"New" carbon on Hyper S

[MarksFriggin]

I dropped off my bike for service today and as I was walking past an S model on the floor I noticed the newer "polished" carbon side panels that Ducati mentioned in a recent service bulletin that was posted here (until it was taken down for unknown reasons).

These new panels looked like crap. The old clear coated panels looked much nicer. These so-called "polished" panels are dull, lumpy and cheap looking. They don't look like they belong on a $14,000 motorcycle.

I didn't stare too long at that since there was a 1098R a few feet away. Carbon, schmarbon, let me drool on the R.

[mduc]

LOL Mark, I'd be drooling right next you over that 1098R. Yes DP's Carbon is horrible. I will never purchase it again. It's Shift-Tech for me all the way. His stuff is top shelf and it less $$ than the crap from DP

[MarksFriggin]

Seeing that carbon made me appreciate Shift-Tech's carbon even more.

[zekiel]

Call me what you will but I saw that just today as well on a Black Hyper and I would trade all my clear coated carbon for that polished stuff in a heartbeat. To me, that is a more appealing carbon fiber just like on the old 888 superbikes and used in race cars, etc. I don't want the pretty stuff all clear coated and polished I want the raw functional stuff. Resin fiber straight out of the mold.

[AZ_Scott]

I can understand both points of view. On my Hyper, I personally like the clear-coated carbon. But if it only came in the "polished" variety, I wouldn't mind it terribly.

The problem I have with all of this is that many bikes are being shipped with a combination of these two types. WTF??? Now, that looks stupid! I saw one in the showroom with clear-coated belt covers and fork protectors, but the dull, "polished" side panels. Tsk, tsk...

[zekiel]

Yeah, it's pretty funny when you have two order #s for the type of CF you have from the factory.

That's the same with buying aftermarket CF, you better make sure the end mix doesn't upset you. Like I was looking at some of that Japanese CF, I forget the name, but it has a twill weave which doesn't match the standard weave so even if I wanted anything...it would look worse than trying to match finishes in my opinion.

[MarksFriggin]

Originally Posted by zekiel

Call me what you will but I saw that just today as well on a Black Hyper and I would trade all my clear coated carbon for that polished stuff in a heartbeat. To me, that is a more appealing carbon fiber just like on the old 888 superbikes and used in race cars, etc. I don't want the pretty stuff all clear coated and polished I want the raw functional stuff. Resin fiber straight out of the mold.

I can understand wanting raw "functional" carbon on a race bike but lets face it, carbon on a 90-100 horsepower 390 pound motorcycle isn't functional. It's bling. It's only there for looks. It might as well be pretty if it's not there to save weight.

[mduc]

Originally Posted by MarksFriggin

I can understand wanting raw "functional" carbon on a race bike but lets face it, carbon on a 90-100 horsepower 390 pound motorcycle isn't functional. It's bling. It's only there for looks. It might as well be pretty if it's not there to save weight.

+1, if it's a race bike or race car I can understand the plain carbon, but for a street bike the clear is so much nicer. Hey it's all a matter of what you like.

[zekiel]

I'm certainly not saying that it's a race bike just that in my eyes, the non clear coated stuff is more appealing.

Some like the clear, I like the polished. Everyone can get satisfaction. I'm not going to try and debate you over to my side at all. I'm just saying what I like.

[MarksFriggin]

Originally Posted by zekiel

I'm certainly not saying that it's a race bike just that in my eyes, the non clear coated stuff is more appealing.

Some like the clear, I like the polished. Everyone can get satisfaction. I'm not going to try and debate you over to my side at all. I'm just saying what I like.

That's cool. The "functional" comment just hit me funny. I didn't want to debate it either.