I got this bike for a great deal at a city auction but I'd like to change or just take off the decals because these were once police bikes. I thought I'd just go about it by soaking in adhesive remover but now that I've taken a closer look I'm not sure that's gonna work. The edge of the decal can be seen but can't be felt when you rub a finger over it. I think some kind of clear coat was applied after the decal was put on.

Anybody know something about this?

A google on decal removers suggests one approach. Such are $8-15 on amazon for no-name, a bit more for 3M versions.
Adhesive removers might soften any clear coat but also the paint underneath.

If it is above the clear coat, acetone will fade and the lift it off. It there is a clear coat, use 1000+ grit paper to get done to the decal edges, then try the acetone again. Use polish or clear coat and polish to clean it up when done.

Try using a hair dryer on HIGH setting to soften the adhesive holding the decal on. If you have a real heat gun use that instead but you need to be careful to avoid cooking the decal and maybe the pain underneath. Solvents aren't likely to help owing to the decal film (these days likely as not PSA vinyl) 'cause the adhesive's underneath.

Once the decal itself is off, you can usually use denatured alcohol (ethanol with a tad of something else in it to make it toxic and un-drinkable so not taxable as spirits) to dissolve the left over adhesive, or a citrus based paint remover. Whatever you use try it on a small, inconspicuous area of the painted frame so you know ahead of time whether what you're intending to use will damage the paint or not.

If simply 'first-surface' (means on top of) PSA vinyl the hair dryer ought to work for you.

Aim a heat gun/air dryer (on high) at it, but be cautious not to damage the surrounding areas. Promptly after the heat being used, try grazing a new razor blade over the assumed edge of the decal. if it catches it, carefully use the razor to coach that edge away from the painted surface. apply some wd-40 over the decal, let it soak, but not dry, for a few minutes & try lifting it up more.

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...I use a heat gun on stuff like that. I don't think my wife's hair dryer gets hot enough to soften the adhesive, which is what you need to accomplish.
There will be some adhesive residue left after you peel it off. I use mineral spirits on that, first. But if the mineral spirits doesn't remove the residue, I escalate to acetone.

Be very careful with the acetone. It will soften and remove some paints, but not usually the stuff that's used on bicycles nowadays. It's what's in nail polish remover. Don't drip any of it on plastic or rubber parts.

I recommend leaving the decal. Less likely to be stolen.

...and if there is a clear coat that was sprayed on after the stickers were applied, it's gonna leave a hole in it.

Goo gone is a much healthier alternative to mineral spirits or acetone for removing residue.

Agree with the others, if it is under the clear coat you are going damage paint removing it.

if you are able to remove it you will probably still have POLICE on there as the paint under the decal will not be faded at all so it will stand out. I would just stick a sticker over the top of it.

Plastic razor blades are a thing and they're less likely to damage paint than metal blades. They're the thing for removing decals.

the cop bikes usually come from the factory with those decals... it's under factory clear coat... leave it alone, unless you want a ruined paint job that will need to be stripped and repainted.

or spray over the entire frame with flat black, and call it a "stealth bike"....

You're asking for trouble trying to remove that decal.

I'd suggest

https://flexsealproducts.com/products/flex-tape
And install it with the seam on the bottom.

Either that or paint it

Most mechanical or chemical removal has a high chance of screwing up the surrounding paint.

I wouldn't try to remove factory stickers, but you also can not legally run around with POLICE on the downtube.Maybe a crapload of reflective tape.

not true. you can promote pretty much any band you want. Sure there are some bands that are not cool but I always liked the POLICE just throw a few other bands maybe the grateful dead dancing bears and STYX....

Depends on where the OP is located...but most states require an overt act be committed while impersonating an officer in order for it to be a crime. Driving around in a car or riding a bicycle emblazoned with "POLICE" will mainly just result in being flagged down constantly and being asked stupid questions.

heck 99.9% of people would not even see it on a bike. I think you would be more confused for being a popo wearing a bright yellow jacket.

Careful work with a razor blade should get the edges to lift and start peeling away. It could be a slow tedious process, just be patient. The heat gun will help as well, but as mentioned, be careful with the paint under and around.

One thing I’ve not seen mentioned is a solvent I’ve used a lot over the years: Xylene.

Found at most hardware stores. It targets adhesive when the decals are already removed, it will not penetrate the decal. Thing is, xylene does not affect paint at all, only adhesive. When they remove vinyl wraps from cars and buses, this is what they use to do the final cleaning.

My best tip when using it is to keep turning the rag so you don’t keep dragging melted adhesive back I’ve the area you’re trying to clean.

Thanks for all the advice guys. I'm almost positive now the decal has a clear coat on top of it so I'm just gonna prep and give the lowers a thrice over with a rattle can of satin black.

Any suggestions for a good paint brand or just in general for doing this?

Doesn't matter. Any bike that's spraycanned BLACK is presumed to be stolen.
I'd use reflective tape. It doesn't have to be a solid strip.
Use different sized shapes semi-randomly placed. If you're artistic.....

put a bacon decal over it. well done.

Come on man... Strip it down and repaint it...

Ok I've decided. I'm gonna sand the whole frame down with 800 grit, and then what? I'm gonna paint the whole thing myself but I'm not sure what kind / brand paint to use. I'd like for it to be more durable than whatever comes in those cans at Home Depot. Do I need to head down to the local auto paint store? I don't mind buying a new paint gun if I have to. Should I be looking at using an enamel?

edit: Just got word back from my bike mechanic buddy and he said he's used Rustoleum metal paint in a rattle can followed by a clear and it's held up for him really well. Says the paint has come a long way, so maybe. Any advice along this direction? Seems like it'd certainly be the cheapest, and that's good with me.

I'd consider thinning out a colored epoxy coating & laying UV protectant clear over it.