| Author | Message | ||
     Reepicheep |
I am settling into my new 9sx, and really liking it. I will get a full report with pictures up soon, but have some questions for people in the meantime. Anyone noticed any damage to the translucid airbox cover from fuel drips? For the first three fill ups, any drips wiped right up, but on the last one I had a mark etched as a result. The last was at a generic station  So anyway, if you have the clears, be very careful to keep gas off them. The spots clean up, but its a PITA, and a fairly major unexpected burp could get by the rubber X or into the letters and be just about impossible to clean up. That leads to the next question, the novus 2 and 1 (and even a little judicious use of novus 3) seemed to do a great job of cleaning up spots I could get at, and cleaning up the spot where I ought to have a belt guard. It took some work, but came out very nice (not unlike using mothers on polished headers on my old Cyclone). In the meantime, anybody know of a good treatment to put on the translucid to get a little more protection from splashing gas? The manual mentions a harley protective glaze... anyone know any third party products that do the job better? I am assuming that stuff is Lexan, like my nalgene drink container, but don't know for sure. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Oh yeah, and while I am thinking about it, the third eye mirrors mount up quite nicely even with the little clips / caps that extend past the bar ends. Pop them out (friction fit), drill through the center of them, and buy a longer replacement bolt to replace the 3rd eye bolt, and a couple nuts and washers the right size to keep things from climbing into each other. Ill post pics of the net effect, it looks factory perfect. | ||
| Gowindward |
Have you consider a product like 3M's Scotchcal? could help if applied in the areas in need of the most protection? I just bought a piece to use on top of the airbox on my black 12R. Give a little more protection for a tank bag riding on it. | ||
| Captainplanet |
Reep, I believe that the clear blue plastics are surlyn just like the rest of the XB line. See some info here. http://www.dupont.com/industrial-polymers/perfume/colors.html | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Captain, I know the Blast uses Surlyn. Are you sure the XB line does too? For some reason (possibly a thread on another forum?) I was under the impression that the XBs used the same plastic typically found on the metric sport bikes. WYD | ||
| Bomber |
Reep -- try Butcher's Wax (available at craft stores and some older, we've got everyting hardware stores) -- I've used it on everything from polished metal to leather to plastics, and it does provide a fair amount of protection -- follow the instructions, as, once it hardness, it can be a bear to polish out | ||
| Reepicheep |
Good idea gowind, a good buckle guard that keeps the clean lines of the bike, and some key spots where Gas might drip. I'll scare some up. I am assuming it is stuff like used for the PDA screen protectors... How does it hold up for washing? Capt... based on that link, I think you are right. I originally thought it was Surlyn, but the interviews with the development team kept talking about how long it took to get it in production, and Buells been doing Surlyn for a while now. Either there was some creative license with the story timing, or there were other technical issues to work out (like making both inner and outer surfaces attractive). | ||
| Captainplanet |
WYD, The XB has always used surlyn for the bodywork. I did a lot of research before I dyed my bodywork on my bike. Makes sense to me that the 9sx uses it too since it is available in transluscent colors. | ||
| Reepicheep |
And while I am not doing the work that I am supposed to do anyway, one more thought. While working on my translucid airbox cover last night, I got condensation inside, but had cleaned the outside. It looked VERY cool. If someone were to take the blue translucid cover, and spray painted silver, or black, or whatever on the *inside* surface, it would look FANTASTIC. It looks like a quarter inch of clear laquer over a perfectly painted finish. Somebody with a black XB oughta try it, I think it would look incredible. | ||
| Gowindward |
Try this link http://www.clear-guard.com They sales the Avery Dennison version like the 3M product. They are both urethane films. The material holds up very well. I have it on the nose of my F150 in critical areas to protect the paint from rocks etc. It's nearly invisble from a few feet away. | ||
| Glitch |
Just some trivia. The reason it took a little longer was because they are using the same mold as they did before. Before they weren't as concered with the side you can't see so only polished it enough to let the part release from the mold. Now that they're using clear, they had to polish the "inside" part of the mold, nickle plate it or chrome plate it, so it would be nice to look through. I don't know this as fact, but have much injection mold experience. I do know for a fact however, they are using the same molds. For what it's worth. | ||
| Captainplanet |
I used to have the name of the company that actually produces the bodywork for Buell. I just can't seem to find it right now. If I find it, I will post it here. | ||
| Captainplanet |
Found it. Bemis. Panels on Buell X/B9R Firebolt motorcycles raced away with Recreation & Leisure honors. According to the molder, Bemis Manufacturing Co., Sheboygan Falls, Wis., early in the design Buell Motorcycle Co., East Troy, Wis., wanted to get away from painted steel and vacuum-formed parts and go to a single molded-in color material. Parts also needed a high-gloss finish in a variety of colors with an automotivelike color depth. In addition, parts had to withstand marring, UV, impacts, and be strong enough to support a rider. An ultrahigh-gloss ionomer/nylon alloy provides scuff resistance to withstand mud and gravel. It is also resilient. It won't crack if hit by flying rocks or if kept outdoors in temperature extremes. | ||
| Buellkowski |
Something I saw recently.... http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=4062&post=321948#POST 321948 | ||
| Midknyte |
You've touched on what must appear to many who see me at the pump to be quite an anal retentive habit of mine.  I always grab a paper towel from the window washer station between the pumps and hold it to the tip of the gas hose as I bring it over the bike and insert it into tank (and then again as I draw it away). | ||
| Reepicheep |
Follow Midknytes advice. I won't go into detail, but do it. It'll save you several hours and a bottle of novus. | ||
| Tripper |
PLEASE, do not describe this habit to us! |
