| Author | Message | ||
     Agent216 |
i found cf bodywork on ebay...for $1,107..is there a place someone knows about that might be cheaper....thanks for your time..mike | ||
| Terrys1980 |
Going with cheap carbon fiber is not the way to go. Cheaper cf with fade, crack and become brittle over time. | ||
| Froggy |
If you want good carbon, you are going to have to pay for it. There are cheap pieces from China on ebay cheap, but I can assure you they are junk. If you are just interested in the look, consider vinyl wrapping your stock bodywork. | ||
| Andymnelson |
By the way, what they are referring to is the eBay carbon...that's the cheap stuff that you have found. If you were to buy the following parts at American Sport Bike (the good stuff): air box cover tail section under tail front fairing fender chin fairing heel guards oil cooler scoop left side intake scoop ...it would cost $2735. | ||
| Agent216 |
thats what i was hoping i didn't have to pay..but...if i want the good stuff...thanks | ||
| Skinstains |
Buying the $1107 junk will be just like throwing $1107 out the window in the fast lane. Make a project of it and buy one or two pieces at a time from Al, you'll be glad you did. | ||
| Ghost_rider33 |
Any carbon fiber will fade and become brittle over time. The UV rays from the sun effect the fibres and the resin. After all, it is only graphite fibres and some epoxy. The best way to protect the composite material is to paint it, but then you dont get to look at the nice pattern of the carbon fibre. I want some Aramid Kevlar parts. I guess I'll have to make them myself. | ||
| Terrys1980 |
Well since you put it that way... maybe the main concern would be fit and finish? | ||
| Slaughter |
Many of the ebay "carbon" parts actually use an outer layer of carbon as decoration - just for the look. The structure itself is fiberglass. | ||
| Ghost_rider33 |
Maybe the difference between the "cheap" and "expensive" composites is the number of laminae and the actual orientation of the strands. Also the method of curing the composite comes into play. Some methods are cheap, such as cold curing. The problem with cold curing, however is it leaves too much resin. Vacuum bag curing works really well to draw the extra resin out. Double Vacuum Debulk is probably one of the best ways, but it is kind of time consuming to set up, and the artisan is limited in the size of project. If I were to do a project for my bike, I would use the vacuum bag method. It draws the extra resin out of the matrix making the lay up as thin as possible, allowing the artisan to lay more laminae into the project. More layers = more strength. Don't forget about strand orientation. | ||
| Agent216 |
I'm sitting here with my jaw wide open..wow,...thanks everyone for your imput | ||
| Glitch |
The structure itself is fiberglass, and heavier than the plastic you're replacing. | ||
| Slaughter |
Wesley - we should talk... heads up PM on the way. |
