close-up pic of the lower front of the tank decals?

[beemerbum]

I hope these help. In the photos, the tank is just sitting on the frame, unmounted. I also have not installed the chrome bottom strip. Frankly, I think in looks better without it. Glad to see another K7-K8. The SOHC's the were the final perfection of the series.

[drumstyx]

yeah that's awesome. I should've read closer -- the site does say it needs to be cut and spliced at the front.

I think I can *just* make out a splice on yours maybe 1/4"-1/2" in on the lower decal, but if I didn't know what to look for, I couldn't find it even on close examination.

I wonder if I should go to a body shop or something for that...


Hey where did you get your seat? It looks brand new, but I couldn't find any 77-78 OEM style seats. I ended up with a new low-profile seat.

[Ridem32]

Most Honda strips did over lap.  Not sure about your year model. But again lots of Honda,s did over lap


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[beemerbum]

The seat was blind luck on Ebay. It is a '78 seat. Very few can spot the difference. Overlap would make sense as a butt joint would be exceedingly difficult

[drumstyx]

Seems to be settled, overlap it is. I contacted the seller of the decals and he gave me more details.

For posterity, this is what I got from the seller of my decals:

Just so you know, there is extra material for the 2 stripes to overlap at the front corner by a good margin. (enough for an error and fix if need be)
Honda sometimes did overlap and then trim, and other times they did an overlap then cut straight through the corner of both, trying to but the edges up perfectly.
We suggest the overlap method so the top stripe is sitting over the lower by even as much as a 1/4" to 3/8". It's easier than trying to get a perfect but joint lined up. 
So, the best way is to dry run.
Lay out the stripes in the proper configuration, don't peel or remove paper.
Lower stripe goes on first.
Then feel how the top stripe will contour over the tank.
It will have a natural feeling and lay nicely without twists or buckles when its in the sweet spot.
Move the lower to match the sweet spot of the top stripe, if needed.
Also note how the stripes indeed do overlap just a little running down under the seat. It's not perfectly aligned under there. The seat hides that stuff.
Once you see how it fits and how much overlap you indeed have.
Mark the tank with a pencil in a couple spots to help guide your location points.
Then you'll be ready to do the real deal installation.
Trimming the overlap corner.
If you are using the wet method... Here is the link to Application if needed.
https://cbdecals.afegraphics.com/view_doc.php?view_doc=7
The stripe will not bond right away.
You can lift it (with transfer paper still on) and trim off just enough to achieve the 1/4" to 3/8" overlap, even 1/2" is fine.
Trim using sharp blade. (put a protector down such as a credit card) to slice.
Keeping it wet at this stage is very helpful.
And remember the lower stripe is already installed for the overlap splice step.
I think that's about it.