Suzuka/Endurance RVF top fairing
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 12:40 am
Thought it'd be good to continue this topic started on the old forum, on here too...
The idea was/is to have a standard RVF400 top fairing looking like an Endurance style fairing like the RC45's of the Suzuka 8 hours races.
I started off by chopping off a spare headlight in half and plugging one of the headlight holes; the inicial idea was to have this hole plugged with fibre glass, but the general consensus seems to be that this wouldn't last long when applied to a plastic fairing; in the end, plastic welding was the option I went for...
The headlight after the hacksaw treatment and the side cover being made after the chop:

Then a plug for the hole was made; using a bit of the recycled plastic off an unused recycling box, I cut it to the shape of the hole but slightly bigger. I ended up making 2 because the first one didn't come out like it should've, think it spent too much time in the oven and shrunk a bit...
This was it:

The second one was left in a preheated oven for no more than 4 minutes at 190 degrees, it was then removed and imediately placed over the unwanted half of the headlight so it would get its shape, I kept the hot plug on there (with oven mits on
) until it was cool again. This was then trimmed leaving a lip all around the plug to create a better base for the plastic weld to adhere to.

The plug was then plastic welded in place and left for a couple of days with some tape over it:

Then out came the bumper filler and over the plug it went, over that lip on the inside too, just to disguise it a bit:

3 layers of filler and some sanding later:

And that's how it was left in the old forum...
Following some question marks over the recycled bit of plastic used for the plug and wether it might not like the filler or the hot weather, I've decided to give the fairing a cheap 'make do' spray with some aerosol cans; this should make the thing a bit presentable for the next few months and will put the thing to the test; best thing to do before spending on a proper spray job...
This is where it's at, at the mo:

Been to Halfords today and got myself a spray can, premixed there and then with some 'Honda Fighting Red' paint, (Code R134). Hopefully by Sunday I'll have the thing painted and on the bike; will post back soon(ish). :D
The idea was/is to have a standard RVF400 top fairing looking like an Endurance style fairing like the RC45's of the Suzuka 8 hours races.
I started off by chopping off a spare headlight in half and plugging one of the headlight holes; the inicial idea was to have this hole plugged with fibre glass, but the general consensus seems to be that this wouldn't last long when applied to a plastic fairing; in the end, plastic welding was the option I went for...
The headlight after the hacksaw treatment and the side cover being made after the chop:


Then a plug for the hole was made; using a bit of the recycled plastic off an unused recycling box, I cut it to the shape of the hole but slightly bigger. I ended up making 2 because the first one didn't come out like it should've, think it spent too much time in the oven and shrunk a bit...
This was it:

The second one was left in a preheated oven for no more than 4 minutes at 190 degrees, it was then removed and imediately placed over the unwanted half of the headlight so it would get its shape, I kept the hot plug on there (with oven mits on



The plug was then plastic welded in place and left for a couple of days with some tape over it:


Then out came the bumper filler and over the plug it went, over that lip on the inside too, just to disguise it a bit:


3 layers of filler and some sanding later:

And that's how it was left in the old forum...
Following some question marks over the recycled bit of plastic used for the plug and wether it might not like the filler or the hot weather, I've decided to give the fairing a cheap 'make do' spray with some aerosol cans; this should make the thing a bit presentable for the next few months and will put the thing to the test; best thing to do before spending on a proper spray job...
This is where it's at, at the mo:

Been to Halfords today and got myself a spray can, premixed there and then with some 'Honda Fighting Red' paint, (Code R134). Hopefully by Sunday I'll have the thing painted and on the bike; will post back soon(ish). :D