Frequently Asked Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is AFE Graphics?
Does AFE Graphics have a print product catalog?
If I don't have a computer, can I still purchase items from AFE Graphics?
Who buys decals from AFE Graphics?
Does AFE Graphics sell and ship world wide?
What are the decals made from?
How do I apply the decals and clear coat paint decals?
I own a 2001 Suzuki RM250, Do you have decals for this model? Or... I need decals for my late model bike or sled!
My model is very rare, with low production numbers! Can you help me?
Decals never seem to last long on my PLASTIC dirt bike fuel tank, What's the deal?
How do I remove my old decals? What should I expect?
I sent in a request by email, and got no reply! What gives?
How do I store decals for later use?

Who is AFEgraphics.com?
AFEgraphics.com is a concerned effort to preserve the heritage of vintage motorcycles and snowmobiles. See About Us for more information.

Does AFE Graphics have a print product catalog?
No. AFE Graphics does not have the resource to produce a print catalog each year. This web site is the only place you can view or inquire about our products.

If I don't have a computer, can I still purchase items from AFE Graphics?
Yes, you can use a friends computer to view or inquire about our products.

Who buys decals from AFE Graphics?
Anyone who is looking for that cosmetic item to finish or repair their motorcycle or snowmobile. Most of our clients are educated professionals in many lines of work, from Doctors, Lawyers, Military personal, to the purest collector. We do not discriminate.

Does AFE Graphics sell and ship world wide?
Yes. We sell and ship to anywhere. Some payment & shipping restrictions may apply in some rare cases. Language barriers can cause some issues, we use computer language translators to help.

What are the decals made from?
We use only the best quality graphic material designed for vehicle use. We use many product name brands including 3M, Avery and others to achieve the correct colors. Materials are designed to be easily applied over clear coat or to be clear coated into the paint work for years of extra protection. Most decals are printed single layer or made same as the original decals were mfg. In some cases we've come up with a better design in order to out last the original. We spend many hours and funds in R&D to develop top quality products.

How do I apply the decals and clear coat paint decals?
Decal application & paint procedure is an extensive subject. Decal application is fairly easy but paint procedures can be tricky if you are not familiar with automotive painting. Click Here for more information on application tips & paint procedures. Or for complete paint service, we recommend this top quality paint shop dedicated to motorcycles. www.cyclefinish.net Buy our decals & send your bodywork to Bobby Keith who is one of the best in the business.

I own a 2004 Suzuki RM250, Do you have decals for this model? Or... I need decals for my late model bike or sled!
No! We do not. You can still buy OEM decals for late models from your local dealer. Or you can buy OEM style aftermarket decals for most late model dirt bikes at www.FactoryEffex.com We develop vintage decals for the 60's 70's and 80's. Check with your OEM dealer for decal availability for your model first.

My model is very rare, with low production numbers! Can you help me?
Yes it is possible... But it will cost you extra to cover our flat rate design fees, the same as any professional graphics design studio would. This does not mean we do not want to help you, and we would be happy to showcase rare and exciting decals for these models. But the reality is our business depends on repeat sales for popular models. Once a restoration project is done, it is unusual that we will sell decals again for that one particular machine. Without popular models AFE Graphics would not exist as a source for you while we wait for the next restoration project to come along.

Decals never seem to last long on my PLASTIC dirt bike fuel tank, What's the deal?
We cannot expect decals to last forever. Lets face it... Dirt bikes, motocross bikes, ATC's etc. are used in the most abusive conditions on earth for decals. Keep in mind the direct contact with dirt & mud, with the chance of arms & legs rubbing on them, and then there is the pressure washer...!! How often do you see an older or vintage motocrosser with a plastic tank and original fuel tank decals? OEMs never should have put decals on plastic fuel tanks in the 70s but they did, and that is what it is. Some top racers back in the 70s would put new decals on for every race. OEMs now know about this issue and in the 80's & 90's have avoided decals on plastic fuel tanks as much as possible. Only recently have OEMs started to use graphics again on fuel tanks, with some new process that is done during the initial MFG.
There are several reasons why plastic fuel tanks are the worst spot for any decal. Here's why... Plastic surfaces have a low adhesion property to begin with. One big problem is... Plastic fuel tanks expand & contract in size a significant amount, due to heat, cold and from pressure build up during riding. This can cause a shear effect on decal adhesive trying to stay bonded to the surface. Other issues... Many older tanks have been re-finished with a product that brings the color back to life. We do not know what these chemicals will do to decal adhesives, although we think a plastic reconditioned tank is most likely better than an old tank that has seen better days. The bigger issue... Fuel is a killer! Fuel spillage or leaking from the fuel cap during a ride. Fuel vapors as the fuel is leaching into the older actual plastic tanks, causes a gassing out effect that can attack decal adhesives. The plastic holds liquid the fuel well but the plastic itself can be contaminated with fuel. Some vintage dirt riders are forthcoming enough to drain the fuel out of the tank after every ride to maintain a quailty condition fuel tank. A combination of things could be the reason your decals won't last on your plastic fuel tank.
We make the best possible product we can for your older dirt bike. We make a product to fill a void and plastic fuel tanks are what they are. So... there are no guarantees on decals for plastic fuel tanks. So why not buy extras when you know you will have these conditions or issues. We do offer discounts on qty. orders.

How do I remove my old decals? What should I expect?
Removing old decals is a job all to its own. There is no easy simple way to remove decals. It always takes time and effort. After decal material is removed, adhesive residue usually remains. Any decals that do not have clear coat paint will be easier to remove. Use a heat gun to loosen the decal and begin to lift the decals. Not too much heat to burn the paint, and use extreme caution with plastic parts. Heat guns are hot enough to melt plastic. Then use mineral spirits to remove left over adhesive residue. (always try a test area on your paint when rubbing any chemical on) All fuel tanks most likely have been clear coat painted from the OEM factory. (including the decals) You will need to chip through the clear coat paint to get to the decals. Sometimes this can be done with a very sharp chisel or tough commercial type blade. But keep in mind you are going to damage the paint, so sanding and bodywork will be required to prepare the fuel tank for new paint. (some use a sandblaster and go right down to bare metal, fast too!) We've heard some guys are using other softer materials in the sandblaster, such as crushed walnut shells, or glass/plastic beads. They say it works well on paint and not too hard on the metal. Note... If you intend to remove decals for future pattern development, do this as a last resort. Record all the information you can first, before trying to peel off old decals. Most of the time original decals will be completely destroyed during the removal process. Consider sending us your bodywork for reproduction work before it is too late.

I sent in a request by email, and got no reply! What gives?
Email is a wonderful thing isn't it?
We do not ignore email. That would be an unproductive way to conduct business. We reply to every email we receive. Either we have the item and quote you a price, or we work on a solution if possible, or we tell you we cannot help. No matter how the response works out for you. At times during weekends and holidays we do not answer email, most of the time we can get back to you within 24 to 48 hrs. But... Email is not full proof and there is a remote possibility your email request never arrived to us. Email backbones can go down which is unusual but your email can be lost in cyber space on rare occasions. Most of the time it is our reply to you that is bounced back or rejected by your email provider. These days everyone is sick and tired of Spam and email virus. Your email providers are working hard and offering all sorts of new ways to kill Spam or a virus. Due to this some email replies we send do not get through. You must be sure to use a proper working email account in order for us to reply. If you use a Spam blocker be sure you allow our email access. Many times we send images of our product for your request. If you set your account to reject images or file attachments our email to you will not go through. AOL seems to be the biggest offender to reject our email replies. If you use AOL and you receive no reply there is a good chance we could not reach you. Do not hesitate to try your request again if you feel we missed you. Also please leave your phone number and a contact time to reach you. Please inform us the best you can or, we just may not be able to reach you. Thank you!

How do I store decals for later use?
Some clients may buy extra decals for a future project, or an existing project takes more time to complete than expected.
If this is the case, decals can be stored for a period of time without issue. But some precautions must be taken in order to keep decals ready to go for future use.
Due to mishandling by couriers and shipping personnel, long large decals are shipped in a solid box lightly rolled. In the past flat sandwich shipping had a very high damage percentage during transportation and handling.
Long large decals will be rolled with graphic colors facing out. Never roll decals with colors facing in (hidden).
Once the product arrives, please unroll and lay flat, color facing down, as soon as possible.
Do not store decals for a long period of time rolled in the shipping box.
Decals are shipped sealed inside a plastic sleeve which will protect decals form dirt and the environment.
Decals must be stored laying flat, color facing down, inside the plastic sleeve.
Decals will lay flat on their own accord, Do not place objects or weight on decals during storage.
Decals must be stored at room temperature, or in an environmentally controlled location.
By following these simple rules, decals will store without issue for a very long period of time.
If you suspect shipping damage please read our customer service page here.
Customer Service

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