Respray or new fairings?

[seb421]

You can be pretty certain the Chinese stuff will be crap. I know someone who bought some for a gixer and they were shite.

Just keep your eye out on the bay for a set of secondhand originals. Even if you have to buy in stages, better than spending your hard earned on rubbish that you cant send back ( well you could try but good luck ).

You can't be too certain on that, i got a full set and they have been great in all weathers, lined up very well only had to adjust two holes on the lower mount of the fairing by a few mm, worked out costing nothing as i sold bits of fairings to replace mine

i know a few people with china fairings and they are very happy, reserch the seller and communicate with the seller before buying to

Very very happy with my Repsol fairings, strong as well, survived the bike falling over onto my leg, sure that would have snapped the originals

Nothing ventured nothing gained, the stuff from china in recent years has really improved, don't forget your precious iphones and sh1t are made there, it just depends how strict quality control is

I've had more shabby sh1t from the UK art silly prices than i've had crap from china, i paid over 100 quid for a front fender as i smashed my cinda one with the disc lock, the brand new made english one from GBMoto i think it was is poor, lines up poor and rides to high, i was not impressed and expected better from the UK

Benny has seen my fairings sure he will tell you they aint that bad, only thing letting mine down is a poor pint job on the tank i've not got round to fixing and that again was down to an englishman

[VTRDark]

don't forget your precious iphones and sh1t are made there, it just depends how strict quality control is

Your not wrong mate.

The problem with China it's a bit hit and miss, especially on eBay. It's definitely a case of researching the seller and their items. Some stuff is good, some stiuff is real shite.

(:-})

[Ckennedy]

There are centainly some interesting ideas for colours there and some very strange ones. Going to have a good think about it over the next few days and see what happens. Thank you for your time spend editing the pics. I also think the full red one looks rather nice, even with the belly pan being a slightly different shade

[lloydie]

Just like this Carl .
I need to find the seller of the front fibreglass fairing without the side light

[AMCQ46]

and you will need a new screen as well with no cut out. when BSM filled in the light and carbon wrapped it, it doesnt look right.

[lloydie]

I believe they use a normal screen as the side light curve is higher than a standard fairing by the looks of it .
Agreed with regards to bsm's if he filled the gaps either side of the light to it would of looked a lot better .

[Ckennedy]

Well I have been out on the hunt again today for paint and think I have found something rather similar to the rest of the bike Held the can up to the fairing and it looks like a good match. Can not remember the name of the paint. Got myself some white plastic primer and 2 tins of this stuff. Got the belly pan off and managed to get all the stickers off. Hoping to get some of the sanding done tonight but not sure I will have time now

Here are a couple of pics so far




Getting really excited now

[VTRDark]

Hoping to get some of the sanding done tonight

Wet N Dry (silicone carbide) paper I hope. 240 grit to start with, bucket of water with a little fairy liquid in and a sponge to wipe down with. Soak the wet n dry paper in the bucket and then start rubbing down, every now and then dip the paper in the water so it don't get clogged. Once you have got the worst off with the 240 grit move onto 400 grit and do it again. You want it so when you brush your hand over the surface it is as smooth as glass.

(:-})

[Rob]

Not done much spraying but preperation is everything.

Then make sure it is really clean, no grease/oil whatsoever. Research what paint to use.

Then lots of thin coats - don't try and get complete coverage in one go - be patient.

And listen to Carl as he's made a nice job of his Fazer

[VTRDark]

Yep and when your fed up with rubbing down, all you got to keep reminding yourself off is "the better the prep the better the finish."

Keep rubbing in circler motions and the paint will go a bit creamy and you will feel it biting/cutting into it, which is what you want, but don't let it get too gloompy so dip the paper in the water and go at it again. Every so often give the surface a wash down with the sponge and feel the surface with your finger tips and inspect to see where you need to go at it more.

The better and smoother you get it now will make it easier for you with future rub downs and save on paint. Once you have it as smooth as glass, give it a final wash down and allow to dry. It should look cloudy all over with no shiny bits anywhere. If you have and filling or repairs to do , now is the time to do it. But there looks like you have no crash damage or broken tabs.

Just before you start priming give it a quick wipe over with a damp cloth then dry with a towel. If you have a tack rag (sticky cloth) give it a quick wipe over with that to get rid of any dust particles. Then the first coat of primer is not aimed to cover all over, but a light dusting of spray all over to act as a key for the spray to adhere to. Leave it 10mins then go over it again with a little more coverage, leave to dry for 10 mins then go over it all again with a slightly thicker coat to cover all over. Then you will probably need another thicker coat.

The trick is to not spray too far away or it wont cover enough and you get wastage going up into the atmosphere, and don't spray to much as you will get runs and sagging (curtain effect). Then let it dry for at least 24 hours. And post pics so we can see.

PM me you address and I will post you a couple of Tac rags, Paper spray mask, and some various grades of Wet n Dry paper.

Ps A mask is a must especially when it come to spraying lacquer as that is nasty stuff to breathe in.

(:-})

[Ckennedy]

Thank you for the tips. I shall be taking much pride in doing this job as it will set the bike off. Having it looking good is a priority. I shall post photos of my progress as I am going. I will be home around 5pm tomorrow so I will have all evening doing it and then for the rest of the week I finish at 14:30 so there will be even more time spent on it.

Carl you have a pm

[VTRDark]

Just posted 1st class so you should have it shortly.

There are various grades of wet n dry, It don't look like much but a little last for ages and there is more than enough to do the job. In fact there's more there than what I used to do my whole bike.

I have put some 180 grade in which is very course and will be good to get you started and get the worst of the rubbing down done. Then move onto 240, then 320, then 600. By then it should be as smooth as glass and ready for priming. I have also put a couple of Tac rags in there as well, so before any spraying, give the panel a good wash down with soapy water and dry with a towel. Then literally just before you start spraying gently wipe the tack rag (which is sticky) over the surface to get rid of any dust particles.

With the rubbing down be very careful along any edges or high points on curves. Just lightly feather these area's, especially once you have sprayed paint on.

Once your primer is dry roughly 24h later you can wet n dry lightly with 1200 grade so it's as smooth as glass again, ready for the colour to be sprayed. I have also put some 2000 grade in as well for your final rub down before applying the last coast of lacquer. Once your lacquer has dried the 2000 can also be used to give it a quick de-nib to get rid of any Orange peel effect before buffing up with some cutting compound.

And use the mask when spraying

(:-})

[Ckennedy]

I have started sanding tonight ans you have never seen anything like it. There I am sat in my brother's play house in the garden with a mask on rubbing down a belly pan which is nearly as big as this play house. Luckily it is a blue play house because pink would be embarrassing before you ask its the only place that is dry and not in the house I have to do any work it. Only had half hour on it so I have not managed to get much done so far but it is a start. Tomorrow I should be able to get more done as I am finishing work at 14:30 taking a lot of effort to get this paint off but it should be worth it if it comes out ok in the end. Hoping to get it done by the end of Sunday but if I do not it is not big deal. The bike looks odd without the belly pan on. It is bigger than I thought it was when it was fitted.

[VTRDark]

There I am sat in my brother's play house in the garden with a mask on rubbing down a belly pan which is nearly as big as this play house.

Should have got a pic. What you need is some nice dry weather then you can sit in the garden.

You don't need to take all the old paint off, just rub it down good and proper until it is as smooth as glass. By the time you get around to priming you should't see any heavy scratch marks and when you brush you hand over it should be smooth. It will have a key for the primer to adhere to with the 600 grade but it's so fine you wont see it. Then with a light dusting of spray for the first coat it will stick well.

I think Sunday is pushing it considering the amount of coats you need to spray and the drying times and stuff. The paint will feel dry on the surface but will soft underneath and not be 100% dry for at least a week. I reckon by Sunday you will be up to the stage of having the colour coat done, but I doubt you will have lacquer on by then. If you rush it you will wombles it up.

(:-})

[Ckennedy]

Well I will get you a picture tomorrow so you can have a laugh

I am in no rush to get it finished as I want it to look good so if it takes time it takes time. I am going to take it all the way back to as it was when it came out the shop. No paint on it at all. Have a few marks to fill but nothing major. There on the bottom so you would not be able to see them anyway.

And yes a lovely bit of sun would be nice so I could sit out there and do it. A little more room than in a play house, believe you me