Plastics Advice

Chrome Dome · 07-20-2003, 1:48 AM

After a 5th track day and recent rides on the street I realize that riding on the track has ruined my future of riding on the street. It's just not the same...

So I'm going to convert my bike to a full-time track bike and need some advice. I've seen several different plastic offerings from different companies (Shark skinz knock offs and the like). I'm looking to spend less than $800-900 for a full set.

Any recommendations?

929flyer · 07-20-2003, 2:18 AM

abtech likes airtech, just don't get the greyline stuff.

ardracing has received many, many good reports. *They come predrilled and color injected if you want so no painting required when you get it. *An article in Motorcycle Consumer News (great mag) written by a mechanic who mounted some on his Duc said that it was the easiest mount he'd ever done.

armourbodies has also been given some good reviews. *Seemed to do pretty well in an evaluation earlier this year in Road Racing World.

I (me personally) have not heard good things about hotbodiesracing or multi-tech

Here is a place that you can compare some that I mentioned above morsefiberglass.

Also, for the ardracing stuff you can check here hugeindustries, but at $995 for a full set including shipping may not be the best price versus going to them direct.

Just a little help, but hopefully some help.

929flyer · 07-20-2003, 2:23 AM

Forgot to mention. Down side to ardracing is the long delivery time (2-3 months I think). Unless that hugeindustries place happens to have some in stock, which I highly doubt.

BTW, I completely understand your street versus track mindset. Even with a few broken bones it still doesn't deter my enjoyment that I've gotten from the track. Plus, it was just a few broken bones. A lot worse things have happened on the street.

Chrome Dome · 07-20-2003, 3:48 AM

Thanks 929Flyer... Good info

Too many close calls on the street and it's just not the same any more. I'm also trying to break my street riding style because it just doesn't translate well on the track.

Chrome Dome · 07-20-2003, 2:11 PM

Street plastics for sale...

Crash · 07-20-2003, 9:34 PM

I have to say that I just ordered and put on Hotbodies plastic and it fits great. The quality is just about on par with Sharkskinz, as a matter of fact I've painted sharskinz before and the hotbodies actually seem better quality to me.

Internet specical I think right now so under $700 for a full set. Check them out Hotbodies
Customer service is great too, can be delivered within a week or two.

929flyer · 07-20-2003, 11:31 PM

Now crash, I'm not going to call you a liar and I don't mean to imply as such. BUT, I've heard from some others a story different to yours. I haven't mounted hotbodies myself so your first hand opinion is mucho appreciated so I can say to others I've heard some good about em'.

Glad yours worked out so good. Hope you don't crash test em'!

Crash · 07-21-2003, 4:05 AM

Hey no worries man, but I had heard that earlier on, Hotbodies was crap. I had never seen it before so I was very skeptical. I contacted a few other member who recently ordered hotbodies and have loved them and even confirmed that they made a huge leap in quality. Fit was close to perferct without a lot of tugging and pulling. I haven't painted any sharkskinz in about a year so unless something changed, I really have to say that I am more impressed with the quality of the hotbodies.
Besides with a racer discount Hotbodies is about the cheapest 'quality' set of glass out there, so they are local to me and offer track side support most weekends. Just need my license now.....

tigerblade · 07-21-2003, 12:27 PM

I'm not impressed with Hotbodies at all. A guy in our group crashed with Hotbodies bodywork and they were trashed a little more than I thought they should be. Sharkskinz is the best, but you pay for it. Of course, if you don't have to replace them after every crash, they seem to be a good value. Contrary to flyer's experience, I have Multi-Tech and have no problems recommending them. I had to replace my upper after this last crash, but I don't think any brand would have held up much better. I had the replacement within a few days of ordering too, which is pretty important when you're racing and need parts 'yesterday'.

lfg929 · 07-21-2003, 6:21 PM

Hotbodies stuff has changed since last year. The stuff they are putting out now has no gelcoat on it and is way more flexible than before. It is what I am running on the 929 and I can say that I have had no fitment issues with them at all. The only complaint that I have is they seem a little thin. However, I haven't looking at the Sharkskins too much so I can't compare.

I would say if you are after the ultimate then go Sharkskins or ArmourBodies (ArmourBodies held up well in the Road Racing World article). The benefit of Hotbodies, however, is the fact that they are so cheap so if you do go down then it doesn't cost much to replace the piece if that is the only route you have. I have crashed mine twice and just repaired them. FYI, once you get the technique down it is *easy* to repair fiberglass.

jrock929 · 07-21-2003, 6:48 PM

I am running Hotbodies currently. I have the newer batch plastics and I am extremely happy with them and Roger is right on top of things with customer service. Here is a pic of my plastics....

tigerblade · 07-22-2003, 10:09 AM

The Hotbodies pieces I saw were purchased in early June of this year, for what it's worth. They were for an F4i, so perhaps they were already in stock from an older batch? I'm sure there are good and bad experiences with every brand.

929flyer · 07-22-2003, 11:20 AM

Good lookin' machine jrock! tiger is probably right about that there could be a difference from one batch to the next. All it takes in a 'careless' attitude during the job by one guy and it might make for a bad set.

I know your pretty happy with your set tiger, but even as we have talked you had to do some modifying for fitment. Maybe you would of had to do that with others also I don't know. I do know that the real good sets of bodywork typically go right on with no 'adjustments' at all. Like I've routinely heard about ardracing bodies. Yet to hear about that it didn't fit right up.

tigerblade · 07-22-2003, 12:31 PM

Quote:

929flyer : I know your pretty happy with your set tiger, but even as we have talked you had to do some modifying for fitment. *

The only thing I had to do was trim the flaps that cover the radiators a little to keep them away from the frame. The actual lining up of mounting points, etc. was fine.

929flyer · 07-22-2003, 6:19 PM

I was thinking it was more than that tiger, 'my bad'. Musta been some other story my brain cells are screwing up!