Factory Effex Graphics Kit | Mod of the Month

Vinyl wrap jobs are pretty common in the automotive sphere—you won’t find a dirtbike in existence without a graphics kit. But sportbikes have been largely excluded from the wrap world—save for the occasional stunt bike. Off-road enthusiasts have the luxury of utilizing various companies that provide numerous full kits, and one of those companies has crossed over into the sportbike scene. Factory Effex offers kits that range from trim accents all the way to full coverage (like the EV-R kit we installed) for the four Japanese manufacturers. The company utilizes scratch resistant vinyl that is thick, and therefore durable. Years of designing kits for motocross bikes has apparently trickled over to the sportbike design, which will be a good thing when a rock spits up into the fairing on the freeway and doesn’t leave a blemish.

Our 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R was in good shape, but the plain blue bodywork was a little too boring. We decided to spice it up so when the first rainy day hit we got to work and transformed the bike in a few short hours. To start, we gave the bike a good wash and a final wipe-down with rubbing alcohol. Be sure to stay away from detailing or other finishing sprays as they leave a film behind that can hurt the vinyl’s adhesion. One final installation tip is to partially adhere the different pieces until several adjacent decals are in place. Then the lines can be matched perfectly and pressed firmly into place. Don’t be afraid to peel back the vinyl if the lines aren’t matched or if air bubbles form.