Removing Bike Stickers

[KnottedYet]

I've never been fond of the "FFF" stickers on my Surly.

Mind you, it's been 4 years and I haven't done anything about it.

Today I tried the "fingernail" method advocated by Surly.

No luck.

Tried the "credit card" method I found while searching.

No luck.

Tried the "Duct-Tape" method.

No luck. (well, a flake or two came off)

Lesson we learn today: Do NOT wait 4 years to take off your stickers! :eek:

ETA: so far I've managed to get ONE entire FFF sticker off. It took about 20 minutes. It went something like this: apply duct tape, try to warm and press it with hands. Peel off. Reapply. Peel off. Repeat until bored. Use sliced credit card to scrape at remaining sticker. IMMEDIATELY remove loosened flakes with used duct tape - or they will stick down like burrs on a feral dog! Repeat until bored. When credit card gets dull, slice it again with scissors to get a new sharp edge. Go back and forth until the sticker is gone.

ETA: TECHNIQUE UPDATE!!! For the older stickers, put the duct tape on and leave it for 10 minutes or more. Large portions of the sticker will come off if you leave it on longer, not just wee flakes. Go get a beer, call your mom (you know she misses you), toast a bagel.... *then* pull off the tape. Sex-ay! :D

(aka - how to entertain your enforced sedentary self while nurturing a less-than-24-hr-old fresh tattoo.)

[OakLeaf]

Tattoo on self, stickers off bike? ;)

Did you warm the stickers? Hair dryer is the usual method for taking the innumerable safety warning stickers off a moto.

[KnottedYet]

Tattoo on self, stickers off bike? ;)

Did you warm the stickers? Hair dryer is the usual method for taking the innumerable safety warning stickers off a moto.

I don't have a hair dryer, but it sounds like it would have helped. Got both "FFF" stickers off, but the "Cross x Check" stickers aren't budging.

Might have to borrow a hair dryer from someone, but at least I got the "FFF" stickers off. They bugged me, and looked wrong on the chainstays.

[Thorn]

Hmmm...road salt and/or WD-40? Or maybe just send your Surly's on a road trip into a friend's snowy winter? ;)

Seriously....my Surly's FFF stickers are almost gone on their own. But I live in the snow belt and the Surly's get most of their riding is in slush. So road salt and, when I'm too tired to give them a good cleaning when I get home a sloppy spray down with WD-40 (yes, yes, environmentally crap, but occassionally I slip) are probably the cause.

But now I know how I can get rid of the "F Fin" sticker that is left on one and the "Fatt" on the other....

[KnottedYet]

Y'know, that's probably why my FFF stickers came off so easily: they've been bathed in a few year's worth of rain slop.

The toptube stickers have gotten wet, too, but not to the same exciting extent as the chainstay stickers.

The bike does look much better without the FFF stickers...

I wonder if setting her in the sun would soften the toptube stickers enough that I could get them off?

[tangentgirl]

Try Goo Gone. I haven't met a sticker it can't remove yet.

Put a bunch on the sticker, especially around the edges so it can soak into the adhesive underneath. Let it sit for a few hours, and you should be able to peel it off easily and then lightly scrub the gunk from underneath.

If it's not so easy, or there is still adhesive left, re-apply. You might need to let it sit overnight, but it will eventually get everything off.

**Be sure to wash your hands after handling the GG. I think it's just orange oil, but it's super-concentrated, and you shouldn't leave it on your skin.**

[out_spokin']

I've had success on gnarly old bumper stickers AND frame stickers with a combo of careful application of the hair dryer heat finished off with Goo Gone if necessary. I have the water-based version, and with a little patience it's been awesome.

[westtexas]

I have found one of the best adhesive removers is olive oil. It doesn't have any harsh chemicals and so it's safe for just about any surface. I used it to get the sticker residue off my new bike and numerous other things I wasn't sure how safe it would be apply chemical things. Just put a little olive oil on a paper towel and rub on the adhesive. It comes right off - a trick my mom taught me a long time ago!

[KnottedYet]

Got the "Cross x Check" stickers off with the help of warming from the sun, duct tape, and a lot of scraping.

They are quite old and dried, with no sticky goo left at all. They shatter and flake, rather than peel.

I've used olive oil in other situations to get rid of sticky goo, it works a treat! Not sure how it would do with the plastic of a "carbon" frame bike, maybe call the manufacturer and ask?

[Biciclista]

olive oil shouldn't hurt your frame especially if you're going to wipe it off after applying it.

[Velocivixen]

@Knotted, you know this thread is very helpful. As you know my Cross Check will be mine in a week or so and I'll want to take off stickers. I bought Gorilla Tape yesterday (think super sticky dect tape), and I own Goof Off. I tried olive oil to get sticker residue off my rims when I first bought my hybrid, but the adhesive wouldn't come off.

So how's the bike look now?

[Biciclista]

so remind me why you guys are taking the stickers off?

[Atlas]

This is the greatest tutorial I've read in a while (I especially like the beer and call mom part). Plus, pictures of said tattoo? Is there a tattoo thread around here anywhere?

[Sky King]

one more suggestion - Avon Skin so Soft Oil, yes the same one they say is good for mosquitos , seriously, not at all toxic and smells better too. Spray it on, let it sit, apply elbow grease. You may need to do a few times.

Sounds like KnottedYet is claiming success but file this away for the future.
And I admire someone who doesn't own a hair dryer, but they are great for removing stickers :)

[Biciclista]

I didn't own a hairdryer until a friend gently asked me if i was unable to afford one she would lend one to me. I quickly went to the local drug store and discovered that at 10 bucks i could afford one. :D

[Velocivixen]

@Mimi, the decals on the Surly bike in question, the Cross Check, has graphics that seems sort of juvenile looking I guess you could say. Of course, that said, it's all a matter of opinion. I just don't want the word "Surly down each of the seat stays and each of the forks PLUS the down tube (larger). I don't mind the brand and the name of the bike once, but not all over the place. The chainstay says "FFF Fatties Fit Fine" because they can take tires up to size 45 or 50 mm!

[Biciclista]

oh i wouldn't want the fatties fit fit either!

[KnottedYet]

Well, I must say my bike looks sleek and elegant now.

I kept the "Surly" on the downtube and the forks and the headbadge. That's plenty, and really the bike looks quite nice. I might try getting the downtube stickers off someday, but for now I'll leave them.

I think in the future, now that I know what a pain it is to get old stickers off, I'll take stickers I want off PDQ.

(I assume I'll be buying more bikes someday!)

My Giant has no markings anywhere, except her very classic headbadge. I like that look.

[Velocivixen]

I'm with you on not wanting a bike with a ton of advertising on it. It's not my style. I like subtle. I'm counting the days until I pick up my Cross Check. This Sunday (the stem arrives Friday). I wish Sunday would hurry and come.