BMW roundels

[NC Steve]

I recently lost the roundel from one of my saddle bags and ordered 2 more, figuring I'd replace both so they'd look the same age, plus have a spare. They arrived today from Capital Cycle (shameless plug, great folks), and, like most or all other badges, they are press-on pieces. The adhesive may be bombproof, I don't know, but I'd feel a lot better using an additional method of adhering them into place.
 
Does anyone have experience with permanently mounting the roundels, as they are also used on gas tanks, seat cowlings, etc? Of course, those are metal parts, not a plastic as used in a saddle bag. And, the pieces have already lasted, I assume, the 31 years the bags have been with the bike, so maybe their lifetime was over and I should be happy and get over it? Any suggestions to keep them in place another 31 years? :-?

[Bob_Roller]

With my 32 year experience with the  BMW roundels, the metal piece departs and leaves the foam adhesive behind .

I don't know what you could use to prevent this from happening !!!

[NC Steve]

Maybe a small dab or donut of RTV adhesive, carefully applied so that it doesn't glob out the sides and make a helluva mess?

[Johnster]

RTV will do the job, but I'm not sure I'd trust it for the long haul on the outside of a vehicle.

I HAVE tested a product by 3M called "Trim adhesive" - comes in a medium sized tube, looks clear and its ultra tacky.  I used it to glue a car (VW Corrado G60) trim piece back to the (painted metal) hatch cover.
 Didnt come off in the rest of the 3 years I owned the car, and if you are familiar with VW Corrado's, you'll know that *everything* falls off of a Corrado at some point.  If I was in your position, I'd get that trim adhesive and plan on only doing it once-quickly.

Looks like this stuff:
http://3mcollision.com/3m-fast-tack-trim-adhesive-08031.html

You shouldn't need a whole lot for just a tank roundel, and it should fill in gaps if you ask it to, but when they say "fast tack" they mean it.

-John

[bruce_launceston]

The tape will stick, just make sure you clean the surface with metholated spirits to make sure there is no residual oil on the plastic.

They use tapes like this to hold panels on buses and buildings without any rivets.

If you want belts and braces use a dab of silicone sealant, as Steve suggested, in the centre, that stuff makes an excellent glue.

[Speyman]

+What Bruce said. Any ACE Hardware store will have double sided trim tape in different widths, thicknesses, strengths, and degrees of weather-resistant. Choose the right product and it will hold for a decade.

[montmil]

I just replaced the Beemer model badge on the seat tail piece on my R100S. An Airlist buddy in Houston TX had a OEM badge still in the original package! The part number and price sticker on the zip lock bag showed $6.82. I paid $25.00 for the pristine badge.

The badge included the OEM double-faced sticky tape but it was well beyond its "Best Used By" date so I utilized a black silicone adhesive for attachment. Perfect.

Used the same adhesive on both my R65's tank roundels and they are still stuck tighter'n a tick.