Originally Posted by
rootboy
Important point. ^^^
Don't be in a hurry to apply that forty dollar set of decals. I'd let the final color coat dry for at least a month. In a dry place. Longer if you can. And build up the clear gradually. The first mist coat mentioned above is critical advice.
As for clearing first, FWIW, accomplished model makers gloss coat their models first, quite often, to allow the decals to really "stick down" to a shiny, slick substrate, then over-coat with their matte final coat. Applying decals over a gloss coat can really help them settle and disappear when over coated. YMMV.
That mist coat is what some paint guys call a "tack coat". Clearcoat is generally "thin" and runs easily. That tack coat will do the job if you are careful. Sags happen. Bikes are one of the more challenging subjects to paint due to zero flat surfaces.