Side Cover Idea

[bakirkwold]

Okay guys. I have an idea take my current side cover (I need a right one if anyone has one) and wrap it in carbon fiber. I am leaning toward the fake/real stuff like this http://www.amazon.com/Carbon-Fiber-V...sim_sbs_auto_1 but using real carbon fiber is not out of the picture. what do you guys think?

[UncleMike]

Why would you want to do this? To add weight?

[bakirkwold]

Because it looks nice and it keeps me from painting my side covers.

[UncleMike]

It's going to fold over itself when you apply it.

Maybe you can hospital corner the edges?*

[bakirkwold]

The real stuff or fake stuff?

[UncleMike]

The stuff you linked to.

It's just a sheet, so when you try and lay it over a contoured surface it'll have to fold over itself. Unless you slice pie sections out of it, it would never lay flat I would think.

[bakirkwold]

I am not doing to do the edges it will stop before it flares out.

[UncleMike]

Doesn't matter. The covers aren't flat. Go ahead and take a sheet of aluminum foil and spread it out over your sidecover. It'll wrinkle and fold.

[bakirkwold]

Alright that's a good proof of concept

[bakirkwold]

I see what you are saying but I think you can make it work.

[four_shot]

Maybe it'll stretch a little? I've heard of warming vinyl with a heat gun while reskinning upholstery. It may distort the grain of the pattern but IIRC when you form true C/F it would do the same thing.

[bakirkwold]

I am just going to use a black fiberglass. It looks very close to real carbon fiber. Since I do not care about how strong it is. Do you know if the resin will stick to the plastic side cover?

[kochic]

The epoxy resin bond better than polyester one.
Marc

[Hammered]

I do vinyl on the side. If you decide to do a "wrap" of your sides, then youll need to do it right. The vinyl in the link isnt the stuff. What you want is whats called "Cast" vinyl. The stuff labeled as Calendered have a short life span. Even less in the sun and whipping wind of a bike ride. Cut your pieces larger so as to have enough to cover the area AND have something to grab ahold of the work the piece. Mount a heatgun so its free standing and slowly warm the piece. Start applying the vinyl from the center out. As you heat the vinyl, it will become more pliable. GENTLY stretch the work the vinyl over the radius til you reach the edge. Continue til you have the wrap fully pulled to the end. Pul the vinyl all the way to the backside for a bit more grip on the piece.
Make sure youve sanded and cleaned the side panel. It is one of the easier pieces to do if you take your time. In a pinch,, a hairdryer on high will do. ANy questions on vinyl applications, let me know. If this something more people are into, I could do a tutorial or something. Hit me up with any questions, Ill try to get back to you in a timely manner.

[Sci85]

We put vinyl graphics, backgrounds and numbers on our dirt bikes on a regular basis and those panels have all kinds or curves in them. Not sure if it's the same type of vinyl but the stuff we use is pretty thick and stays put through plenty of scraping and crashing. Just take your time and use the heat gun just to warm the material. Too much heat will mess it up. Check out Decal Works website. They make the dirt bike kits and have tutorials on how to put it on.

Good luck.

Sci85