How to Install a Motorcycle Vinyl Wrap: Should You Remove the Bodywork?

One of the most common questions we get from riders preparing to install a motorcycle wrap is:

Should I install the wrap with the bodywork on the motorcycle, or should I remove the fairings first?

The answer depends on your motorcycle, the design of its bodywork, and which areas you're trying to wrap. Both methods can work well, and in some cases, the best approach is actually a combination of the two.

At BIKESKINZ, our motorcycle wraps are designed with DIY installation in mind. Here are some things to consider before you begin.

How Motorcycle Wrap Kits Fit the Bodywork

One important thing to understand before installing a motorcycle wrap is that the vinyl pieces aren't intended to fit like rigid stickers that must be positioned perfectly on the first try.

The material is designed to give you room to work.

Individual sections are generally oversized so the vinyl can extend beyond the edges of the bodywork. Once you've positioned and applied the material correctly, the excess can be trimmed.

This gives you some flexibility during installation and makes small positioning differences much less critical.

The extra material also gives you the ability to wrap vinyl around the edges of the fairings rather than stopping directly at the visible edge.

Should You Remove the Fairings Before Wrapping a Motorcycle?

You don't necessarily need to remove all of the bodywork before installing your wrap.

In fact, keeping the fairings installed on the motorcycle can sometimes make installation easier.

The motorcycle itself provides a solid structure for holding the bodywork in place. If the bike is securely positioned on a stand, you can work against the fairing without having to figure out how to hold a loose piece of bodywork while stretching and applying vinyl.

Trying to wrap a removed fairing can sometimes require clamps, a workbench, or another person to keep the panel from moving.

However, there are situations where removing a panel makes sense.

When Removing Motorcycle Bodywork Can Help

Some motorcycles have areas that are difficult to access while the fairings are installed.

Frame sliders are a good example.

If a frame slider passes through or sits extremely close to a body panel, you may not have enough room to properly position and work the vinyl around that area. Removing the slider or temporarily removing the fairing may make installation considerably easier.

The same applies to other components that obstruct access to the edges or backside of a panel.

You don't necessarily have to choose between installing the entire wrap on the bike or removing every piece of bodywork. You can install accessible sections while they're still mounted and remove individual panels when doing so makes the installation easier.

How to Align Graphics Across Multiple Fairing Pieces

Graphic alignment is another important consideration.

Many modern sport bikes have fairings made from several separate pieces. A single graphic may need to visually continue from one panel onto another.

This is one reason it can be helpful to initially position the wrap while the bodywork is still assembled on the motorcycle.

One technique is to use masking tape to temporarily position the vinyl and check the alignment of the graphics before permanently applying the material.

This lets you step back, look at the design as a whole, and make adjustments.

Once you're satisfied with the position, you can begin applying the vinyl while maintaining the relationship between the graphics on adjacent panels.

Wrap the Vinyl Around the Fairing Edges

Whenever possible, don't stop the vinyl exactly at the visible edge of the bodywork.

Instead, allow enough material to wrap around the edge and slightly onto the backside of the panel.

There are two important reasons for doing this.

First, it creates a cleaner finished appearance.

Imagine installing a mostly black wrap over a bright white motorcycle. If the vinyl ends directly at the outer edge, you may still see a thin line of the original white bodywork.

By extending the vinyl around the edge and trimming it farther behind the panel, the original paint color is much less likely to be visible.

Second, wrapping around the edge can help protect the edge of the vinyl from being exposed where it may be more susceptible to lifting.

Don't Trim the Vinyl Too Early

Because motorcycle wrap sections are intentionally supplied with extra material, avoid trimming too aggressively during the initial positioning process.

Get the material positioned and applied first.

Once you're satisfied with the placement, you can determine where the final trim needs to be.

Leaving yourself extra material is much easier to correct than discovering you've trimmed a section too short.

Take Your Time With Motorcycle Wrap Installation

Installing a motorcycle wrap isn't something you need to rush.

Before beginning, look at the bodywork and think through the installation:

• Which panels are easiest to wrap while they're installed?

• Are frame sliders or other components blocking access?

• Which graphics need to align across multiple panels?

• Where can the vinyl wrap around the edges?

• Would removing a particular fairing make that section easier?

Planning these details before you start can make the installation process considerably smoother.

Watch Our Motorcycle Wrap Installation Videos

If you're considering installing a BIKESKINZ wrap yourself, we recommend watching our installation videos before getting started.

Spend some time becoming familiar with how the material is positioned, stretched, worked around contours, and trimmed. Seeing the process before you begin can make it much easier to understand what to expect when you're working on your own motorcycle.

And remember that every motorcycle is a little different.

If you run into an area you're unsure about or have questions about installing your particular wrap, contact us. We're happy to help you determine the best way to approach it.

Whether you decide to install your wrap with the bodywork on the motorcycle, remove the fairings, or use a combination of both methods, proper preparation and patience can make a major difference in the finished result.