Race glass.. Cheetah, Sharkskinz or..?

Scratch · 09-10-2005, 7:19 PM

Just wondering what everyone's opinion is on some of the better race plastics to go with. Right now I'm leaning towards Cheetah, no particular reason as I have no experience with either. Which ones are easier to fix, drill, etc.? Which are more durable? Opinions welcome.....

Any other companies out there? Heard Airtech temporarily closed up shop?

abtech · 09-10-2005, 7:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scratch

Just wondering what everyone's opinion is on some of the better race plastics to go with. Right now I'm leaning towards Cheetah, no particular reason as I have no experience with either. Which ones are easier to fix, drill, etc.? Which are more durable? Opinions welcome.....

Any other companies out there? Heard Airtech temporarily closed up shop?

Airtech's website is still up. Have you called them?

K9inAZ · 09-10-2005, 8:43 PM

I went with Rennsports the first time and it was the biggest mistake of my life. Talk about shitty plastics and poor workmanship. The bodywork was so stiff that it would have shattered on the first crash. Spent a week cleaning things up and trying to get it to fit right, no can do.

I was so pissed at Rennsport, that I went out and bought a set of Armour Bodies bodywork. Talk about quality and great workmanship! Took all of 4 hours for the prep work to fit and paint the bodywork. The bodywork was very flexable and fit almost perfect (racebodys always has some fit problems), overall a dream compared to Rennsport.

I've seen Cheetah bodywork and the fit was slightly off and it was no where near a flexable as the Armour Bodies, but for the price they seem to work.

I'm in the you get what you pay for boat now, when it comes to bodywork.

You can't go wrong with Armour Bodies or Sharkskinz!!!

Tornado bait · 09-10-2005, 10:34 PM

I've had SharkSkinz and OPP. Both fit well, but pre-paint prep on the Skinz was easier. Crash tested the Skinz twice. They held up great the first time....second time I don't think it would have mattered it they were kryptonite

. Have yet to crash test OPP (knock wood).

Scratch · 09-10-2005, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

Airtech's website is still up. Have you called them?

Nope, I was following a thread on another forum where someone was trying to organize a substantial group buy. The person who started it all up stated that he was informed that Airtech was in the process of moving to another facility and wouldn't resume making bodywork for a short while (I believe they're scheduled to start shipping out in late Oct.-early Nov), of course he/I could be wrong so a phone call might prove to be worthwhile. Do you consider them to make some of the best bodywork on the market? If so then it might be worth the wait. I just don't want to destroy any more of my bike as I have more trackdays planned. Shoulder and ankle are starting to feel better so I have to assess the damages and get this taken care of.

I'm such a freakin' idiot!(N.Dynamite) A friend told me after my very first trackday to get glass ASAP and I told him no worries, that it would be a winter project. I'm such an asshole sometimes

Scratch · 09-10-2005, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K9inAZ

I'm in the you get what you pay for boat now, when it comes to bodywork.

You can't go wrong with Armour Bodies or Sharkskinz!!!

Read you loud and clear Rick. It seems that applies to almost everything motorcycle related. As my grandfather used to say "I ain't rich enough to buy **** twice." I couldn't agree more, sometimes you're just better off spending the money and get a quality product from the get go. Thanks for the heads up on the Rennies.

Scratch · 09-10-2005, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tornado bait

I've had SharkSkinz and OPP. Both fit well, but pre-paint prep on the Skinz was easier. Crash tested the Skinz twice. They held up great the first time....second time I don't think it would have mattered it they were kryptonite

. Have yet to crash test OPP (knock wood).

Definately do NOT test anymore bodywork

I appreciate the insight even though I'm sure it was painful and probably sucked big time.

I want to take this time and say thanks to R&G frame sliders, definately an awesome product that saved me from alot more damage.

I'll start a thread and post some pics, I'm sure alot of people on the org wouldn't mind seeing a beat up k5 gsxr 1k

J/K, You're all great folks on here.

RRWANTR · 09-11-2005, 12:32 AM

The catalyst composites I have for the 600rr are very nice. Fit very well and they have excellent service. I had a set that when they designed the lower the bike they had was using a full system. On the CA stock exhaust the catalytic converter is in the end of the header where it goes from 4-1. This causes a large bulge there that the full system they designed with didn't have. I had to fabricate a bubble in the lower to fit it. i sent an email to them explaining it. A couple months later I got an email saying that if I wanted to pay shipping $28, they would ship me a newly designed lower for the stock system. Very good CS.

G-Force Junkie · 09-11-2005, 1:08 AM

Yup, I hung a set of 600RR glass from Catalyst Composits and was impressed with its accuracy and ease. My racebike had Sharkskins and it was very highquality and crashed well.

Scratch · 09-11-2005, 1:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

Airtech's website is still up. Have you called them?

Oops. I meant that "A-kit" is running slow, not Airtech. Sorry for any confusion. Anyone familiar with A-kit or Airtech?

After all the input so far the top contenders are (in no particular order):

Catalyst Composites
Sharkskinz
Armour Bodies

As far as these two:
Airtech??<--still up in the air
A-Kit??<--never heard of 'em

luvtolean · 09-11-2005, 12:34 PM

Sharkskinz.

Don't wait until the last second to have it shipped, it isn't cheap to get it air freighted out from Fl.

Crash · 09-12-2005, 8:25 PM

Just throwing this out there... Hotbodies are okay. Not great but okay. I didn't have a fit problem like others have had with their 929. Quality, not as good as what they supply the AMA guys but it's okay. I went with them because they are somewhat local, see them at the track, and the whole bike cost me $400. I paint so it wasn't a problem.

Again on a scale of 1 (being worst) and 10 (being best) I give them about a 6.

luvtolean · 09-12-2005, 8:28 PM

Yeah, that's about what I give Hotbodies' GSXR plastic too.

Scratch · 09-12-2005, 11:32 PM

Armour Bodies had a deal going that was too good to pass up and after speaking with them on the phone for a while I decided to give 'em a shot. $600 for the supersport complete set (shipping was another $65 so $665). I just hope it's not too difficult to install. Ahh ****, gotta find a painter.

Corona Extra rep would be sweet

09-13-2005, 12:11 AM

Another vote for http://www.catalystracingcomposites.com

Scratch · 09-13-2005, 11:28 AM

Had to cancel the Armour Bodies order, they would not be able to ship within the time frame I needed.

So it's down to Sharkskinz or Catalyst. I'll give 'em both a call today and see what they can do, try to make some kind of decision from there.

Trackho · 09-13-2005, 3:05 PM

SharkSkinz---Armour Bodies does NOT make plastic for all bikes (like the 1000RR)---

norcal · 09-15-2005, 2:10 PM

Catalyst is REALLY nice stuff....they got it to me REALLY fast and boy was it clean and fit really nice.....gooooooooddd prices too.

Nor Cal

02FBlade · 10-14-2005, 1:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvtolean

Sharkskinz.

Don't wait until the last second to have it shipped, it isn't cheap to get it air freighted out from Fl.

I like the skinz also. My sharkshinz have held up really well for me...and I've crash tested them several times! Fit was good...but definitely not the cheapest! Get the lower dzus fasteners install by them. worthit.

Can't speak for the other bodys but I hear the same as what's be said...hotbody...ok.

I know that Godfather racing makes some really cheap kits and hear they are pretty good for the price.

Scratch · 10-14-2005, 10:40 PM

I bought the Catalyst set and gotta say I'm really impressed. Everything lined up well and the quality seems outstanding. I don't think it's that much cheaper than Sharkskinz but looks and fits hella good. Now I just gotta figure out a paint scheme and all that (oh and be a better, smoother, faster rider etc.).

What a humbling experience (O/T)- To go out on the track and think you're kicking ass and doing really well to have a guy on an sv650 roll past you like you're standing still, gotta love it, 50 something years old too

Man what a great sport, just wish it was a little easier on the wallet.

Anybody got any paint scheme ideas for a Suzuki?