Yamaha Bolt rim tapes / texts

Yamaha Bolt rim tape / text

I wanted to try to give the bike a sportier look with some rim decals. I wasn't sure how it would work out, so I cut the letters by hand before spending money and maybe ordering pre cut vinyl decals. I think it came out pretty good for DIY job. I'll probably do them again during the winter when I'll be taking the wheels off anyway. The design also needs some tweaking.

The rear wheel with decals installed

Yamaha Bolt / XV950 with rim lettering decals / tapes

A SHORT HOW-TO

1. Take some measurements of the rims
You need to know how tall the letters can be and how much space they will take. Note that the rim size measurements are not 100% accurate, but close enough.

2. Decide on a font and font size
If you will be cutting by hand, choose something with lots of straight lines. If the font is very wide you may run into trouble as the rims have curvature in many directions. The smaller the font, the more tears you will shed when cutting.

*2B. (optional) Design your rims using Illustrator or similar.
Use real world measurements to get an idea how it will look.

3. Clean the rims

4. Print the font outlines on self adhesive vinyl
You can buy sheets of this stuff and you can use it in a regular laser printer. DO NOT put just any sticker sheets on your printer! Melting inappropriate self adhesive sheets inside your workplace printer is not something you want to experience.

5. Cut the letters out using scissors and a scalpel type knife

This part will have you swearing or in tears or both.

6. Start putting the letters on
Print out a picture how the letters should space out. Helps to get you started. Italic or slanted letters are a bit more difficult to get right.

The lettering will of course bend to the contours of the rims and not be flat like in the picture above

Letters with thin outlines