1987 FJ 1200 Tank Paint - Weird !!!!

[terryk]

OK, made an insurance claim becasue I saw a wave like scratch, looked like it was keyey, down the black stripe on both sides on my tank. Looked at a close up picture of the tank on another 87 FJ on e-bay today, same/similiar scratch in the picture. Is this a coincidence or something lese like a standard part of the graphics, can not be.

Here is the link and look at the scratch. Any other 87 owners out there with an original tank, do you have a scratch on the black stripe. DO-Do-Do-Do - twightlight zone.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320766333403

[FJmonkey]

OK, made an insurance claim becasue I saw a wave like scratch, looked like it was keyey, down the black stripe on both sides on my tank. Looked at a close up picture of the tank on another 87 FJ on e-bay today, same/similiar scratch in the picture. Is this a coincidence or something lese like a standard part of the graphics, can not be.
Here is the link and look at the scratch. Any other 87 owners out there with an original tank, do you have a scratch on the black stripe. DO-Do-Do-Do - twightlight zone.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320766333403

Looks like the stripe is old and crazing. If it is limited to the stripe then it is most likely age. I think my 86 has some signs if this.

[axiom-r]

That is definitely a keying incident and not crazing or other typical paint deterioration....  I thought it could have been something from a tank bag etc but after looking closely I think its malicious...

[racerrad8]

OK, made an insurance claim becasue I saw a wave like scratch, looked like it was keyey, down the black stripe on both sides on my tank. Looked at a close up picture of the tank on another 87 FJ on e-bay today, same/similiar scratch in the picture. Is this a coincidence or something lese like a standard part of the graphics, can not be.

Here is the link and look at the scratch. Any other 87 owners out there with an original tank, do you have a scratch on the black stripe. DO-Do-Do-Do - twightlight zone.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320766333403

Both of my 86's have the same cracking in the dark stripe; it is normal.

Randy - RPM

[SlowOldGuy]

Why does the eBay ad say Kawasaki FJ1200?

Also, that's an 1100 fairing on a 1200

DavidR.

[terryk]

To all  , thank-you for solving the mystery. We now have four confirmed cases of this weird scratch like issue with the tank decal. Best guess - aging uses the decal to spilt in a wave pattern after some amount of time. 

Even the insurance adjuster, who looked hard at this before writing a check and a very, very good detailer concluded that the bike was keyed. As did I. 

So, I had this matter fixed and will post a picture of the beautiful paint applied, no more decal just a very good paint match on the stripe color and two new mirrrors, CRG Mirror - Arrow - Black AO-100. The CRG mirrors are mounted bar end and provide an excellent view and little vibration or distortion. Look good as well. 

[axiom-r]

Wow. That is bizarre.  So the decal separates and cracks to leave that pattern???   I would never have believed that and am still sort of skeptical....

It looks exactly like a keying.... is there an indent- can you feel that line?  Would love to see shots of the same thing on different bikes.

Learn something new every day!


Cheers-

tim

[terryk]

You can believe it. The wave pattern looks like an artifact of the manufacturing process, my guess. Looks good until many years and many miles of hot and cold expansion, then whap. Separation of the top and bottom of the decal. I did not notice this when I purchased the bike and only saw the line when pointed out to me  by a detailer I was speaking with. He too thought this was keyed.

But, if you see this once on your bike it stands out forever like a neon light . It is like your gas tank is taunting you every day.

I was skeptical that this was a broken decal as well until I saw the evidence on that bike for sale. I made my wife come and look and she said, wow that can not be a coincidence as this scratch  looks just like your scratch on your tank tank.

Yes you can feel the  curvy lines on the decal, your finger nail catches on the break line. You can see the lighter white color in the crack as well, small in height but plain to the eye.