A set of bodywork is finished, some odd’s and ends to take care of but…not my bike mine will be in Texalium.
It’s carbon and s-glass. Thanks again to all of you for info helping me do this project.
I’ve always wanted to do that stuff, but what do you do about the mounting points? On my V-Strom, there are posts (of sorts) on the inside of the panel, that get pushed in, or bolted into holes elsewhere on other panels/tank. Did you have to deal with that, or are the fairings so easy that they are “flat” panels and you just bolt them on?
if that was confusing, think of a plastic hardcase to a mouse, or am/fm radio, etc. The screwdown holes are essentially posts, that you need a REALLY long screwdriver to get in the frikin’ thing.
wow very nicely done, did you use multi piece molds for the fairings?
How did you get the edges so nice? did you trim and sand?
nice even has the galespeed rims, mags or al?
The only inside mounts I had to do were on the upper fairing. I positioned the treaded rod’s where the needed to be and held them in place with a drop of CA glue (model airplane stuff) then wraped a strand of carbon around the rod, tight so it is in the groove of the threads then tacked the 2 ends of the carbon strand to the fairing with CA glue. Then I put 2 layers of s-glass over that and layed in some epoxy.
I’m sure there is a better way but it worked and the mount is strong.
The tail and side fairings are made of 2 pieces and the belly pan is 3, the upper is all 1. I still suck at making molds so I make single parts then assemble it.
The edges are sanded with 220 to the finished size.
for the mounts in that situation thou =, u would need the headlight unit everytime =|.
i wonder what an alternative would be. maybe make a jig of the headlight?
I made a 1/2 hearted attempt on making a jig but I thought the actual thing would be better, so I got a cheep headlight on ebay, and I will just sell it when I’m done.
oh, so its just a 1 off?
anywho, it looks BEAUTIFUL! =)
Nice work FZ…
Im surpised you put so much work in one offs…I hope you make some good cash on them.
I like though…keep up the great work.
Thanks,
I do it for fun and to see if I can. Any extra $ goes to my next bike race stuff ect. I will make 4 sets total(1plane,twill,Tex,and my bike you will just have to see :)). It’s better then sitting on my butt watching TV LOL and it keeps the wife out of my hair.
AHAHAHAHAH now thats better then Production Parts… =)
Shit I work so much that the chicks I date hate me.
hahahahaha
Since youve been playing around with the bodywork…are you flanging that stuff yet or still just hand lay up molding?
How about the ram air ducts, they dont look like you had to seam them in, or did you? doesnt that waste a ton of cloth to have enough go over those ducts?
Tell me more mang!
I do all my stuff with the VIP anymore, as for multi part (bolt together) molds, I have not had good luck with that yet I need more practice.
The upper fairing is all one piece ram air and all (the black plastic duct that runs to the frame is another piece, I will be making molds for), its a bit tricky getting the fabric in the area.
Here is a pic of the layup. YES, I still make ugly molds but they are much better then 1 1/2 years ago 
The other parts are not tuff at all.
do you find that you get some bridging? or are you very perticualr about tacking down the carbon with some adhesive into all the contours?
I get it all tacked in there, I let the gel coat cure so the fabric only sticks a bit. I cut the fabric to fit and use a paper towel with acetone to wipe the gel coat in the deep area’s to get it sticky again then start laying the fabric.
thats a good tip. never heard that. and theres no haze after or paper towel particals after ?
how about your mold, how did you make it, just overlay with some glass over the stock fairing or did you do something else?
I made a plug out of the stock one, but I had to do some mods to it like blocking (bondo) the headlight hole, build flanges, block out the turn signals ect. so I can make my race bodywork with the same molds.
I don’t have a problem with that but you need to keep the towel wet and be quick it dont take much, test it on a piece that will not show first.
i did! =P and it got so tacky … had to wait for it to dry again. i just use tack spray. but thanks for that tip!