[runracer1]

I found a bike that has been wrecked with a clear title. Debating buying it and fixing it up. I don't want a hoop-d bike with a poorly fitting kit and junk paint. I would like it to look high quality like show room. I know often times the body kits require you to drill alot etc to get holes lines up etc... I am ok with that. And ok taking the time to line things up. I also know that many of these kits may take something like the tail section of the bike that is originally 4 pieces and make it all as one piece. Things like that. Also, even if I paid $2k for a high quality paint job,... is it just going to look poor on a full kit of aftermarket plastic? Any input about your knowledge or experience with these aftermarket body kits would be appreciated. Stock plastic is just so expensive I am curious of the draw backs people have seen in the aftermarket.

[Gizboozle]

If it fits, looks good and cheaper than stock.... why not?

[HondaGalToo]

Sharkskinz have excellent fit and finish, but are pricey. I do believe that they, and some other makers of racing bodywork, make an upper for street that has a place cut out for the headlight.

[runracer1]

Yeah but my question... do they look as good?... and do they fit ok or is it just blatant that they are aftermarket kits? and yeah some companies have the upper with headlight open for factory light. does it end up looking cheap even if you get good paint job? ya know?

[Red Rider]

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

Sharkskinz have excellent fit and finish, but are pricey. I do believe that they, and some other makers of racing bodywork, make an upper for street that has a place cut out for the headlight.

The difference in quality for aftermarket plastics is obvious in the fit and (crash)durability. The quality of the finish is dependent on the quality of prep work and paint job. $2000 for a paint job is ridiculous unless you plan on showing the bike.

[runracer1]

So if time and care were taken with fitment would it look good? Could I get good fitment? And as for the $2k paint job. Thats not my goal... had a guy quote me $1800... but it was in passing converation and is only one individual shop. I have I don't want a rattle can paint job. If I were going to race this one Krylon and some nice vinyl number plates would work great. I am not looking to hit the national circuit showing the bike but a local show or rally would be nice. So yeah I want a quality job.

Obviously I am trying to see if that same look can be achieved cheaper than buying Stock body plastic (which from dealer probably costing over $2400 bucks alone), and have a unique paint job not just a simple one color Orange or red bike.

[icefire]

hey, sharkskinz is great. requires a little work but ther peices a high quality. ive got an upper street for my 929. and a $600 paintjob.i think it looks great let me know what you think. the upper is combined with the mid farings cleaning up some of the body lines. stay away from hotbodies they tend to have problems with fitment. e- bay stuff is ok but may need altered.

[runracer1]

The upper is combined with the mid farings... so it made three pieces into one?.. looks pretty good. Everything seems to meet up and the paint doesn't look like it came out with a bad finish. I have heard to stay away from hotbodies due to problems with fitment. I have only considered them for undertail assemblies etc... Looks like your bike came out pretty fair. Hard to tell everything from photos but if mine came out like that I would be happy I think. Was thinking of black as the primary color for mine. Most people would agree for black you need to do prep well because it tends to show flaws. But I think that just puts emphasis on the sanding and surface prep.

[icefire]

well it helps my friend is a pro painter from wyotech. and it fits really well. as for painting. more prep = better paintjob. the paint is a custom mix red with 10 oz. fine pearl dupont cromobase. the silver is a high pearl by house of colors. and the blue is also house of colors. upper cost about $450 and i got it from kneedraggers.com it is fiberglass so it can be fixed if broken but so can abs if you know what you doin. so go crazy a black base with ford sonic blue over it would be tight but have you thought of any other colors.

[runracer1]

Yeah I have thought about graphics or striping of sorts with a blue. Something to lighten up the black base a little. Accents if you will. Or the black base with red and white. I may try chosing the shade of red or blue so that it would match any aftermarket aluminum anodized parts I may get....
I even thought about Matte black with pin stripes like a old hot rod etc... on it. Or even painting it like a "race bike" in style... matte black bike with phony number plate painted on the tail section etc... Not sure yet.

[icefire]

cool definately post me when you decide. and i have a undertail i bought off ebay and it actually looks great. changes the entire look of the rear of the bike.

[HondaGalToo]

icefire, your bike looks great!

runracer, you definitely get what you pay for with aftermarket bodywork. If you buy the cheaper stuff, it will take a lot of tweaking to get it to fit. The Sharkskinz has excellent fit and finish, as you can see from icefire's bike.
Yup, the aftermarket bodywork combines all those OEM side panels into 2 pieces, and upper that attaches at the mirror bolts, and a lower that attaches to the upper by some dusz fasteners and OEM mounts. Much easier to take off when you want to work on the bike than the OEM stuff, actually.

[runracer1]

I wonder what reasoning the factory has to have so many pieces in the production bikes body kit. Add on an even greater tangent I wonder if the factory racers have similar factory body kits or something similar to the "shark skinz" etc.. that are simpler is removal and combining pieces. hmm...

Any body else have pictures of their rides with aftermarket body kits?

[slickwill]

Add on an even greater tangent I wonder if the factory racers have similar factory body kits or something similar to the "shark skinz" etc.. that are simpler is removal and combining pieces

Even factory racers use non-stock body kits. Racing usually requires a one piece belly pan in order to hold in oil spills.

[runracer1]

I thought I had hear that before thast the belly could not have seam to prevent oil spillage. In the rules for the sanctioning bodies I think. Anywho... anybody else have phtos of any aftermarket body kits on their bike?

[jsglaw]

you could buy a used body kit from someone like me who took a perfectly new not a scratch on it set of stock body work off my 03600rr in favor of sharkskinz to track it out for racing only. I am sure I am not alone. Never thought about sellin it but I am sure i could save a bunck of money off whatever honda wants.

[runracer1]

True, some ebay finds out there are exactly that. Factory body kits that were removed for racing purposes.