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Ez_rider
Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 10:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just a question for others who may have purchased CF replacement parts (air scoops, etc). Are you happy with your purchase?

I just received and installed my left and right side scoops and oil cooler scoop yesterday, and now I wish I hadn't spent the money on the CF parts.

I won't mention which sponsor I bought them from, since my intent is not to flame the vendor. However, let's just say that I spent over $700 for these 3 parts, and I expected the fit & finish to be much nicer than they actually were. I had to use my dremel and make some pretty significant modifications to keep the scoops from rubbing against the cylinder jugs, and I also had to enlarge most of the mounting holes to give them enough "slop" to line up correctly. Also, the fit between the frame and the top of the right side air scoop is pretty ugly. There's a visible gap there that is going to be hard to conceal without making more mods to the CF part. I actually thought about packing them up and sending them back, but I had already started making adjustments with the dremel tool.

I guess I just expected more for such expensive parts. Frankly, I wish I had spent the money on something else. My advice to anyone considering spending big $$ on CF parts - save your money for other mods - don't waste it on expensive CF parts that really don't look too much better than stock!
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Pcmodeler
Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 12:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Well, I have the Buell Carbon fiber oil cooler cover. Fit really well. Finish was fine. Bought a front fender off ebay. It was one of the vendors that charged like $60 for shipping but $.99 starting on the part. I know some folks had problems with theirs. I did have to enlarge the holes a little bit, but the finish and stuff was fine. Got the Buell carbon chin spoiler. Fit and finish was fine. I just picked up a racing style front fender in fiberglass. Finish is a bit rough. Looks like a single layer of cloth with a lot of resin in the corners. Have a feeling it's going to crack unless the areas where it mounts don't receive another layer of cloth.
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99buellx1
Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 01:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

If you are unhappy you should take that up with the vendor/supplier. I'm sure that our sponsors would take care of you.

Bringing this to a public forum is not the correct action to take. Go to the source and get it resolved.
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Olinxb12r
Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 01:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Ez, give the sponsor a chance to make it right for you. If you don't say anything directly to them they don't know that you aren't happy. I'm not flaming you at all, so don't feel that I am, but in my dealing with the sponsors they have been more than happy to make sure the I am satisfied.
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Ez_rider
Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 02:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Guys - I agree that the sponsors would probably be willing to make it right. However, as I said in my post, I had already started making adjustments with the dremel tool before I thought about sending it back, and I'm sure the vendor would not accept a return that had been modified in any way.

99buellx1 - I disagree with your comment that it is not appropriate to bring this to a public forum. If you read my original post again, you will see that I was only asking for opinions from other members that have also bought the CF pieces. I wanted to know if they have had similar experiences with CF pieces IN GENERAL. I was not asking for anyone's input on a particular supplier. I've already installed the parts and don't plan to return them.
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Firebolteric_ma
Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 02:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i agree with Olinxb12r - the sponsors on this board go ABOVE AND BEYOND any other suppliers i've EVER delt with. give them a chance to make you happy. a simple e-mail may get you what you want. but you will never know UNLESS you say something and they also won't know you are not happy,so they can't fix it. if you don't say anything and just "suck it up" every time you walk out to your bike you will see the very parts you DON'T like. that would bug the crap out of "me" personally. badweb sponsors are not the typical parts suppliers that blow you off once you get the parts.IMHO
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Bullen
Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 11:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Really satisfied with mine...

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99buellx1
Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 12:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Another key part of giving feedback to your supplier is that hopefully they will check/change the way the peices are being made so that there are not fitment issues in the future.


Ez.
I still stand by what I said and that it seemed like you were bashing the *unamed* sponsor (good on ya for not bashing directly though), the product, and also telling people to not buy sponsor carbon because it's junk.
This I feel was unfair for ALL the sponsors, since we dont know who it came from everyone suffers. And it was also unfair without giving the sponsor a chance to make it right.

But that's the hard part about the internet and opinions, text can be taken multiple ways by different readers.
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Ez_rider
Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 12:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

OK, Just to clarify one last time - and this will be my last post on this subject:

My intent was NOT to bash anyone in any shape or form. The reason that I posted was because I have NO experience with CF parts (these were the first I have ever purchased) and I was simply asking if others had had the same experiences with CF in general. For example, having to modify the parts or enlarge the mounting holes to get them to line up correctly.

The response from pcmodeler above was the type of information that I was looking for.

To the sponsors - do not take this as bashing of any kind. I realize that these are AFTERMARKET parts, and will not always fit as perfect as factory parts.

However, I also stand by my comment that, in my opinion, there are better mods to spend your money on than CF parts. This is my own opinion based on my experience purchasing my first Cf parts.
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Typeone
Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 12:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I was simply asking if others had had the same experiences with CF in general. For example, having to modify the parts or enlarge the mounting holes to get them to line up correctly.

in a simple answer, yup. and they were not cheapo-random-ebay parts.
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Bikin2222
Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 10:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just got my over-sized right side air intake from American Sport Bike today, and it IS a quality piece!!
Thanks guys!
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Alanshouse
Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 07:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

IMO carbon fiber is gay.
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Yz450kid
Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 07:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

What are the real advantages besides looks? It seems like they really could'nt be too much lighter. Are they tougher? Do they need to be tougher? Pretty expensive if its just for looks IMO. They do look trick though, Im jealous.
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Heads
Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 08:18 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

EZ, i would expect the parts to be right the first time if it was me,considering the price tag.
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Jak
Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 09:09 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I second Heads comment. If you are going to produce a product for a particular bike/car/truck/etc. it should fit right the first time with no excuses because it was designed specifically for that vehicle. And I don't care if it is a $5 part or a $300 part, it should fit correctly. If you can't make something right, you shouldn't be making it at all. Grrrrr...
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Bikin2222
Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 09:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

"What are the real advantages besides looks? It seems like they really could'nt be too much lighter. Are they tougher?"

Yes, almost unbelievably light! And, strong as hell. A good, realistic analogy is: "Lighter than aluminum & stronger than steel."
Realize that the parts we're talking about only amount to ounces overall, but in racing, every little bit counts.
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Skyguy
Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 01:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Carbon fiber bike parts are like owning a Ferrari. If you do not have substantial disposable income you should spend your money elsewhere. One tip over and whoops there went 700.00!
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Black_sunshine
Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 02:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Skyguy....I made some CF covers to go over my frame pucks. My bike has fell over twice in the garage and landed directly on the Cf puck.....not a scratch. Cf is tough if it is made that way.

Here is the low down on CF......I have made all my own (see profile). Cf is only as good as the mold in which it is made from. Crappy mold = Crappy fitting part. For a good mold your tooling is VERY expensive (just ask Al @ www.americansportbike.com ) Hence the cost of "good" CF. You have to recoop the cost of expensive tooling for the mold. You can find examples of crappy CF on ebay all the time that is sold for major $$$. Sometimes it is just fiberglass with a CF beauty coat on the outside. This makes the part bigger, thicker, larger than need be.


Side note.....there is a benefit to CF. I have shaved off nearly 8lbs replacing all of the black injected molded plastic. I believe 6 or 8 lbs. = 1 horepower or something like that. Just take off your left air scoop and see for yourself how heavy it is. You'll be surprised. I agree, some CF is for looks only...i.e. the shinny glossy stuff and is just chrome for sport bikes. Take a look at the XBRR....the entire faring is CF and that isn't just because.
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