How to attach tank emblems?

[QTreiber]

The previous owner filled the recessed area of the tank before painting it as well as the holes of the side covers:





I would like to attach "YAMAHA" emblems to the tank and "XS 1100" (Or should it be "XS 1.1" or "XS Eleven" for my 1979 Standard?) to the side covers.

What is the best way to get this done? Use double-sided tape with plastic emblems or stickers?

Thank you for any advice,
Armin

[DGXSER]

The emblems themselves are pretty tough to get ahold of unless your ready to spend $$$. Unless your ready to repaint the bike, Which looks like it would be sacrilidge to a nice paint job, I'd say double sided automotive body molding tape would be your best bet. Otherwise, if your really skilled at detail painting, you could paint the emblems on.

[Rasputin]

Short of sand blasting out the filled areas there is no other ways to attach emblems besides double sided tape or glue. That I am aware of anyways

[jetmechmarty]

Have a look at these:
650 Central Click on graphics on the left side of the screen.

If your pockets are deeper, these are nice:
Badge Replicas These can be applied with automotive double side badge adhesive.

[natemoen]

There is also a yamaha on the tail cover.

[fredintoon]

The previous owner filled the recessed area of the tank before painting it as well as the holes of the side covers:
I would like to attach "YAMAHA" emblems to the tank and "XS 1100" (Or should it be "XS 1.1" or "XS Eleven" for my 1979 Standard?) to the side covers.
What is the best way to get this done? Use double-sided tape with plastic emblems or stickers?
Thank you for any advice,
Armin

Hi Armin,
if you wish to spend serious money on replica badges that need the original holes to retain them, the sidecover holes will re-drill from the back easily enough.
The tank badge holes can be dug out with extreme care, a light mallet and a 1/8" wide wood chisel but that's an extremely difficult task to do without wrecking the paint and you won't know beforehand if the PO removed the badge retainer when he bondo'd the badge pockets.
Stick-on badges will work as will the decals from 650 Central.
I like their Triumph-styled Yamaha tank badges. Black and Gold, of course.

[Incubus]

I have used marine-grade silicon to attach badges to the side covers on my Hondas. It is very strong, so the badges stay on (three years and counting on one 750) and it is designed to withstand the harsh marine climate, so riding on the tank in wind and rain will not age it prematurely. The biggest advantage is that if you ever do decide to remove the badges the silicon will give without damaging the paint.

JMHO.

Patrick

[QTreiber]

Thank you very much for the advice!

On the side covers, should it be "XS 1100" or "XS 1.1" or "XS Eleven" for this 1979 Standard?

Greetings from sunny Colorado,
Armin

[jetmechmarty]

I believe the '79 standard badge is this:

[bikerphil]

XS 1.1 I believe is for overseas models.

[yamahansolo]

Mine were that way when I bought it. They look very clean when done right. I like the look of the new badges. I got mine on ebay for 6 bucks.
I thought about designing an 11 based of th 2006 r1 sticker the real slanted one. I wanted to do 2 1's

[TheRev]

How do you fill in the badge retainer? Do you remove the retainer and then bondo?

[fredintoon]

How do you fill in the badge retainer? Do you remove the retainer and then bondo?

Hi Jared,
I left the badge retainers in place when I filled in the badge pockets on my Special tank.
Uses less Bondo that way and the retainer helps keep the Bondo from falling out.
And besides, it's less hassle than tearing them out, avoids the small chance that removal would leave a hole in the tank and if ever I change my mind I can pick the Bondo out again.

[natemoen]

I had to very slightly bend the retainers in to clear the tank lines but just filled in over them. That way the badges could be put on later if wanted.

[mikubuilder]

on my Virago PO cut those retainers out with cutoff tool, making holes in the tank along the way....he didn't fix his F...ups, and just filled the cavity with cheap/old Bondo....needless to say tank leaked and I had to sandblast entire thing
Tank had bunch of pin holes in corners, so it was a good thing anyway( I silver soldered all of them)

I'm planning to buy decals, and spray clear over entire tank