Generic bicycle decals
 

Over the years we had quite a few bikes on this forum with names on them that couldn't be traced back to any specific manufacturer or shop. Often names that sounded quite familiar as well as optimistic: "Victory", "Super", "Record" or "Champion". Especially when combined they sound impressive. Who wouldn't want a Super Record Champion? :)

Anyway, since these often turn up in "Please help identify my bike" threads, I thought it might be a nice idea to start a collection of these decals for future reference. I just googled "generic bicycle decals" and seeing poor results I think we - being Bikeforums C&V - are morally obligated to improve those.

So, what have you got?

I shall kick off with what I have come across over the past ten years.

Sprinter
I found this bike in 2016. Very light - 10kg - and probably made in Belgium:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...96bafd63f0.jpg

A couple of months later a found this set in a collection of generic decals:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...eafd5db881.jpg

Victory
 

Because the seller had posted decent pics, I had recognized this supposedly Gianni Motta-built Union "Rini Wagtmans". A machine I'd been lusting after for a while. It is branded "Victory".

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4396d91f14.jpg

Today I noticed that decal set on ebay:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7abf16d529.jpg

Record
 

One of the first bikes I bought was a "Record". It turned out to be a Mercier with this decal set. (I will add a pic of the bike when I have the opportunity to dig the bike out)

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b8ae530624.jpg

A corollary might be if someone knows a good source for truly generic, as in good decals of appropriate sizes of the alphabet, for spell-your-own solutions.

That would be fun. I’ve recently repainted my 70s Witcomb frame for the second time. I never really liked the original decals so I made no effort to try to replace them after the first repaint. It’s just been a plain white frame since about 1992.

At this point, I’m inclined to have fun with it and put on decals that say “Stolen from...” and then add my email and cell phone numbers 😊

Otto

I like that. One could also make up a vaguely italian-sounding name for the bike, in the expectation that in 30 years it's new owner would post "have you seen one of these?" ;)

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Years ago I had a bike rebuilder friend who built up a Raleigh Pro as a personal machine and had it resprayed by a local framebuilder.

He made up a set of transfers for it proclaiming it to be a Cicli Zucchi (as in zucchini).

IIRC collector Nelson Miller of Seattle did something similar once and made up a transfer set for one of his rides proclaiming it to be a Formaggio (cheese).


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I don't plan on ever putting on a set of generic decals on one of the mystery frames I've had, but I am a fan of random headbadges, mostly from Belgium:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...31be8ed4_b.jpg

Very interesting! I have a few bikes l wish to repaint and re-decal. I have the ability and enough graphic talent to produce the decals in photoshop. The problem becomes how to get them printed. All the print shops l know of have the ability to print clear stickers or white stickers but not a combination of both on the same sticker. When reproducing decals almost all contain white and transparent areas. Have you found a solution?

Fabrication Française
 

In 2015 I bought three run-down French ladies' bikes. One of them was labeled "Fabrication Française":

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...88bfcd4a59.jpg

That didn't even sound like a brand name. so I wasn't surprised to find these pics a couple of years later:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1dceb22148.jpg

Back in college, our LBS (Rainbow Jersey in Milwaukee) sold these "generic" bike decal sets and I remeber my brother using them on his Gitane Criterium to replace all the decals on it that were flaking off..... so his Gitane became a "Sideral".
The decal set did add a bit of coolness to his bike as suddenly it wasn't such a common brand bike anymore, at first glance, but he did have to convince the shop he traded it in for his next bike, that it was a Gitane Criterium, as the shop was a bit leery about accepting an unknown brand for a trade in.

But wait! There's more!

French or Belgian, I would think. Don''t remember where I found them, but too nice not to post them here.

I really love the "Fabrication Garantie" decal. :)

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...509ba7cdb4.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...48d1f9a16d.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...38d4bf298c.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...936834b4d9.jpg

Excellent!

In my box-o-pix I found this one, of some badges that somehow look a bit suspect:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...333bdc36a5.jpg

Rivendell has also long sold these.

That's pretty funny.

I made my own highly generic decal for a generic-looking bike I had.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...68625dc082.jpg

I have noted and appreciated your apparent use of a Wheelsmith spoke head as a rivet.

...there's a guy selling vinyl lettering online with a relatively creative and flexible do it yourself font designer on the website here. I got this source from gugie in another thread.
I used it to design and order stickers for a late 50's Follis I just painted and restored. Like I said, the website font designer is pretty inclusive, and I'd be surprised if you couldn't make it work for you.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3edeb3fdf9.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a5f5636beb.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b9f8c6cbcf.jpg

Someone mentioned vinyl decals and I think thats the way to go. They're stickers that you transfer onto the frame. I'm currently in the process of designing some era-correct vinyl decals in AutoCAD for an early 90's MTB I'm repainting and building up. Once I'm done a local maker has a vinyl cutter (like a Cricut https://www.cricut.com/) who's going to print/cut the decals for me.

I've got a 'Record' track bike, it was made by McBain Cycles in Tasmania, Australia:

https://i.postimg.cc/ZqBm6RmF/IMG-4530.jpg

(Sorry for the ****ty pic, it's the only one I could find that has 'Record' clearly.)

They pop up for sale from time to time, sometimes as cheap imports right up to custom frames.

My understanding was that Record was originally a Belgian marque.

A grand name for a mystère build with a French twist... "Le Saucisson" ;)

: Mike

Cycle record champion
 

Ou peut on trouver la décalcomanie champion comme record et victory ?

Welcome! Can't help you there, I'm afraid. Your best bet may be to have them made by one of the makers of reproduction decals.

I do have a bike with an Italian version, which kind of fits this theme:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e2ba554e48.jpg

Bonjour non-fixie merci , j'un un velo champion de cycles record avec une calligraphie qui ressemble à celle de victory que vous avez partagé , etant nouveau je ne sais pas encore partager de photo

Hi. I have an old Record bicycle.
Do you know where I can buy this decals here in Europe?
Thanks
Glenn

Borrowed from [MENTION=145147]dontStealMyBike[/MENTION]...a Belgium made "Elite" as sold by Wards in early 70s. Mine is long gone, a 12th or 13th birthday gift (72 or 73), I really wanted a Gitane but my folks went with Wards. All good, I could smoke all my buddies on their heavier Varsitys and Continentals on the uphills and my brakes worked on the downhills! My start with European bikes...and I did finally get my Gitane!!!
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachmen...1&d=1224536315