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Earlier this year, Kawasaki offered their “Flavorize your Z125 Pro” promotion: free custom graphics kits from the manufacturer with the purchase of a new Z125. Wanna make your not-a-Grom look like a micro Z900RS? An American flag? A camo road booger? Kawasaki could make those dreams come true.
The deal ended early this summer. That seemed to be the end of it.
But now Suzuki’s getting in on whatever action there is with the same thing for their GSX-250R (down to the flags and camo, interestingly). Even the Honda CB300R I recently reviewed can be optioned with racing stripe graphics from Honda (currently in other markets, likely coming here soon).
Are decal kits from manufacturers becoming more of A Thing? Should they be A Thing?
On one hand, why not? They’re free or cheap, and if they make someone like their motorcycle more, then who are we to ask why? Riders will forever want to try changing things on their motorcycles, and graphics kits are an easy, inexpensive (averaging $50-$150), and reversible way to scratch that itch. You could DIY the whole kit, if you'd like. Full decal kits also provide light protection against scuffs and scrapes, potentially offering a second chance for paint and plastics.
The skeptic might not have such a sunny outlook on factory sticker kits. Did anyone really ask for these? Are decal kits just a way to spice up stale bikes on the cheap? I haven’t seen a Z125 Pro or a GSX-250R on the road in ages, though that might have something to do with the camo… And if riders want more options for the designs on their motorcycles, then why not just offer them as factory trim? Why rely on stickers?
Before looking at this any closer, let’s take a quick trip to the dirt world. Decals for dirt bikes are as old as the first sponsor stickers (or hand-painted advertisements!) that racers plastered on their machines. Fast forward to today’s off-roaders and you’ll find a healthy aftermarket of graphics, from OEM replacements to race-replica kits. Maybe you love Common Tread so much that you’ll wear RevZilla’s own graphics on your ride.
In the street world, things are a little different Riders can still get completely obsessed with how a motorcycle looks, and there are certainly aftermarket options, but they’re far less prevalent. Some look great, but far too many leave me shaking my head. Who am I to judge if you think your motorcycle looks better covered in biohazard symbols? (Animals died inside my Honda’s frame, probably during the Carter administration. I just don’t advertise it.) By offering their own graphics kits, manufacturers gain some control over the way their motorcycles look in public. They can also ensure perfect fitment on two fronts. First, they make the bike, so they can nail the exact dimensions of each adhesive part. Then, by offering dealer installation, they can maintain quality control over application as well. Fitment and material are the difference between amateur hour and a slick factory look, after all.
Another way OEMs can leverage the graphic kit is by reusing their past designs on new bikes. With the retro craze still going with no end in sight, a manufacturer can easily add nostalgic designs to existing models without much cost.
What percentage of motorcycle owners customize their rides, even if it's just a bolt-on farkle or two? Has to be a high number. If these kits add another low-cost option and make some customers happy, maybe it isn’t such a bad idea.
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