handbuilt side covers

Hey all, I'm in the process of changing the old sr to more of a (well, not sure what to call it!). Kind of a cafe/canyon ripper/ meets mad max sort of thing. Mostly minor mods with a bit of a just for business look to it. Building some rear controls for the shifter and brake, shortening up the seat/ rear frame area for a single rider, no passenger, putting a tail on it with the tucked up tail light and signals. I want to keep sort of a bare metal or maybe dull silver or flat black kind of look to it. Now the question is has anyone here ever built side covers out of stainless or aluminum? Does anyone have pics of such a thing? thanks... kzkenny

oops! sorry bout the double picture still learning!!kzk

I made some from diamond plate. I don't really care for them now. Feel a little, "trucker" for my taste.

I see what you mean by the "trucker look". By hey you got to try it to find out right? Thanks for the reply and the pic, I thought there would be more response what with 16,000 and some users. I'll get some better and more updated pics of what I've done so far and maybe that will help get some replies...

I saw some made out of varnished plywood once, but I could not make myself take a pic.

I didn't make mine out of metal. I liked the shape/look of the stock pieces, I just wanted something a little different as well. So, I made molds of the aftermarket bolt on version to make carbon fiber copies (this particular one I made with carbon/kevlar cloth)

That carbon/kevlar does look good! you said you took the mold off of a bolt on after market? I've never seeen any that actually bolt on. I guess what I'm looking for is something like you might see on a race bike, aluminum with maybe an aircraft style fastener to hold them on. My skills are somewhat limited but I can do a little metal shaping and welding etc is no problem, so I think I should be able to come up with something close to what I want. thanks for the input so far....

I know what ur saying i saw triangular metal ones on a cafe racer, i dont remember what make, and where i saw them though, I'll try to remember later if i can :blush:

my friend John has built some cool perforated metal covers. Heres a link to one of his creations. Id like to get a set for my kz at some point but hes a very busy man lately.

www.bikeexif.com/yamaha-xs650-2

You can also click on his blog

Yeah, that's kind of the idea. Wasn't actually thinking perforated but you know how it goes, you have an idea in your head and then you see something else that is similar or maybe way off but it apeals to you more than your original idea...as it is nothing is cast in stone yet. I have the basic out line and a good roughed in start but lots of room for input and cool ideas yet...thats great guys, keep em coming...thanks ( thanks for the link )

Another member here built a replica superbike that has simple aluminum panel sidecovers, very similar to a Z1R. Nothing fancy, and they are just zip tied in place. How crazy do you want to get?

Well,some times there is beauty in simplicity, I was thinking brushed aluminum or stainless and yeah maybe a simple triangle shape but definitly want some kind of fastener. I've seen something in an aircraft application where you turn a flip up wing nut type head of a bolt, but it doesn't thread, just turns and locks in place into the nut or reciever that is wlded onto the what I guess would be the frame. sort of a quick easy access to a compartment or the components behind the panel. I'll try to find a picture of the fasteners..till then if anyone finds any pics or has more links to cool stuff like the one earlier that would be great..thanks..kzk