Okay, now I’m going to talk about the right way and wrong way to buy and install graphics. I’m going to start with the wrong way because it’s the easiest way and probably everyone has done it this way at least once and some of you are probably still doing it like this.

First you shop around a little and find the cheapest place to buy your graphics or maybe you have a friend who has a friend that makes graphics and will make you a great deal. So you buy the cheapest "deal" you can find. Before your new graphics arrive, you rip off the old ones and spray down your plastics with some contact cleaner or if you bought new plastics; you think you’re good to go. When you get your new graphics, you peel off the backing paper and slap them on. Once you get them close just take a pin and poke all the large air bubbles and you’re ready to head to the track and show off your "new look". Right?

Let me break this down and take a closer look at what we need to do to get a professional look that’s going to last you for awhile. First don’t start with a discount graphic company or a friend of a friend. Remember the old saying "you get what you pay for" Ask yourself "are half price graphics really cheaper if I have to replace them 3 or 4 times more often" and in many cases, more often than that. There are some companies logos that scream "discount graphics" when you see them. That ain’t cool. Do you want all your friends to know you run the cheapest thing you can find? That’s like cruising around in a Yugo. Buy your graphics from a top rated company that’s been around for several years, let’s say like….DZ Graphics…That’s just one that came to mind right away. lol

Secondly, prepare your plastics. If you have brand new plastics you might think you’re ready to install your graphics, right? Wrong. Many new plastics may have a mold release on them; something they use so the pieces come out of the molds easier during manufacturing. At the very least they have been handled by people’s oily hands when they were put into the plastic bags for shipping. I recommend using an adhesive remover even on new plastics. When you do this you will notice that it will dull the plastic slightly giving the plastic a little roughness so that the graphic will have something to cling to. But you’re still not ready to install your graphics.

Next wash your plastics off with a dishwashing liquid made to cut through grease. Try to get the plainest type that you can find. You don’t want one that’s going to soften your hands or smells good because that’s going to have unwanted ingredients; just a plain one that cuts through grease is what you're looking for. Then wash and dry your plastics. If you’re using your old plastics, hopefully you were using a high quality graphic before, let’s say like (read this part fast)….DZ Graphics…(this was a subliminal message) Otherwise you may have an eighth of an inch of goo to remove. Even with a top company, such as DZ Graphics, you may still have some left over adhesive that needs to be removed. I recommend using a product that is specifically designed for removing adhesive from plastics. It will make life so much easier.

Most graphic companies offer an installation kit, including us, which includes adhesive remover. Spray it on, let it set for a few minutes to soften up the old adhesive. Spray it one more time and start wiping off the adhesive with paper towels. I find the shop paper towels work a little better for this although regular paper towels will work too. Get as much of the old adhesive as you can off and then repeat the process until all the old adhesive is completely gone. Then wash your plastics with the dishwashing soap as described above. I like to just throw all the plastics in the bathtub and scrub them top and bottom with a soft brush. You stand a good chance of transferring the dirt under your plastics to the adhesive of your new graphics if you don't clean underneath them. If you plan to install your graphics now, you’re ready to start because your hands should be clean from cleaning your plastics. If you plan on waiting until later to install your graphics, remember to wash your hands before handling your clean plastics or you’ll have your body oil on them just like when the factory worker bagged up your plastics. Okay, your plastics are clean; you are done with the hard part.

Next is the installation process. You can install your graphics wet but I prefer to install them dry. The reason I prefer the dry method over wet, is because when I want them to stick, they will; they don't tend to stick when they're wet. I tried to install graphics wet once. I had it all lined up where I wanted it and was ready to move on to the next area but the graphic wanted to move on also. So every since then I use the dry method. The following is the procedure I use. First I start with the easiest pieces and work up to the right side number plate, the beast of all beasts. (I'm talking about a big bike four stroke, smaller bike's right side number plates aren't bad at all) By installing you graphics from easy to hardest you get a chance to practice and the degree of difficulty will increase slightly with each piece you do. I like to start with a front number plate or a swing arm; something flat and work my way up to the "football" right side number plate.

Take the first piece you're going to start with; let's say the front number plate. Do a dry fit. By this I mean before removing any of the backing paper hold the graphic up to the number plate. See how far from the edge you need to start to get it perfectly centered on the plate. Make a mental picture of this. Starting on the left or the right side, peel back about an inch of backing paper and fold it flat against the graphic. Most number plates curve from left to right so it's easier to install the graphic that way than going from top to bottom. The graphic will have one inch of adhesive area exposed and the backing paper will still be on the rest of the graphic. While holding the exposed adhesive up slightly away from the plastic, re-align the graphic to where you made the mental picture. Hold the graphic in place and start "smoothing" the graphic from the edge of the folded backing paper toward the outside of the plate. Do this by rubbing your thumb up and down the graphic while moving towards the outside edge so as not to trap any bubbles. Now lift up the part of the graphic, that isn't stuck, and from underneath slowly pull the backing paper off while using the same "smoothing" technique as before. Use your thumb slowly up and down while working toward the outside edge of the graphic.

If you get a bubble near the edge where you're working, don't fret. Simply pull up, firmly but slowly, until you release the air bubble, then continue. Don't do this if you are using cheap graphics or your adhesive will probably pull away from the back of the graphic and stay on the plastic. With cheap graphics you're better off to wait until you're through and poke any air bubbles with a pin. Do yourself a favor and don't use cheap graphics in the first place. This will only be the first of many problems with cheap graphics. When you get done "smoothing" the graphic all the way to the edge, you're done. The secret is to take your time and go slow. You tend to trap air under the graphic when you "smooth" to fast in working towards the edge. The only other thing I like to do is to go around the edge of the graphic, after it is installed, with a heat gun and heat up an area about 2 to 3 inches long and press the edge down using the "smoothing" technique. Continue in this fashion until you get all the way around the edge. It only takes a couple of seconds of heat in an area to accomplish this so be careful not to get it too hot or to burn your self. You don't have to do the "heating step" but it will assure the edge is sealed down tight to keep dirt and water from getting started underneath your graphic.

A couple of additional tricks I use is, one, when installing the rear fender, do a dry fit, then install the flat part ,down the middle, of the fender first and then come back and fold over the two sides. It works easier than trying to fold the sides over as you go. Then there is the right side number plate. This can still give experienced installers problems. Fortunately the material that DZ Graphics uses conforms to the shape of your plastic better than our competition does. This at least makes it a little easier. In most cases, when you do a dry fit on this piece, you might feel like it's not going to fit. If you bought it from us it will fit. I like to start at the top and work down over the curve. The technique is similar to doing the front number plate, and by now you should have practiced by putting on all the other pieces. Peel back about an inch of backing paper and stick the graphic down in it's starting position. Then just start the back and forth "smoothing" process just like before. As you start to notice having excess material you can "shrink" the material slightly by applying a little heat. Start with a small amount of heat until you determine how much you really need to use. After using heat, let the graphic cool before proceeding, so as not to stretch the graphic. The real secret is when you are just about done, try to avoid having "one" area of excess material. Ideally it is better to have several smaller rolls, or waves, of excess material at the bottom because it is easier to smooth out several smaller one than one large one. Heat will be your friend here at the end.

You will find that practice makes perfect; and while there looks like a lot of steps to installing graphics, it's really quite simple; Start with a good quality graphic, prepare your plastics and take your time. I have all the faith in the world that you can do this. If for some reason you don't want to attempt installing your own graphics...for a nominal fee DZ Graphics will install them for you. Just remove your plastics, perform the cleaning process, and mail them to us. We'll send them back with you graphics professionally installed. And starting soon you'll be able to buy new plastics from DZ Graphics and you'll have the option of purchasing them with or without graphics already installed.

Good luck and happy installation. Remember, a good looking bike makes you feel better; when you feel better, you ride better. Call us today and order you new graphics and/or pre-printed backgrounds and see what a difference it really can make. 1-888-756-6565 (toll free)

Hello again Customers and Friends of DZ Graphics,

Well the outdoor series are starting to kick off across the country. I know the Oklahoma State Championship kicks off this weekend in Anadarko, OK. It was supposed to have been last weekend but due to record snowfalls, 27” in 24 hrs, and record cold, minus 31 degrees in some parts of the state, I guess they thought it would be best to postpone the race a week. This weekend it’s supposed to be in the upper 60’s…only in Oklahoma can we change so drastically in a week’s time.  Looks like a great call by the State Series folks.

Unfortunately, DZ Graphics will not be able to make a showing at the first Oklahoma State race. We are presently buried up to our eye balls in orders and are working around the clock to keep up with production. We will miss seeing and talking to all our old friends and meeting new ones at the race, but we are also enjoying all the business. We want to take this time to think all the people that are ordering from us and telling your friends about us…keep up the good work. We would like nothing better than to have to staff up in order to keep up with all the orders coming in.

Obviously we must be on the right track with supplying what you guys are look for in graphics but we also want to stay on top of your wants and needs, so feel free to give us feedback and comments on what you like, don’t like or want to see in the future from DZ Graphics. So lets hear your ideas.

 We have a few things on our list of things we want to do, if we can find the time, such as making it out to more local races. We do plan on making it to the Wichita, KS AMA Arenacross as well as the Littlerock, AR Arenacross races. Be sure to watch for the

Arenacross coverage starting this Sunday on SPEED with the Tulsa, OK race.  We also plan on being at the SX at the Cowboy Stadium in Texas next month. Another item on our list is to update our web site. We keep saying that but one of these days it will happen.

 DZ Graphics is also planning on selling new plastics, so you will be able to buy replacement plastics or have the option of buying NEW PLASTICS with your NEW GRAPHICS already installed ready for you to bolt on and ride. Can it get any better than that?

We also want to give our truck and trailer a new look with a new updated wrap on both of them. For those of you that know me personally you know I have a dream of converting an RV, we have, into the ultimate Pit Party vehicle. We would be able to entertain riders and families with music, video games and films on big screens outside the RV at the races we attend. I’m hoping to at least get started on that dream soon. Maybe with a lot of luck I might have a start on it and be able to bring it out towards the end of the year; maybe.

Well enough rambling. I better get back to work or we’ll never catch up. Thanks again for your business and friendship; they both mean so much to us. Until we meet again, ride fast and ride safe and everybody stay healthy! See ya.    

Well this is a test to see if this blog is still working. After I posted our first blog, I commented that I was going to keep it up to date. So much for that. Shortly after I posted that comment, I lost all the log-in info. I just found, what I believe to be, the missing info. I'm going to give it a try and see what happens. If it works I guess you'll be reading this; if it doesn't work, you'll never know about any of this including how much time it took me to type it all.

We are currently in our "crazy" season. I guess everyone gets excited about Arenacross and Supercross (as do we) and orders their new graphics and/or number backgrounds. Management took some time off and followed the AMA Arenacross to their first three races; Tulsa, Kansas City and Dayton. DZ Graphics has "Great" representation at these events. We are proud sponsors of Team Spinechillers featuring Nathan Skaggs #5, Zach Ames #6, Willy Browing #10 and Patric Massie #181. Patrick is the team's Lites rider and is doing an awesome job so far. We are also proud sponsors of Team Faith featuring Kevin Johnson #12 and Kelly Smith #17. Team Faith had a slow start but seem to be coming on strong now. We are also proud sponsors of two privateers with Chad Cook and Tanner Young. Chad has two AMA Arenacross Lites class wins under his belt while Tanner  has transferred to the main event out of his heats several times and had a seventh place finish in Denver last Saturday.

We follow all the arenacross race action on arenacross.com where they have a live blog each night of racing in which Lisa will keep you up to date with whats going on, plus, she will answer any, most, ok some, of the questions you ask by just typing them in. I'm just giving her a hard time; she usually will answer anything you ask. The answer might be "I don't know" but it's an answer just the same. This year they have added live timing and scoring. You can keep track of who's running in what place and see who has the fastest lap times. It uses the rider's transponders so it is usually accurate, except when Patrick Massie's transponder falls off, like it did at the Denver race. The lap times and scoring run a lap or so behind the actual race action but it is still a nice feature.

Ok, this is a graphics company blog so I need to add something about graphics. We have started using a new vinyl in the manufacturing of all our bike graphic products. We sent the new graphics to our sponsored riders to test the product and here are the results. While the riders were already happy with the durability of our old product, over the graphic companies the used to use, they said our new product is even better than our old. Each rider reported back with nothing but positive comments on the new graphics. Well needless to say we are now using this new product for all our 2011 bike graphics. On top of their superior durability thay have a much glossier look to them; sort of a "wet" look. If you haven't  ordered your new graphics this year yet, better give us a call.

We also have plans on updating our web site, which is long over due. We can,, and will, still offer any of the designs that you see here, but to see our latest designs, check us out on Face Book at www.facebook.com/dzgraphics. Then look under photos to see all of our current 2011 designs. Of course we still do complete custom graphics as well.

Now is the time to see if this works. If all goes well I will try and keep up on this blog this time. I can hear some of you right now saying "We heard that before" and that may be what happens again, but I am going to try and keep it current. Thanks to all of our DZ Graphics customers. You are so much more than just customers; you're part of the DZ family and we want you to come and talk to us when you see us at races, whether we're there vending or as spectators just supporting the sport we all love so much, come say "Hi"

Until I post again "Have fun and ride safe"

Congratulations, you found our blog. We created this page to let people, such as yourself, know what's new at DZ Graphics and also let you know what events were going to be attending. We'll try to keep this blog current and interesting, so check back often.

As more and more people have been discovering DZ Graphics, we found it hard to keep up with the demand for our products. This gave us no other option than to increase our staff. We are happy to announce that we have brought on board another full time designer and a part time designer to help meet this demand. We are now digging our way out from under our backlog of orders. When we finally get caught up, be looking for some exciting, new products that we will be introducing. Sean is our new full time designer and he brings with him a  new direction in graphic designs that we will be adding to our existing line of graphics.

We are planning on making an appearance at Tulsa Motocross Raceway this Saturday night (March 21st) for the first race of their new series. Stop by and say hi. If you're not familiar with DZ Graphics, let us show you why we stand out above the rest. Sean is planning on being there and, for a nominal fee, he will draw your caricature. Have one drawn of yourself, your little racer or little race fan. These will be an awesome item to frame, and hang on your wall, or give to someone as a gift. Even if you don't want a caricature drawn, stop out and meet Sean and some of the other members of the DZ Graphics team. We'll see you there.

Next Friday night (March 27th) we'll be at Area 51Motocross Park in Stillwater, OK for the DZ Graphics Kick Off practice. Come join us there for a night of organized practice under the lights. Gates open at 6:00 pm, practice is from 7:00 pm to Mid-night. Be sure to make it to that one. Its sure to be a fun time for all.