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[RGlideKid]

If any of you are thinking of trying this, here's a simple short video that shows the removal process...

[RGlideKid]

For those of you who are reading this thread, I'll take it one step further. 
I wanted my old badges off and the surface clean so when the new badges come in next week, I can just put them right on.  If you watched the above video, I'll add a few tips to it.
First, use at least 8lb test fishing line.  Anything less will be frustrating.
Second, I didn't have a heat gun, but my wife's hair dryer worked just fine on high heat, low fan speed.
Third, you'll have a lot of left-behind rubber tape stuck to your tank.  Douse it with a little WD40, then go at it with your finger or thumb nails.  Be patient. 
When most of the thicker rubber tape is off the tank, take a rough rag like an old towel, and dab lacquer thinner onto the area, scrubbing lightly.  You'll have to do it about a dozen times or more, and keep changing the spot you use on the rag, as it will get black tape gunk on it.  Rub lightly and eventually all traces of the old adhesive will vanish.  I don't know how lacquer thinner will work on the flat tank colors (without a clearcoat), but it did no damage at all to my tank, and believe me, I checked it closely as I went to make sure the lacquer thinner wasn't damaging the clear coat.  It didn't.
Once all traces of the old adhesive are gone from the tank, use a mild soap to clean it, then rinse the area well and dry it off. 
Your tank is now cleaned and prepared for the new emblems/badges. 
Like most adhesive tapes, it's a good idea to clean and prep the area with lacquer thinner right before glueing the new badges to the tank.  And if you have some 3M promoter, use it after the lacquer is wiped off and dried completely.  This helps the adhesive tape to stick all the better.

[OBB]

I'll wait to see how yours turns out before deciding if I do this one again. I think the paint scheme is just a little different So the new emblem may not look quite right. With the curve of the tank, there's really only one spot that new emblem with stick to properly.

[RGlideKid]

I'll wait to see how yours turns out before deciding if I do this one again. I think the paint scheme is just a little different So the new emblem may not look quite right. With the curve of the tank, there's really only one spot that new emblem with stick to properly.

Mike,
I took a straight on picture of a 2012 street glide and overlaid it on our bike using software on my Mac.  They are within a 1/2" of the same overall length, and the tanks geometry is identical.  Besides...have you ever stood back and looked close at our OEM badges?  They don't follow the contour of the stripes on the tank completely anyway, and in my opinion lack the overall arch that you'll get with the eagle from the '12 emblem. 
Also, after getting our badges off, they are so thin and flimsy that they will bend to a different geometry if you needed them to.  It wouldn't be much of a bend anyway.  They are think aluminum and the adhesive tape will hold them snug anyway.  I'll be able to lay the new badge within 1/4" to 1/2" of where the old badge was, both vertically and horizontally altering the placement by that much to get it where I want it.  I'm expecting a look that will be a zillion times better than the original based on the overlays I did on my software.  It looks like I'll just need to tilt the eagles head higher about 1/4" to 1/2" max and lower the rear by 1/4" or so, and the curve will be even closer than the OEM part was to the pin striping.

[OBB]

I was more worried about how the emblem will line up with the stripes on the tank.

And I can't agree more that the badges they keep putting on these SERGUs just suck

[RGlideKid]

I was more worried about how the emblem will line up with the stripes on the tank.

And I can't agree more that the badges they keep putting on these SERGUs just suck

I knew that's what you were thinking.  I was concerned about that as well until I laid it out on the Mac.  With only a minor bit of adjustment (tiny bit of clocking the new one), the new badge came closer to being a pinstriping match than the original badge did.  But then there aren't many badges out there whose curve matches the curve of the tank pinstriping, so what the heck.  At least the new badge has the old one beat hands down for looks.
Whether I'm right or wrong about the whole thing, I'll post pictures of the two badges laid out on a table together, then the new badges when I have them on the bike.  I'll also let you know about any complications I had with the process.
Stay tuned.  I'm hoping to get the parts next week...maybe.
I agree about our OEM badges.  They definitely don't tell the story of power and prestige, that's for sure!

[OBB]

I knew that's what you were thinking.  I was concerned about that as well until I laid it out on the Mac.  With only a minor bit of adjustment (tiny bit of clocking the new one), the new badge came closer to being a pinstriping match than the original badge did.  But then there aren't many badges out there whose curve matches the curve of the tank pinstriping, so what the heck.  At least the new badge has the old one beat hands down for looks.
Whether I'm right or wrong about the whole thing, I'll post pictures of the two badges laid out on a table together, then the new badges when I have them on the bike.  I'll also let you know about any complications I had with the process.
Stay tuned.  I'm hoping to get the parts next week...maybe.
I agree about our OEM badges.  They definitely don't tell the story of power and prestige, that's for sure!

I'm patiently waiting. LOL I want it to look good so I can go ahead and do it.
 

[RGlideKid]

Mike,
Below is a scale drawing of what I think it will look like...approximately.
As you can see, the new badge does a lot better job than the OEM badge of following the contour of the upper light blue pinstripe.
This drawing also shows where the original badge sits (dashed lines) on your bike now, so the suggested placement of the new badge approximates the original location of the OEM badge, but I still think there's room for clocking/rotating the new badge or moving it back or forward slightly.
Once I have the new badge positioned exactly where I want it, I'll tape it to the tank with painters tape, then put small pieces of painters tape around the badge so I can align it perfectly again when I go to glue it on.
Hope the drawing makes sense.  This was the logic I used that told me the new badge would look cool on our tank.

[FLSTFI Dave]

And I can't agree more that the badges they keep putting on these SERGUs just suck

As do the paint designs!  The 15 is the same old 11 SERGU paint design, and the Burgundy is the same color as the 11.  Saw an 11 and 15 parked side by side, 90% Harley owners would have thought they were the same year.  Our blue was on the 13 CVO Road King, the silver on the 16 is the same silver that was on my 09.

Heck, look at the 16 Road Glide Ultra cosmic blue, has a better paint design lay out than our CVO.  The CVO Road Glide ultra has always had lame paint work.

[RGlideKid]

As do the paint designs!  The 15 is the same old 11 SERGU paint design, and the Burgundy is the same color as the 11.  Saw an 11 and 15 parked side by side, 90% Harley owners would have thought they were the same year.  Our blue was on the 13 CVO Road King, the silver on the 16 is the same silver that was on my 09.

Heck, look at the 16 Road Glide Ultra cosmic blue, has a better paint design lay out than our CVO.  The CVO Road Glide ultra has always had lame paint work.

Harley tried to say they pay attention to us and the details with their Rushmore project, but look at the evidence to the contrary.
1)  a brake lever that everyone wants to change out
2) the same old crappy handlebar design
3) problems with the boombox, especially the GPS
4)  the glare on the screen of the boombox, which could've been solved easily by changing the angle of the screen
5)  the paint schemes, as Dave mentions
6) the badge design, which is beyond poor on the '15 RGU's
7)  the compensator, and a host of other issues
and the list goes on...

Anyway, it looks like I've derailed my own thread, but I feel better now!   

Back to the business of changing badges/emblems/decals...In the research I did this past week, there are a LOT of people out there doing this to their bikes (and not just Harley owners).

[Dan_Lockwood]

You've probably already checked this out, but when I did some stick on emblems, the place on the tank that they went was "slightly" different than the originals.  The new emblems were contoured to match their original placement on the original tank and did NOT exactly match the contour of the tank where I put them.

So just make sure the placement is close and I'm sure they will fit snugly to the tank without gaps.

[RGlideKid]

You've probably already checked this out, but when I did some stick on emblems, the place on the tank that they went was "slightly" different than the originals.  The new emblems were contoured to match their original placement on the original tank and did NOT exactly match the contour of the tank where I put them.

So just make sure the placement is close and I'm sure they will fit snugly to the tank without gaps.

By stick on emblems, are you talking about the large "decals", Dan?  I know what a bite they can be to stick properly to a contoured surface.
After I got the OEM badges off my bike, I was a little shocked at how pliable they were.  Almost like they were made out of beer cans!  I think their bend can be adjusted someone easily, and with the strength of the new adhesive tapes out there, I think locking them down in place will be easily done.  Not saying the 2012 Eagle badge will be as easy to bend, but I don't intend to put it in too much different of a spot on the tank either, as you can see from my drawing.

[Dan_Lockwood]

By stick on emblems, are you talking about the large "decals", Dan?  I know what a bite they can be to stick properly to a contoured surface.
After I got the OEM badges off my bike, I was a little shocked at how pliable they were.  Almost like they were made out of beer cans!  I think their bend can be adjusted someone easily, and with the strength of the new adhesive tapes out there, I think locking them down in place will be easily done.  Not saying the 2012 Eagle badge will be as easy to bend, but I don't intend to put it in too much different of a spot on the tank either, as you can see from my drawing.

Harry,

I've done both, decals and emblems made of plastic.

The plastic ones I have done seem to only fit in one place on the tank and if you're off a bit, they have gaps here and there.  I was only saying to make sure the ones you're looking at using do fit where you've sketched without any gaps.  I believe that with a little heat, the plastic can be tweaked, but then you also run the chance of screwing with the double stick tape on the back side.

I'm sure you'll make what you're using work just fine.

Good luck and I'm excited to see the results.

[AMEDD_SFC]

Makes me think of this...      lol

Still looks great!  - Way better than stock.

M

[RGlideKid]

Makes me think of this...      lol

Still looks great!  - Way better than stock.

M

Only if they make a left side and a right side so the chicken's flying forward on both sides of the tank!