Tankslapper Kit 06

[flienlow]

I think I have the correct kit. It's really nice of tankslapper to just send a box them in there. No directions, or even a hello!

Here is how I have been installing them.

1. Clean Surface

2. Take a spray bottle w/ water and spray surface.

3. Install with blue tool

4. Cuss.

5. Contiune to cuss adding more and more adjectives while chasing bubbles and areas that lay flat and then pop back up.

I must not be doing this right?

 

[pawtracks]

I think I have the correct kit. It's really nice of tankslapper to just send a box them in there. No directions, or even a hello!
Here is how I have been installing them.

1. Clean Surface

2. Take a spray bottle w/ water and spray surface.

3. Install with blue tool

4. Cuss.

5. Contiune to cuss adding more and more adjectives while chasing bubbles and areas that lay flat and then pop back up.

I must not be doing this right?

I didn't get my kit mailed to me, but talking to Lucas he skips the flashy packaging to keep the cost as low as possible. I for one kind of like that approach, I don't need to waste $$ on something I am going to throw away. Maybe you can print out the below page or bring a laptop out to the install area (WiFi)

I will say his web site is not the most user friendly in the world and as I write this I find myself at a loss of words how to describe to someone a technique that takes practice. I cut my teeth on window tinting so I have a feel for how to lay down a film and get the bubbles out without damage or tons of effort.

My advice:

-Make sure you have the right kit. (since there is no label on the package you will just have to test fit a few pieces, do the contours/curves match up)

-Dry fit the kit (measure twice cut once advice)

Follow the instructions here

Link

This page has all kinds of tips and instructions.

I would rather have it here than rolled into a price increase he has to pass onto everyone else.

-Start with an easier piece (Tank where your knees go) something with less contours

-Make sure you use enough water solution, get about 90% of the bubbles out by lifting edges and smoothing out with your fingers as you lay it down.

-Push the water in as much of one direction as you can. This helps minimize "chasing bubbles"

-If you have some really hard bubbles, lift the edge and try it again, sometime it takes a few trys.

-If you have to lift an edge spray it again when you start over.

Bottom line I guess, it takes some practice, patience and a little skill.

Not everyone can do it.

Maybe you have a car stereo shop nearby (not sure where you are located your profile does not say)

Many car stereo shops do window tinting and have some kids with amazing skills & talents.

I would think the charge would be fairly cheap since it is pre-cut and you are supplying the material.

Maybe they will even let you watch.

Worst case have them do the pieces you find impossible (or all of them)

Good luck, hang in there.

 

[flienlow]

Thanks pawtracks-

It's not that I can't do it, it's just that is a PIA to do. Example, on the tank, he cuts it so that the piece that runs down in front of you almost bigger than the tank so I have some over hang, and I get bubbles in that way. Same with the left side head light. You say "water solution" am I missing something? what solution is in the water? If there is supposed to be a solution included in the kit, I did not get any. I will take a look at the link above.

 

[pawtracks]

Lucas made up a mixture of water, rubbing alcohol 70/30 in a spray bottle.

He used a few different bottles (I assume the same stuff was in all)

It is on the instruction page but in the 3M section (lower down)

Could be he used just plain water in the rest but I don't think so.

Might be a little different on an 06, but my piece (tank part in your crotch) goes all the way down the edge, behind the seat (no overhang) . Are you saying if you slide that piece so it lines up with the natural contours of the tank you have overhang below the seat? My 05 piece lines up at the bottom or very near to it, then follows the natural tank contours up to about where a belt buckle would hit the tank (If I were wearing one and leaning forward) Sorry if that doesn't make 100% sense

The headlights were a bit tricky.

We sort-of tacked down upper corner (got it to stick) dry-fit pre-alignment is key here, then sprayed the headlight and film, then stretched it across the lens at an angle. Sprayed to get the outside wet so the film is not scratched and pushed the excess down tight (top & bottom)

 

[GreyGoose]

I think I have the correct kit. It's really nice of tankslapper to just send a box them in there. No directions, or even a hello!
Here is how I have been installing them.

1. Clean Surface

2. Take a spray bottle w/ water and spray surface.

3. Install with blue tool

4. Cuss.

5. Contiune to cuss adding more and more adjectives while chasing bubbles and areas that lay flat and then pop back up.

I must not be doing this right?

Flienlow

Surface should have a good coat of wax on it. use a 30% rubbing alchohol / 70% water mix. the rest of what your doing is correct. the tank area should have been pretty easy. its those bags that will break you dude. I'm not all that happy with my first attempt. Lucas sent me another strip to try again after i ordered a tank kit for my nephew. I cussed, squeegeed, and hair dryered, and squeegeed more, for two frigin days. Still didnt come out as well as i would have liked. once it stops raining (last five day) and sun comes out, i'll see what kind of effect that has on the material. then decide what to do. Id tell you to stay with it, but i finally gave up. if the corners of that 3M material wont stay down on those bags after two days of work, then they dont belong!!!

GreyGoose

 

[flienlow]

Well, I am done with what I am going to do. I finished all the tank, the very front cowl being the front wheel, and the foot pegs. The 2 lower cowling ones they sent I have no Idea where they go, they have bolt hole cut outs that are not there. How come they dont give you ones that cover the whole tank? And why in the hell dont they give you ones for the sides of the farings? those foot pegs ones are going to rip off in no time, that was just stupid in my opinion. I would much rather have my fairing protected. This is my last tankslapper kit for sure.

 

[GreyGoose]

I think they made a mistake with the kit with those two extra pieces your talking about. I'm in the same boat. Theres just no place for them to go on that front fairing. I'll bet there left over from the 05. Let see if those tankslapper pieces stay on over time. If not, i'll be done with it. I would continue to use the 3M material though. It saved my bags on my st11 and st13. i may get a pro to do it next time. Luckily is only about bucks to give them another shot.

Another day of rain and i'll die. 5 days straight. had the fjr for 2 weeks and only have 200 miles cause of this stinkin rain. watched a month of good weather go by waiting for it. now that is here, it sits...aaaarrrggghhh!!!

Greygoose

 

[Fjrtn]

Guys...don't get so upset and discouraged. It took me a while to figure out where the '06 pieces went since I had already installed my friends kit on his '04. I believe the '06 kit pieces are all different except for the bags. The two pieces (one with one hole goes on the left side sitting on the bike and the other with two holes goes on the right) go on the lower fairing area. Forget about the holes :huh: and first dry position the pieces and you will see how the shape fits the area to be protected. You will eventually see the correct position by turning these two pieces at different angles until it becomes clear. These two pieces were some of the easiest 3M pieces to install without much wrestling . I trimmed my headlight pieces a bit on the bottom to take some of the curvature out since the 3M material is much harder to coax into curved areas. I also split the long piece that goes on top of the bags into two separate pieces with scissors prior to installation in order to make the rear curve on the bags much easier to negotiate. Sometimes I think you need to trim certain areas for a more perfect fit since it is very difficult to get the pieces in exactly the correct starting position. Don't be afraid to partially lift areas in order to trim for good fitment and then redo that area making sure you use plenty of liquid on the disturbed area.

The 3M stuff is always much harder to do than the regular film. As stated above, and in Tankslappers instructions, make sure you use a water/alcohol...70%/30%...mixture for the 3M pieces (I used the mixture on everything). The 3M stuff is not nearly as forgiving as the regular film. Make sure you use plenty of water both on the surface and on the material. It just takes lots of patience and a little practice to get it looking right. Also, working on the stuff on a rainy or humid day seems to help some too.

Well, that's my two cents...whatever that's worth to anybody .

Fjrtn

 

[paste007]

I purchased the Tankslapper kit and the reflective pieces for the back of the saddlebags. When I told Lucas that I was not gifted when working with my hands, he volunteered to install the entire kit for no charge, if I was willing to ride Fifi (new '06 FJR) [Now you know that the F in FJR stands for.] to his shop in Escondido.

Sounded like a good excuse for a run down to the San Diego region, so this morning, I did just that.

Lucas did an outstanding job installing the tankslapper kit and his wife even brought out cookies and a beverage.

Thank you for this uncommon courtesy.

 

[borrec]

Just got email from Lucas.

It has come to our attention that two of the pieces in your 2006 FJR "Tankslapper" kit may have been cut incorrectly. If you have a fit problem with the two side pieces of the tank near the saddle and the "Tank Top" piece forward of the fuel inlet that don't meet your expectations, please allow us to replace them for you at no cost.

To get the replacements, reply to this email with your name and address and we'll get better fitting pieces off to you right away.

Thanks,

Lucas

I asked:

The 2 red (3M) ones marked as lower fairing (left has one hole and right has 2 holes) I have no idea where they go.

Lucas:

They wrap around the lower fairing at the front wheel - the holes accommodate the mounting screws under the bike and can be helpful in the orientation or placement -Thanks.

I replied:

That takes care of the left now, but the 06 has no screws on the bottom right.

Lucas:

? The one we had in our shop and not only did it have the one screw hole on the right, but a drain hose hole as well...

Not my 06. Anyone have more than one screw on underside of front fairing? :huh:

 

[paste007]

The '06 that Lucas took the new measurements from was mine. Purchased in California. Maybe that's why they're reported to be faster than those sold in the other 49 states.

 

[borrec]

The '06 that Lucas took the new measurements from was mine. Purchased in California. Maybe that's why they're reported to be faster than those sold in the other 49 states.

That explains the diffferences in those bottom 2 panels. The other 49 states will be faster due to less weight and no drag from the extra hose and screw the CA ones have. :yahoo:

 

[GreyGoose]

Just got email from Lucas. It has come to our attention that two of the pieces in your 2006 FJR "Tankslapper" kit may have been cut incorrectly. If you have a fit problem with the two side pieces of the tank near the saddle and the "Tank Top" piece forward of the fuel inlet that don't meet your expectations, please allow us to replace them for you at no cost.

To get the replacements, reply to this email with your name and address and we'll get better fitting pieces off to you right away.

Thanks,

Lucas

I asked:

The 2 red (3M) ones marked as lower fairing (left has one hole and right has 2 holes) I have no idea where they go.

Lucas:

They wrap around the lower fairing at the front wheel - the holes accommodate the mounting screws under the bike and can be helpful in the orientation or placement -Thanks.

I replied:

That takes care of the left now, but the 06 has no screws on the bottom right.

Lucas:

? The one we had in our shop and not only did it have the one screw hole on the right, but a drain hose hole as well...

Not my 06. Anyone have more than one screw on underside of front fairing? :huh:

Borrec,

I with you on this one. We've been looking for where those pieces go for a week. There just not there. It aint you. I thougth i was going nuts. Finally just gave it up.

GreyGoose