Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - HOw to get decals off

Guys on my new SS it has decals that appear to be below a surface of lacquer or protection.

Is there anyway to remove these decals or would it mean stripping it down and repaining/poweder coating

thanks
http://img.skitch.com/20080526-jbqce8y2rjapsyhbi45j3bbwby.jpg

Magic

Only reason I would remove decals is if the paint had been damaged. Your bike looks pristine and Kona is a good bike, don't be ashamed of its decals. OTOH if you want to remove them you will have to remove the clear coat they're under and that might even make the paint surrounding them fade if you apply any solvent to it.

2nd idea is to find some vinyl in the same color as your bike and cover the small decals. You can make it work so it doesn't look too obvious.

you cant.

cover it w/ something

Wrap the whole thing in duct tape and be the first to have a duct tape bike. You know you want to.

you will have to pay to have it sandblasted and powdercoated. I did it to my wife's IRO for a total of $165. There is somebody else who does it for $145 locally. So you have to do research. But really, Kona is a quality bike company and you should not be embarrassed to have their logos on your frame. If you powdercoat, it might then get mistaken for a Langster with that sloping top tube... :)

Wrap the whole thing in duct tape and be the first to have a duct tape bike. You know you want to.

think about all that extra weight though.

i purchased that exact bike 2 hours ago. I started surfing the forums to get some ideas on customizing the bike and found this thread. Was not expecting to to see a photo of the same bike I had in question.
After I get some use out of it, there is little doubt in my mind it will be striped and powder coated. I think a minimalist bike should have a minimalist appearance.

I part-time at my friends auto garage where we paint and do bodywork for a lot of cars and custom customer projects.

What you're referring to the protective lacquer is most likely simple clear coat. It is also a possibility
that they may be painted on the frame itself (can't tell due to the picture you provided).
If it's a sticker that has been cleared over, there's no possible way you can
remove it without removing the coat first. I would just leave it if I were
you because your bike looks good as is.

But if you really REALLY wanted to, you can try grabbing some sand paper, around 890/1000 grit,
and gently start wet sanding the areas to the point where you can access the sticker and
peel it off (again, that's if it IS a sticker). If successful, you can try to ask a local body
shop to use their rubbing compound + their buffer to buff it out and make that spot shiny
again and not dulled out from the sanding.This shouldn't ruin that section of bike where the
sticker sat on because it was on TOP of the color paint.

hand grenade.

the guy with the pacer on this thread used acetone and elbow grease to get under the clearcoat. it can be done.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=270172&page=12

+1 for the hand grenade

the guy with the pacer on this thread used acetone and elbow grease to get under the clearcoat. it can be done.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=270172&page=12

All Surlys use decals on the outside. Easily removed with a hairdryer or acetone.

To the OP, if finances are an issue, strip the frame and spray paint it yourself. Read as much research as you can, then take your time.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=317072&highlight=painting

very detailed..

All Surlys use decals on the outside. Easily removed with a hairdryer or acetone.

To the OP, if finances are an issue, strip the frame and spray paint it yourself. Read as much research as you can, then take your time.

Surlies are under the clearcoat in every model that I've seen...

Surlies are under the clearcoat in every model that I've seen...

I've removed decals from an '07 Steamroller and various '08 models (LHT, Pacer).

Not pointing fingers, just saying... ehhh.