Installation
How to Apply Your Graphics Like a Pro: A Step-by-Step Guide
New kit in hand but nervous about messing up the install? Don't be. We've put together the definitive guide to applying graphics like you've been doing it for years.
Why we built our own vinyl
When we started Backyard Design in 2011, we used the same vinyl everyone else did. Standard off-the-shelf PVC from the usual suppliers. It worked. Sort of. The colours were decent, the adhesive held up for a while, and the print quality was acceptable. But acceptable isn't what we're about.
The problem with generic vinyl is that it's designed for everything and optimised for nothing. Car wraps, signage, wall graphics, and somehow also motocross decals? That's like using the same tyres on a family car and a race bike. It technically works, but you're leaving performance on the table.
The three-layer system
Every BYD graphics kit is built from three layers that work together. The base is a high-performance polymeric PVC film with a solvent-based acrylic adhesive that's specifically formulated for the curved, uneven surfaces of motorcycle plastics. Unlike calendered vinyl that wants to lift on tight radiator shroud curves, our material conforms and stays put.
The second layer is where the magic happens: our print. We run wide-format solvent printers calibrated specifically for our vinyl. The ink bonds chemically with the PVC surface, not just sitting on top of it. This means the colour doesn't just fade slower; it becomes part of the material itself.
Layer three is our thick protective laminate. This is what makes the difference between graphics that last one race and graphics that last a season. The laminate absorbs impacts from rocks, boots, and pressure washing. It blocks UV radiation that would otherwise break down the pigments. And it gives the whole kit that smooth, professional finish.
Tested where it matters
We don't test our vinyl in a lab. We test it on bikes. Every batch goes through real-world testing before it hits production: pressure washer tests, UV chamber exposure, adhesion tests on multiple plastic types, and of course, actual riding. Our ambassadors run our vinyl in everything from British championship races to Australian outback enduro. If it survives that, it'll survive your Sunday ride.
