Re: For the carbon loving NC35 crowd.
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:44 am
Thanks for the feedback; please keep it coming. Maybe I should add additional information just to make things clearer.
1. Finish, gloss or matt, not a problem. We just went for the matt for a change for a more 'factory racer' look. It is actually 'finished' in a matt clear coat so the work for us is identical if clear or matt. Seems like everyone likes gloss, so let's lay this one to rest and say it will be gloss finish if we produce it.
2. Tank cover. The full tank is a nice idea, but it is like Gavin says very expensive and also there is the danger aspect too of it splitting in an accident and fuel catching fire etc. (Not allowed carbon tanks in racing for this reason) The cover would be totally optional but the idea is that you can take a totally trashed paint scheme on a bike even dented tank providing it doesn't bulge out and stop the cover fitting. You then slip this cover into position and the job's done. I must admit, it sort of could be described as a bit naff but then again, is it so different to the ones fitted to the Honda CBR RRs? Ok the tank underneath is an exact same shape but the RR tank in some ways worse because it really is really fake tank and we all got used to that idea eventually twenty years after the V Max and 30 years after the Goldwing were launched. (showing my age there!) Think of the cover as being a carbon skin alternative to a skin of paint and it starts to make more sense. It certainly won't add much to the weight of the bike and the only disadvantage is your magnets on your tank bag won't work any more... We are thinking of doing it in glass too. Why? So we can deliver a complete painted bodywork set to a customer without needing to provide tank or the customer getting the tank to match, once we find a reliable paint system because we are not going to deliver crappy paint like that which comes from other places in the East...
3. On the subject of paint, personally, I prefer just highlights of carbon such as number boards etc and we already have a plan in this respect, but I am sure that if we had presented the bodywork already painted we'd be accused of not having complete carbon panels. This way at least you can see the carbon covers the whole piece and is not inlays within that panel.
4. Cost. Well, this is going to be an issue. You can pretty much double and then some, for carbon over glass on big panels because there is quite a lot of waste and quite a lot of risk in making them. Wish I could give an exact price but quantity will affect the price and ultimately viability so all the issues are linked and interdependent which is why we welcome feedback.
5. Carbon repairs. Very tricky. You can cut down the clear coat and resin but as soon as you hit the strands of carbon and there is no warning, the appearance is irrevocably and obviously affected. Best of luck on that one.
1. Finish, gloss or matt, not a problem. We just went for the matt for a change for a more 'factory racer' look. It is actually 'finished' in a matt clear coat so the work for us is identical if clear or matt. Seems like everyone likes gloss, so let's lay this one to rest and say it will be gloss finish if we produce it.
2. Tank cover. The full tank is a nice idea, but it is like Gavin says very expensive and also there is the danger aspect too of it splitting in an accident and fuel catching fire etc. (Not allowed carbon tanks in racing for this reason) The cover would be totally optional but the idea is that you can take a totally trashed paint scheme on a bike even dented tank providing it doesn't bulge out and stop the cover fitting. You then slip this cover into position and the job's done. I must admit, it sort of could be described as a bit naff but then again, is it so different to the ones fitted to the Honda CBR RRs? Ok the tank underneath is an exact same shape but the RR tank in some ways worse because it really is really fake tank and we all got used to that idea eventually twenty years after the V Max and 30 years after the Goldwing were launched. (showing my age there!) Think of the cover as being a carbon skin alternative to a skin of paint and it starts to make more sense. It certainly won't add much to the weight of the bike and the only disadvantage is your magnets on your tank bag won't work any more... We are thinking of doing it in glass too. Why? So we can deliver a complete painted bodywork set to a customer without needing to provide tank or the customer getting the tank to match, once we find a reliable paint system because we are not going to deliver crappy paint like that which comes from other places in the East...
3. On the subject of paint, personally, I prefer just highlights of carbon such as number boards etc and we already have a plan in this respect, but I am sure that if we had presented the bodywork already painted we'd be accused of not having complete carbon panels. This way at least you can see the carbon covers the whole piece and is not inlays within that panel.
4. Cost. Well, this is going to be an issue. You can pretty much double and then some, for carbon over glass on big panels because there is quite a lot of waste and quite a lot of risk in making them. Wish I could give an exact price but quantity will affect the price and ultimately viability so all the issues are linked and interdependent which is why we welcome feedback.
5. Carbon repairs. Very tricky. You can cut down the clear coat and resin but as soon as you hit the strands of carbon and there is no warning, the appearance is irrevocably and obviously affected. Best of luck on that one.
