Carbon question.......

[morepower]

I have been given a 3tj to make some frame and swing arm protectors for.... Now the thing is I have been told to do what I want.... But as making the moulds is both labour intensive and expensive to do.. I dont want to just make some parts that I cannot sell in the future....

Swing arm covers are easy... They cover the main pressed alloy section... Done.. A weeks work to make the moulds.



An example of my Aprilia RS250 covers (Un-trimmed)....


The frame protectors is a bit different.. The bike can have two types one will take about a week or so to do the other will take a couple of weeks to do.... I can either make the usual Deltabox spar covers or a full side cover that goes over the cast section too..... What do you guys think? I have not made them yet so have only a rough idea of cost for the finished parts but due to the size of the part and the shape it would need 50 to 80% more carbon to cover it all and there would be more wastage due to the shape. But I would guess the simple Deltabox covers would be about £90.00 per set and the full frame covers would be about £150 to £160. What do you guys think?

Full frame?


Deltabox spars only?

[thunderace]

Chain's a bit loose

Seriously though, I may be interested if you can do some carbon stuff for the 3EN1

[morepower]

Yep..... Will have to tension the chain after I lube it up too..... haha...

I can make moulds for most things the problem is needing to cover the cost of a weeks work and materials. So one set would be about £500 if I never sold another... But if there is a demand then it is less of a problem. The 3tj is possibly the most common one so I dont mind risking making the moulds on spec with materials I have here in some spare time..... But if there are 6 or 7 sets ordered then it is worth while to do it... That is the problem with making moulds... The need to cover the time and materials alone puts people off.... I could sell dozens.... But then I could only ever sell one or two sets... It is hard to know.. But if there is enough demand I dont mind. I would like to cover most of the 400's and 250's too... I may even adapt my RS250 Kit to fit some of the 400's if there is a demand too...

[Kayla850]

I think there'd be more call for covers for just the front half of the frame, that's the bit that gets dinged when they go down

[morepower]

Thanks Kayla..... I think you are right... But the full frame thing was mentioned and as I have Levo's bike for as long as I need.... I thought I would ask.....

I may have a few things to get you to make soon... Have Daves bike to finish and there will be a few bits needed.....

[Drunkn Munky]

Id say just the deltabox spars, having the full frame covered will look a bit bling IMO

[morepower]

Id say just the deltabox spars, having the full frame covered will look a bit bling IMO

True.. and it would save money too.... the amount of extra material and cutting it out of an area could have a lot of waste..... Spars are not so bad......

[hunter]

Just the Delterbox Spars.

[Evilchicken0]

This pic is taken from high up, side and showing where they start at the front just back from the wiring hole. Mine cover where the bar dinged the frame, I had to drill a hole near the back for the fairing mount.







Hope this helps, you can put me down for swingarm covers if you like - but more use than that is a rear hugger more work I know but they'd sell twice over.

[Martinh]

I was looking into doing the same thing, but i'm glad you've got there first morepower i still need to finish my 2tk fairings not to mention a carbon bonnet for my mini marcos.

I did a little research into the frame protectors here are a few pictures of the ones i found:

The ones from boris's bike:


Some harris ones which fit but are from another bike:


Ones from a frame on ebay the other month (hope you don't mind ben!)


And ones on a frame bdk have had for sale for a million years!


Like evil c said the frame only really gets damaged in where the handlebar hits it, i'm sure you'd still be able to sell them if you only made smaller 1/4 covers, it comes down to what your happy with aesthetics wise and what people want to pay. Personally i'd make smaller covers like the last picture / harris ones.

Just out of interest, what resin are you using? Topcoat? Lacquer? both?

cheers martin.