Ducati Track / Spare Plastics 749/999 (pics) - Ducati.ms

migz123 · Apr 30th, 2006, 7:35 pm

After waiting 3 months my spare plastics finally arrived. It is the Ducati Performance brand, quality is excellent, very thick. The cost of Ducati Performance plastics is only a couple hundred more than Sharkskinz, and it does give the option to use it on the street, so I chose this. I am somewhat disappointed at the fit because I expect it to be near-perfect, but not so. Regardless, they were still very good. The material, supposedly a new one they use called Avio Fiber is light and THICK!! So I am happy about this.

I bought these as a spare for the street and for use on ocassional track days. The set is sold as "ready for painting" but in reality, it's not as easy. I went out and got some quotes to have it painted, but the cheapest I got was $600. My bike is attending no beauty contests so I decided to save the money and do it on my own. I had never done it before so it might be a nice little adventure.

Now I was ready to make a disaster out of my fairings, and just thought "do the best you can." After consulting with some friends, forum members here and elsewhere, I visited Pep Boys, bought six cans of Krylon Semi Flat Black Paint and hoped for the best.

Here is "before:"

And here is "After:"

I blew-up the pics so it can be seen a little bit close-up.

I really liked the color, as I could swear it could pass for a 749 Dark from 20 feet away, which I liked very much, except that it is just a tad bit more "flat" in the finish.

It is far from factory work... but as the say, it's definitely good enough for "guv'mint work" I think!

Total Cost of Painting: $30

bevel450 · Apr 30th, 2006, 8:32 pm

Migz,

Add to the knowledge and reduce our collective ignorance by posting the actual ( NOT claimed) weight of both the standard plastic and the DP stuff.

It should make an interesting dollars per pound saved number such as we use in aviation.

migz123 · Apr 30th, 2006, 9:10 pm

I don't know but it passed the old 'blind justice' test. OEM carbon on my right hand, Avio Fiber on the left... voila, the left went higher... Good 'nuff for guv'mint work again Lol

.

bevel450 · Apr 30th, 2006, 9:39 pm

-1 !

OH I SEE...so the new ones don't weight any less, and we only have the claims of the manufacturer to go on ? Doesn't sound like much of a recommendation for anyone here.

ROFL........didn't know that you were a government worker !

Quote:

Originally Posted by migz123

I don't know but it passed the old 'blind justice' test. OEM carbon on my right hand, Avio Fiber on the left... voila, the left went higher... Good 'nuff for guv'mint work again Lol

.

vtwins4life · Apr 30th, 2006, 9:43 pm

Nice, Migz. Looks like your last bike...somewhat. Paint job looks good. I gotta tell ya though, I just came back from Fontana last week after I decided to finally paint my upper and lower track plastics (catalyst racing composites) with Krylon paint. I didn't use any clear coat as the can said it shouldn't chip after 7 days. By the time I got back from Fontana, it was so spotted with chips that it was actually quite funny. It was actually chipping off when I mounted it. Thank goodness for red permanent markers. You probably did a better job though, as it doesn't look like there's any chipping on yours.

I'm having it repainted by this cool guy in San Diego who did a great job with his own. I know it's gonna turn out a lot better than mine, plus he didn't charge a lot to do it. I'll post up pics when I get them back. Here's a pic of my Krylon paint job:

Note, my set is also streetable with headlight holes and everything...just in case.

StavesacredarK · May 1st, 2006, 10:44 am

Hay Migz, good job! Ya the old saying sticks..."once you go black you never go back!".... Or shall we say Dark!

V-twin, I see you re running stock on the business end of your track bike, Is that preference, performance, or waiting for pipes? I'm having a hard time deciding on keeping it stock and removing the catalytic, or buying a half system.

vtwins4life · May 1st, 2006, 9:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by StavesacredarK

V-twin, I see you re running stock on the business end of your track bike, Is that preference, performance, or waiting for pipes? I'm having a hard time deciding on keeping it stock and removing the catalytic, or buying a half system.

It's none of the above. It's actually timing and finance. I just picked up the bike a couple weeks prior to last week's track day, so the wallet was a little thin at the time. I had to add to the cost of the R (albeit I got it used) new tires, the suspension getting setup for my weight, and changing the sprockets and chain as the primary changes required for it to be track ready. I wanted to see how it ran with these changes with everything else stock. Power was definitely not as much as my 999, but the improved handling and weight of the bike made it more fun after I got used to it. I'll see about getting a full-Termi after I replenish my bank account.

Sorry for off-topic, Migz. Funny how we seem to lead parallel lives with having had a Dark before and now a 749R. I'd probably really trip out if you were wearing grey underwear at the time you read this.

**vduc** · May 1st, 2006, 10:24 pm

The matte black spray can looks great, only don't expect it to last too long. The spray can stuff just isn't as hard/durable as real automotive paint. Why didn't you shoot the gas tank

I paint my own track bike bodywork, with automotive paint and the is 5X or more than the spray can. Not sure if it's worth the all the hassle and cost at times.

All the Sharkskinz bodywork I've used has been drill the mounting and it's ready to paint. My current Catalyst Racing Composites took a little more prep and did crack in a few places.

Quote:

The material, supposedly a new one they use called Avio Fiber is light and THICK!!

Really, those two usually don't go together...

migz123 · May 2nd, 2006, 6:59 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtwins4life

... I'd probably really trip out if you were wearing grey underwear at the time you read this.

Well start tripping out then...

Just some proof that I WAS in fact wearing the said underwear at the time I read your spooky message! Since I know you are just DYING to know what underwear I am wearing:

Sorry ladies.... I'M TAKEN!!! Lol...

migz123 · May 2nd, 2006, 7:01 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by vduc

The matte black spray can looks great, only don't expect it to last too long. The spray can stuff just isn't as hard/durable as real automotive paint. Why didn't you shoot the gas tank

Yes, I just got back from trackday and there already are some small pebble-size chips on it... It looks like I will need to add more coats...