[2021 Latest] What is an Itasha Motorcycle? A Comprehensive Guide to Custom Decals, Costs, How to Make Them, and Examples!

What are Itasha Bikes and Itansha (decorated motorcycles)?

Source: https://twitter.com/ToLieR_2/status/1053210026502844417/photo/4

"Itasha bikes" and "itansha" refer to motorcycles wrapped or painted with characters from your favorite anime, games, or other media.

Wrapping involves applying sticker sheets with printed characters, while painting typically uses an airbrush to directly design characters onto the motorcycle.

Wrapping is the most popular design method for Itasha Bikes and Itansha

For Itasha bikes and Itansha, wrapping with sticker sheets is the predominant design method.

Since characters are printed on sheets, even complex illustrations with fine details or patterns created by layering various colors can be reproduced.

Furthermore, unlike paint which requires stripping off if you want to change the design, wrapping can be easily removed, making design changes simpler compared to paint.

Due to the ease of design expression and the ability to easily remove or change designs when desired, wrapping is more popular for Itasha bike designs.

How popular are Itasha Bikes and Itansha?

Source: https://twitter.com/charisu11/status/1458257540689448962/photo/2

Itasha bikes and Itansha are very popular among a certain segment of users. As many people use social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram, you can see many individuals posting pictures of their Itasha bikes on their blogs across various social media sites.

Furthermore, the popularity can be gauged from the fact that popular characters, such as those from the currently trending "Uma Musume" (as of November 2021), are often featured in Itasha bike designs.

Considering the number of Itasha bikes posted on social media and the use of the latest popular characters in designs, it can be said that there is a definite surge in their popularity.

What is the cost of Itasha Bikes and Itansha?

Source: https://twitter.com/EVA02_cam0711/status/1458313073329012739/photo/1

The cost of an Itasha bike or Itansha generally ranges from about 5,000 yen to around 200,000 yen. For full wrapping with an elaborate design covering the entire body, the average cost is around 300,000 yen.

Application is typically done with stickers or airbrush painting, but generally, the more time required for application and design creation, the higher the cost. Therefore, complex designs, large application areas, or application to intricately shaped parts (like the fuel tank) that require more time will incur higher costs.

Besides surface area and complex shapes, designs using special materials like glitter or pearl finishes also tend to increase the cost.

If popular stickers are used for wrapping, the approximate costs are as follows:

Accent Sticker

The cost of accent stickers varies depending on their size and production method; larger production areas or more colors used will result in higher costs.

A single sticker approximately 5cm high by 15cm wide, including design modification fees for submitted designs, starts from around 2,000 yen (for a single color). In addition to the size of the sticker, it's possible to print with or without the background, or cut out just the character, allowing for customization based on the application location and preference.

Fuel Tank Only

Applying stickers only to the fuel tank is also popular, but the cost varies widely depending on the tank's shape, the size of the character to be printed, the number of colors used, and the type of sheet (special materials like glitter are more expensive), generally starting from around 10,000 yen.

Fuel tanks often have complex three-dimensional curves, with parts where the knees might touch recessed, requiring skill in design and application.

When applying to curved surfaces, air bubbles can easily form or the design might appear distorted. To avoid this, it's best to either steer clear of highly curved areas or apply smaller stickers to relatively flat parts to prevent air pockets and distortion.

Full Wrapping

Full wrapping is the most impactful way to display a design across the entire motorcycle, and for a full-cowl bike, the average cost is around 200,000 yen.

The cost varies depending on the complexity of the design and the area to be produced; using special materials like glitter or pearl finishes can push the price to 250,000 to 300,000 yen, making it suitable for advanced Itasha bike enthusiasts.

Since the balance of the illustration must be maintained across the entire bike, detailed consultations are necessary for production, and the application requires skill to apply the stickers to the specified areas without trapping air.

Requesting Design Creation

When requesting design creation, in addition to the raw material cost for wrapping stickers, a design fee is also required, which varies depending on the sticker's area and the complexity of the illustration.

The cost also differs depending on whether you submit a partially pre-designed idea or request a design from scratch. If you have a partial design, it's roughly 1,000 to 20,000 yen, while a design from scratch ranges from 8,000 to 30,000 yen.

Design fees tend to vary with the amount of work time involved, so the cost changes based on the area and complexity of the requested illustration. The more time required for design and revisions, the higher the cost tends to be.

Some companies offer free design changes or adjustments up to two times.

Itasha Bike & Itansha Case Studies

This section introduces real-world examples of Itasha bikes and Itansha.

We'll showcase everything from full-cowl bikes like the CBR250RR to American cruisers and Cubs. If you're considering an Itasha bike or are simply interested, please use this as a reference.

【YAMAHA YZF R6】Hatsune Miku Itasha Bike

Source: https://twitter.com/yspshiga/status/1087892912317190145/photo/1

This is a YAMAHA YZF R6 with a full wrap featuring Hatsune Miku, a VOCALOID character who sings freely from computer input.

The vivid pink color blends well with Hatsune Miku, creating a striking impression.

【YAMAHA TZR250RS】Uma Musume Itasha Bike

Source: https://twitter.com/SilenceSuzuka_4/status/1083036630942855168/photo/2

This is a YAMAHA TZR250RS with Silence Suzuka, a character from the hugely popular social game "Uma Musume Pretty Derby," designed on its side cowl.

The NGK and other stickers applied to the lower part of the side cowl also match well, creating a seamless finish.

【HONDA CBR250RR】Love Live! Sunshine!! Itasha Bike

Source: http://blog.livedoor.jp/lace_hornet/archives/52573004.html

This is a HONDA CBR250RR with Takami Chika, a character from "Love Live! Sunshine!!", an anime about nine second-year high school students chasing their dreams, designed on its side cowl.

Since it's designed in HONDA's traditional tricolor scheme, there's absolutely no sense of incongruity.

【HONDA CBR1000RR】iDOLM@STER Itasha Bike

Source: https://mobile.twitter.com/surluster_moto/status/1048771933582413824/photo/1

This is a HONDA CBR1000RR with Nao Kamiya from the idol-raising simulation game "The Idolmaster" designed on its side cowl.

The bike's body is based on black, and the purple of the designed side cowl and the accent of gold stand out beautifully.

【Harley FLHT Electra Glide】Love Live! Sunshine!! Itasha Bike

Source: https://twitter.com/upg_kyotoyawata/status/1336309179288494080/photo/1

This is a Harley Davidson FLHT Electra Glide featuring a design of the two members of "Saint Snow," a unit from "Love Live! Sunshine!!".

The overall design is beautifully executed, making it clear it's an Itasha bike from any angle.

【HONDA Super Cub】Idolmaster Cinderella Girls

Source: https://mobile.twitter.com/koumeP__BS/status/1289796190532276224/photo/1

This is a Super Cub featuring Koume Shirasaka from "The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls," which evolved from a social game into an anime.

The Super Cub's leg guard can be designed, and with the character and purple coloring, it looks quite unlike a typical Super Cub.

Key Points for Creating Itasha Bikes and Itansha

Source: https://twitter.com/Izumaki8/status/1458067822265856000/photo/2

After looking at examples of Itasha bikes, let's now introduce the necessary steps for creating your own Itasha bike.

We'll explain the process in order, including approximate cost estimates for steps where fees are incurred. If you're considering creating an Itasha bike or are simply interested, please refer to this guide.

1. Determine the finished image and design as specifically as possible.

First, start by visualizing the finished image as specifically as possible and deciding on the design.

If you "want to make an Itasha bike but can't imagine it," searching for Itasha bike images online for reference can be helpful.

If you only convey the character and then request the design to be made into a sticker, the design creation cost will be around 10,000 to 30,000 yen, depending on the illustration's area.

2. Decide the extent of the wrapping.

At the same time as envisioning what kind of Itasha bike you want, decide how much area you want to apply the design to.

Determine the design scope, such as applying it only to a portion like the fuel tank, or only to the side cowl for a full-cowl bike, or even full wrapping that covers the entire motorcycle.

Instead of designing the entire bike at once, it might be a good idea to start with a partial design, such as only the fuel tank, or only the side cowl for a full-cowl bike, and then expand the design to other parts.

3. Decide whether to prioritize budget or ideal design.

The larger the area to be designed, the higher the cost, so achieving an ideal design will likely require a considerable expense.

Accent stickers start from around 2,000 yen, while full wrapping on a full-cowl bike typically costs around 200,000 yen. Even designing only the left and right side cowls requires a budget of about 100,000 yen.

You need to decide whether to pursue your ideal design without regard for cost, or to set a budget and apply the design within that limit.

Finding reference designs can also be helpful.

When communicating your design ideas to a sticker production company, if you find it difficult to convey the image you have in mind, finding and sharing images of similar designs through online searches can make it easier to communicate your vision.

Common Mistakes with Itasha Bikes and Itansha

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There are common mistakes made when creating Itasha bikes, so we will introduce some examples here.

By understanding these beforehand, you can minimize the risk of failure.

Choosing cheaper 2D flat sheets

Stickers used for Itasha bike designs primarily come in two types: 2D flat sheets and 3D curved surface sheets. Since 2D flat sheets are cheaper, people often choose them based on price.

2D flat sheets are suitable for flat surfaces but tend to peel off easily when applied to curved parts. 3D curved surface sheets are designed for curved surfaces, offering flexibility, strong adhesion, and resistance to peeling even on curved areas.

Therefore, since motorcycle bodies have complex and intricate curved forms, designs are essentially made using 3D curved surface sheets.

Be careful, as choosing cheaper 2D flat sheets can easily lead to problems such as wrinkles or peeling.

Curves and uneven surfaces make processing extremely difficult.

Applying stickers to flat surfaces is relatively easy as long as you prevent air bubbles, but applying them to curved or uneven areas may require special techniques, such as making cuts.

Also, when applying a regularly printed character to a curved surface, it may not look correct after application (e.g., the character appearing stretched), making the processing difficulty extremely high.

Some companies will accept parts like cowls, apply the design, and then ship them back. If you're concerned about applying stickers neatly, you might consider this option. (Please note that in addition to the sticker production cost, a sticker application fee and round-trip shipping costs will be extra.)

Not properly measuring the actual size

If you don't measure the actual size, the design might overflow when applied, or conversely, there might be too much empty space because the size is insufficient, leading to a design that doesn't look as intended.

To avoid such issues, make sure to accurately measure the area where the design will be applied before finalizing what kind of design you want.

Insufficient cleaning before applying stickers

Thorough cleaning before applying stickers is also an essential step for a beautiful application.

If dirt, dust, or grease adheres to the area where the sticker will be applied, the sticker may lift or air bubbles may form easily, resulting in an untidy finish.

Before applying the sticker, make sure to thoroughly clean the application area, including degreasing.

Which bikes are easy to turn into Itasha Bikes/Itansha?

Source: https://twitter.com/Izumaki8/status/1458067822265856000/photo/4

Full-cowl motorcycles like the CBR1000RR and Ninja250 are easy to transform into Itasha bikes.

If the area available for design is small, characters may not be expressed well, so full-cowl types are better if you want to apply designs to a larger area.

Is it possible to make it yourself?

Source: https://twitter.com/hibuneai_103/status/1458090845194817541/photo/2

It is possible to make your own if you have commercially available self-adhesive sheets and a printer, but in terms of durability, such as resistance to UV light and peeling, it will be inferior to what a professional would apply.

Manufacturers like A-one offer sticker sheets that allow you to print stickers even with pigment-based printers, so it's a good idea to use those.

Can American Cruisers and Naked Bikes also be Itasha Bikes/Itansha?

Source: https://twitter.com/mk5_4450kv2/status/1458140822185013249/photo/3

Even American cruisers and naked bikes, which are not full-cowl motorcycles, can be transformed into Itasha bikes.

While the design area is not as extensive as with full-cowl bikes, limiting the design options, you can still create designs primarily centered on the fuel tank and seat cowl.

Can an Itasha Bike/Itansha be reverted to its original state?

Source: https://twitter.com/nori_nazuna203/status/1190990193634893824/photo/2

After transforming a bike into an Itasha bike, if it was done with stickers, you can revert it to its original state by peeling them off.

When peeling off stickers, gently heating the area with a hairdryer can make it easier to remove. However, when applying heat to parts like the fuel tank, there's a risk of ignition from vaporized gasoline, so it's safer to use sticker removers.

Itasha Helmet is also an option

Source: https://twitter.com/japannows/status/569864767180910592/photo/1

If making an Itasha bike is challenging due to budget or other reasons, another option is to design your helmet with characters.

Helmets are spherical, so applying stickers requires a bit of skill, but since the application area is smaller, the cost can also be kept down.

Summary

Source: https://twitter.com/Tubasa_Hoshino/status/1249512744312692736/photo/2

Various types of motorcycles have been turned into Itasha bikes, and events dedicated solely to Itasha bikes are frequently held, showcasing their popularity.

If you have a favorite anime or game character, it's definitely an option to design your bike as an Itasha bike.

While Itasha bikes are also made from naked and American-style motorcycles, full-cowl bikes offer the largest design area, allowing for more dynamic designs.