Carbon Fiber Bodywork

Well, I suppose I should get started on prototype #2, eh fellas? I also need to order some more tooling gelcoat so that I can make a right side mold, and start looking at the tail piece....

Yeah Justin, a respirator is a really good idea too

Sorry, that I couldn't warn you about that before you got to experience the itch. As they say time heals all wounds.

As for 2.0, the reality is that it's a bike I already have. I want to get the zx-10r to a 10. I'd say its about an 8.5 right now. If you want to make a set of CF fairings, then I'll donate the plugs. :laugh:

If I were to speculate what the next whole build would be... hmm... Any bike that got customization would have to be a cheapie or something common like my current KZ. I really like camaroguy's gpz. Maybe another KZ1000 with some extra atmospheric pressure. A MkII. As for other makes, I would like to play with a RD400, and then there is the dream of a spondon framed CBX. I am just entranced by the sound of a CBX. If I ever go blind, then I want to ride around on the back of a CBX. Actually, if I found a complete CBX, that would deserve a proper restoration. It all depends on what I could find.

I know a guy that wants to off load one of his CBX's but it'd be WAY too rich for your blood, I think. I can sympathize with the dream of increasing manifold pressure above atmospheric :laugh: Since my gpz70 had a few "extra" missing parts I got the guy to come down an extra $200 on the price. But I need alot of parts to complete the intake system including an ECU :S

Lets see, ZX10 fairings replicated in CF. Hell Josh, after I'm through learning here, you should be able to take my lessons and make your own without too much fuss

I don't have enough skin left on my fingers to sand out all the molds necessary for all those fairings.

I couldn't even imagine a CBX on dirt. Is that supercharged? I thought I saw him mention something like that.

Yup, it's supercharged. He has two and wants to off load one. I had never really heard a CBX before, it reminds me of an old Formula 1 car or a Ferrari. It does have a sexy sound when wound out :woohoo:

Exactly, every time I hear one at full song, I think of Emerson Fittapaldi's Lotus Formula 1 car.

wowzers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
major wood factor,reporting for duty sir!!!!!!!!
i have carbon fiber cloth and stock z1r side covers,that and the knowledge i am gleaning from your thread is about all i have so far.BUT the closer you get the closer i am getting,uhm.to getting ready to start,:laugh: .
keep up the good work you are inspiring people.

leon

porchev914 wrote:

Kawiconvert, I have the idea in the back of my mind, but you jump into a different realm of composites when you need production machined tolerance parts to contain engine fluids. I know it can be done, but I believe it requires skill and experience I do not yet posses :whistle: ...yet
I do have the carbon/kevlar hybrid fabric... :laugh:

Been following your amazing progress with your project, beautiful work

My wife worked in an aircraft parts factory and moved from metal working to composites. She used to do the flaps for some big aircraft, don't remember which though but the autoclave was 20ft in diameter and they had 2.

They also did a lot of smaller stuff and when they needed to mate a carbon fiber part to something else that held fluids they used an aluminum mating surface. Sooo... take an old valve cover, mill off all but the mating surface and use that part in the layup

Awww shucks Leon :blush: As far as reproducing stock covers go, the challenge there will be the mounting points. I know you have the machines and the skill, perhaps you can turn new push tabs with a flanged base, and epoxy those to the carbon shell....you're a smart guy with a full shop of tools, I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out

Great idea Alientech! Or should I say, great idea Boeing/MD/General Dynamics/Northrup/Airbus/General Atomics... :laugh: I'll go ahead with the other cover and the tailpiece, and save the tricky engine parts for AFTER the bike is completed and running. I wanna ride damn it, and my GpZ isn't complete enough to make run either

VERY COOL !
Congrats.

After thinking about the quality issues i had with the foam core material i'm gonna try a layup tonight with the core mat. With a core mat i can do the entire laminate at 1 time so i should have some more pictures by this evening. I preped the mold last night so i will b ready to rock and roll when i get home from work this afternoon.

On a side note I weighed the ABS and CF covers. My CF cover was .1 oz heavier...... gonna have to work on that....

no riding untill your done with the the valve stem covers your making from melted down lepricons wands.....then maybe

porchev914 wrote:

Awww shucks Leon :blush: As far as reproducing stock covers go, the challenge there will be the mounting points. I know you have the machines and the skill, perhaps you can turn new push tabs with a flanged base, and epoxy those to the carbon shell....you're a smart guy with a full shop of tools, I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out

Great idea Alientech! Or should I say, great idea Boeing/MD/General Dynamics/Northrup/Airbus/General Atomics... :laugh: I'll go ahead with the other cover and the tailpiece, and save the tricky engine parts for AFTER the bike is completed and running. I wanna ride damn it, and my GpZ isn't complete enough to make run either