FZS600 Project. A Bike Called Polly

[nick crisp]

Looks great apage, but I wonder how durable it will be? Stone chips, general weathering? Hydro-dipping on my rad covers has chipped badly, although I suppose it depends on what finish/lacquer is applied: 

[apage16]

Great work
Question
I have tried wrapping before (failed miserably)
Dose is not stretch the print and make it look distorted as you heat and pull it about

It does a bit. But to be fair, the weave does stretch and compress in the contours of real carbon fibre parts. So it doesn't look at all bad.

[apage16]

Thanks again Nick.

Durability is a very real worry. I don't think it'll be all that resistant to stone chips to be honest. I've read about people getting good results from a couple of coats of clear lacquer over the vinyl. But it's too cold in my garage to try that at the mo!

At least I have plenty of offcuts. So worst case,  any chips can be patched. Up until the point it starts to look awful!!

And at the end of the day,  the vinyl for all the panels done so far has cost less than £20. So with patches and extra graphics,  it could become an organic and ever changing beast! !

[apage16]

The wrapping continues. Next up, the tank.


Before:


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(As an aside, I had 265 miles on the clock since the last fill up when I removed the tank. I still managed to get 2 thirds of a gallon out and there was enough in there to audibly slosh about while I was messing with the tank!)


Start with the largest flattest surface, even if just for self motivation!


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I had to really heat the webbing over the filler cap to stretch it in far enough to stick to the sides.


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After trimming with the magical Wrapcut tape and returning the tank to the bike, I edged the carbon with red pinstripe as a nod to the original colour.


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But I don't like it, so gloss black vinyl striping is on the way!


I gave the filler cap a good polish while it was off too!


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[bozboz]

Looking good, been tempted to do this ever since the wrap got cheap in 3M! Keep up with the progress pics...oh and best luck with the front fairing!!!! :eek

[apage16]

Theres only one panel left. The complicated, Darth Vaders TIE fighter inspired front fairing.


Because of it's complicated (in a nouveau-retro 90's way) shape, I decided to buck the trend and paint the front fairing. With only a large 'V' of carbon fibre vinyl, following the shape of the screen and carrying it to the headlights.


So I went through the arduous and hateful task of prepping for paint. Cut back with 600 grit wet and dry, mask and degrease.


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Then I foolishly tried to take a shortcut and bought Rustoleum's 'Universal' Paint which promises to not need any primer, stick like a needy Koala to a velcro tree and work on almost any surface. The unique 360 degree application system and ergonomic grip tickled my fancy too.


Initially it looked good. Rich, glossy black. (despite the unique application system being uniquely like blowing paint through a Capri Sun straw. more of a spatter than a spray).


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But it just didn't set. After a week it was still easy to scratch. even touching it left finger prints.


So after a brief spell with my friend and yours, Google, I half learned 2 lessons (because I don't know which is right, maybe both?! We'll never know).


1. Don't use this paint.
2. Don't try and paint when it's only 12 degrees in your garage. It may have just been too cold, even though I did move the panel indoors after painting.


SO, I made the laboured decision to cover the whole panel with carbon. I was initially afraid of overkill, but now I had no choice. If the painting failure was due to temperature, then history would repeat itself unless I waited til spring. But I'm impatient. In Spring I wanted to ride out of the garage, with the bike like a resplendent butterfly. Fluttering it's glorious velvet wings after a miraculous transformation in the cocoon. Over the top analogy, but I'm sure you inderstand.


The front fairing has too many corners and contours for someone of my newly developed skill level to attempt with one sheet of vinyl. So I laid out the seams with my new fave tool, wrapcut tape. Two rows where two sheets would meet, to create a neat butt joint. (Thanks Youtube!!)


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Then I took a deep breath, poured the coffee, peeled the backing and got stuck in.


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After more heating and stretching than I ever thought possible, and almost having to bin the whole sheet because of a misalignment in the early stages, I got to this:


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I used the Wrapcut tape to trim back all the vinyl, peeled out the excess and got on with the headlight holes. Much like the fuel filler, a LOT of stretching here.


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The seams went very well, considering this was a first time. But when I heated them to smooth down the edges after removing the excess and the wrapcut backing, they receded slightly. Not the end of the world, but not as tidy as I would like, and wide open to moisture and dirt ingress.


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I couldn't have that. SO with leftover black vinyl tape (which replaced the red pinstripe on the tank) I covered the joins.

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And with that, the carbon wrap was finished.

[apage16]

Thanks Bozboz!

The front was a real challenge! But it went pretty well.

I seem to have reached the picture limit for today, but photo's of the finished job to follow.

And then on to the next job. There's always something. :rolleyes

[apage16]

Impressive work!
                    You deserve a medal tackling those compound curve rear sidepanels.

Thank you kindly!


Then I should get a happy ending for the front fairing!  :rollin

[Ruby Racing]

Try this method of painting with Rustoleum it's as cheap as chips, no over spray and no mess: http://www.rickwrench.com/index79master....paint.html


I have done two of my race bikes this way, so each one cost me £20 to paint all the bodywork!

[apage16]

Try this method of painting with Rustoleum it's as cheap as chips, no over spray and no mess: http://www.rickwrench.com/index79master....paint.html


I have done two of my race bikes this way, so each one cost me £20 to paint all the bodywork!

Great tip! I have a 'spare' fairing that will need painting when I've finished modding it. I think I might give this a go! That way, I can do it in the warm of the kitchen!


Thanks!

[Ruby Racing]

My pleasure.


If you do try it,  the trick is to load the roller with VERY LITTLE paint as it is quite runny. You just keep rolling it back and forward to spread it out and it sort of self levels.

[apage16]

Again, thanks. Always good to get the finer details.


You have any pics of your £20 paint job?

[apage16]

Heres the 'finished' article (because it's never finished)


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Those of you with keen eyes will notice something different about the headlights. I performed the headlight mod ages ago, but wasn't happy. So while I had the fairing off, I went a few steps further. More details about that later (In case you were wondering, they are Halogen bulbs)


Also, while the fairing was off, I thought to myself "Hey, that looks pretty cool. I wonder?.... Streetfighter for summer?"


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And so began a side project that I'll share with you even later still...

[Lez72]

I personally liked it better before the carbonizing took effect but its your bike and your rules. You are certainly not lacking in enthusiasm though and its refreshing to see you doing so much work on it yourself as any fool can throw money at a bike and have someone else make it look all spangly.  I still don't think you can beat a nice deep paint finish though  :\

[apage16]

I personally liked it better before the carbonizing took effect but its your bike and your rules. You are certainly not lacking in enthusiasm though and its refreshing to see you doing so much work on it yourself as any fool can throw money at a bike and have someone else make it look all spangly.  I still don't think you can beat a nice deep paint finish though  :\

To be entirely honest, I was hoping originally to re-paint the Toxic Red Cocktail bits as I liked the red. But it turns out it needed 4 different stages to get it right. Primer, base coat, top coat and the lacquer. Too much for my funds, equipment and ability. Next idea was to paint the red bits Gunmetal grey, but again in my dusty garage in the winter the results would be patchy at best! (excuse the pun).


The beauty of the carbon is that it's not permanent. So when the weather turns again, or a paint shop opportunity arises, I can peel it off and go for a nice deep paint finish! 

[fazersharp]

I like the mudguard with the silver edge

[apage16]

I like the mudguard with the silver edge

You do?


I was worried it gave the bike a little bit of a cruiser look. And I'm not really into cruisers! I like corners.  :car

[fazersharp]

If you think about it the bike is black and silver anyway.
Can we have some extra closer pics of the mudguard please, what is it and have you done the back, is it screen edge and if so how is it fixed---- I might even do it myself (not the carbon ) as mines already black

[apage16]

That was my thinking too.

It's just Oxford silver screen trim (Nick Sharp will be pleased!)  It's holding itself on. I've got a bunch of Black coming from FleaBay for the fairing,  so I'll probably see which I prefer on the mudguard when it gets here.

[fazersharp]

Hmmmm i dont mind it comming off the screen and flying in my face --- but I dont fancy it comming off the mudguard and wraping around the wheel/brakes/disk, gotta fix it on somhow