shalow 'deep' in clear coat after Tank Sticker removal!

[razteo]

Last night I removed the annoying factory sticker which was just north of the tank cap.
(Is a rectangular white sticker saying that you need to wear adequate protection when riding the vehicle, etc. It was a pain to remove that one, it took me a while).

But now, there is a shallow rectangular deep into the clear coat of the tank, following exact the shape of the removed sticker!
Is just a hair deep, but you having no problem seeing it.
Is not glue or anything, I have cleaned everything with Goo Gone is now clean & perfect, is recessed inside actually, as that was made in purpose to fit the sticker there.
Is not the metal of the tank bent from the factory in any way - looks like they applied the sticker before the last coat of clear coat, although if were done like that, would be impossible for me to remove the sticker without damaging the clear coat.
My sticker come out perfectly, there are no scratches, the gas tank looks like new, except this hair thin rectangular “deep”, very strange.

Anyone else had this problem?

[sxty8goats]

I haven't seen that problem but you can probably polish it up with a hand glaze or rubbing compound and a buffer.

[necrotimus]

Mines like that too but is only noticeable if it is pointed out to someone. I just don't wash my bike for a few weeks and then the tank is covered in enough dirt that it doesnt show.

[FZ1inNH]

This is due to sun fade of your paint. The sticker blocks the sun's rays thus doesn't fade.

I have to laugh when I see the ribbon shaped magnets on cars... try going up to any of them and moving the magnet to a different location.... yup! There's the outline of the magnet because all the paint faded around it!

The best and only good time to de-sticker the bike is right after buying it, before it has much chance of sitting in direct sunlight.

In time, it will catch up and be a lot less noticable.

[razteo]

Originally Posted by FZ1inNH

This is due to sun fade of your paint. The sticker blocks the sun's rays thus doesn't fade.

In time, it will catch up and be a lot less noticable.

I don't think the sun exposed paint will "dilate" and the one under the sticker will keep a "low profile".
Is no difference in the color, is just showing of a gap in the clear coat, you can feel it with you finger too.

[Andz]

Originally Posted by razteo

looks like they applied the sticker before the last coat of clear coat

That's definitely not done, I recently replaced my tank and it came with no stickers on it.

[Sawblade]

I had a dull spot from my tank sticker for a while, but it went away after a couple of weeks.

[victorb]

I had the same thing as what you described razteo when I took mine off. I used some rubbing alcohol and actually got rid of all the inside of the rectangle (was still some kind of glue / film that wouldn't get off with goo gone)

But still now, I can see an hair thin outline of the rectangle where the sticker used to be. It does feel like there is a recess in the clear coat when you touch it.. I gave up trying to take it off, doesn't bother me that much

[Nefilim]

I have an '07 the was garage kept when I bought it a few months ago and it's been under a carport/usually under a tarp. The stickers don't really bother me, but I may go ahead and remove them after reading this.

Would mine have color fading? If so, I'd probably just leave it on.

[CHEMIKER]

I had the same thing happen. I took my tank sticker off after a couple of months, and the bike was in the garage or under a cover for most of that time, so I doubt it's due to fading. Hard to tell whether it's glue or an impression in the clearcoat. My guess is that it's glue. Mine is still there over a year after removing the sticker.

It is a slight but distinct lip, and if I cross it with my fingernail I can feel it. It is small, but still bugs the crap out of me, and so far I have been lucky to resist giving into my obsessive compulsive nature to try to get rid of it. I have been down that road and it usually doesn't end well. I know from experience that trying solvents and scrubbing has a small chance of getting rid of the extra glue or whatever, and a high chance of leaving more damage.