The Decal Craze Meets the Moto Craze

The dedication of a weekend warrior can often be gleaned from the number of weathered or peeling decals plastered on his or her toolbox. Most often referred to as stickers, these semi-permanent “tattoos” help remind us of our allegiance to a particular brand or sport.

Related: How to Apply Dirt Bike Decals Like a Professional

Believe it or not, adhesive paper (the building block of the sticker) was invented in 1839 by Sir Rowland Hill (for postage stamps!), and since then the idea of putting a logo or brand name on different media has undergone numerous incarnations. However, in the 1930s, silk screening had advanced enough for industrial use and mass production, and that’s when the decal actually inked its place in history.

In the 1970s, the decal craze met up with another craze known as motocross, and at that point, the die was cast and an entire industry evolved from stick-on advertising. From then on, the sticker has forever been an integral part of every dirt bike fan’s life.