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Carbon Fiber Fun

Cdn Z06 Mike

Cdn Z06 Mike

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So my buddy has never done this before but he bought some carbon fiber and laid it over the tank of his ZX-10R. I am really stoked over how well it turned out. He did a great job. I brought some gear over and polished the tank but he gets the kudo's on this job. He is doing more parts on the bike. In these pics, the tank is not even clear coated yet to get the U.V protection. He bought Jordan's Szoke's Bike to run this year although I suspect it might look a little different by the time he is done with it! It is still a WIP right now but still very cool and lots more to come.





 
so its just a cover then has no function. still looks good. where did he get the supplies.
thx dave
 
How do gas and C fiber react?
 
That looks really cool. I know that it's just for looks, and I'm okay that.
 
So your buddy just picked up some carbon fiber sheet and layed it over the tank. No special tools needed to achieve that finish?

Thanks for sharing. I will defiantly keep this in mind for future projects.
 
I suppose its one way to freshen up the looks of a scratched up tank... but anything wrapped to make it look like carbon fiber is a bit too ricey for me.

IMO, carbon fiber looks trick because its its functional properties (i.e. you generally swap out the original piece for carbon to lose weight). If you are just adding it ontop of an existing piece and increasing the weight.... kinda takes away the coolness factor.
 
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mma01 said:
I suppose its one way to freshen up the looks of a scratched up tank... but anything wrapped to make it look like carbon fiber is a bit too ricey for me.
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Could be a good way to freshen up a dented tank.
The disadvantage for me is I wouldn't be able to use a magnetic tank bag
 
Did he just use the tank cover for a mold and remove the tank cover after or is this just a wrap? If it's just a wrap, you might as well just use the faux carbon fiber wraps you can buy.
 
01cbr said:
So your buddy just picked up some carbon fiber sheet and layed it over the tank. No special tools needed to achieve that finish?

Thanks for sharing. I will defiantly keep this in mind for future projects.
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He tested it on some different pieces to see how to work it etc like a small piece of wood etc. This was the first motorcycle piece. The tank was mint no dents etc because otherwise the dents would merely reveal itself with the carbon overlay. I don't know the process exactly but I believe he coated the tank with an adhesive and then lay the carbon cloth over it. smoothened it out and applied the resin and let cure. More sanding and then the clear coat finish and polish. There are some steps in between I am sure I am missing ie the wet sanding etc. but at the end of the day its something he did on his own and looks incredible. The carbon will be blended with the black green Kawi colours and looks distinctive and very cool.
 
TheDirty said:
Did he just use the tank cover for a mold and remove the tank cover after or is this just a wrap? If it's just a wrap, you might as well just use the faux carbon fiber wraps you can buy.
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No this is the actual tank wrapped in real carbon. I have seen the faux carbon stuff and it looks nothing like this. This more than anything else was an experiment to see how it would look and practice with the carbon cloth. Things that keep you busy during the winter months.:D

RockerGuy said:
Could be a good way to freshen up a dented tank.
The disadvantage for me is I wouldn't be able to use a magnetic tank bag
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Its Jordan's Szokes 2011 Cdn Superbike so I doubt it will require a tank bag but for the street bikes out there then yes no magnetic tank bags. End of the day many bikes don't have metal tanks anymore anymore anyway but the ABS plastic injected molded tank covers over the metal tank. The way it's turned out and with all the body work back on, it is a stunning looking race bike. I'll try and get more pics.

I think what tweaked me about all of this also is the applications. I have a spare tail stock that has a crack in it and I might carbon fiber this this now. I'll get the benefit of the carbon fiber strength now and it will be like new. If I wreck it at a track day so be it but I'd rather keep myself busy trying something like this than sitting in front of the TV in the cold months and you never know somebody on the forum may benefit from this somehow as they were interested in trying the same thing etc. Cheers!
 
canuck said:
so its just a cover then has no function. still looks good. where did he get the supplies.
thx dave
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I actually don't know where he got them. I think he may have ordered it from the U.K but don't quote me on it. I'll try to get more info.
 
Cdn Z06 Mike said:
No this is the actual tank wrapped in real carbon. I have seen the faux carbon stuff and it looks nothing like this. This more than anything else was an experiment to see how it would look and practice with the carbon cloth. Things that keep you busy during the winter months.:D



Its Jordan's Szokes 2011 Cdn Superbike so I doubt it will require a tank bag but for the street bikes out there then yes no magnetic tank bags. End of the day many bikes don't have metal tanks anymore anymore anyway but the ABS plastic injected molded tank covers over the metal tank. The way it's turned out and with all the body work back on, it is a stunning looking race bike. I'll try and get more pics.

I think what tweaked me about all of this also is the applications. I have a spare tail stock that has a crack in it and I might carbon fiber this this now. I'll get the benefit of the carbon fiber strength now and it will be like new. If I wreck it at a track day so be it but I'd rather keep myself busy trying something like this than sitting in front of the TV in the cold months and you never know somebody on the forum may benefit from this somehow as they were interested in trying the same thing etc. Cheers!
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If you can post a DIY that would be great. It would be nice to make my own fairings :D
 
Looks like a really clean install. Good work, and nice look. Would be interested to see pictures of the finished product.
 
caboose483 said:
2011 10r?
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That is for sure a picture of a 2011 bike Tim. What I would like to know is who is the lucky new owner and where do they plan to run that Ex Factory machine in 2013?

I also agree with the adding weight comment, Why? I saw the 2011 factory Kawi's on the scales at Mosport and the bike was 395lbs with little to no fuel.
 
Cdn Z06 Mike said:
I actually don't know where he got them. I think he may have ordered it from the U.K but don't quote me on it. I'll try to get more info.
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Please do if you can. I would also love to know where I can get my hands on some of this.
 
Not motorcycle, but I have done the same thing to reinforce a rotted cowl on my Camaro (see pic) and a bunch of other parts. There are a few catches when doing this. You need to have a good insulated coating between the metal and the CF (we used a few coasts of chassis saver paint and made sure the epoxy had good adhesion to it--did a bunch of tests). Since CF is a semi-conductor if it is applied directly on bare metal you run the risk of galvanic corrosion of the metal caused by the CF (NASA has a bunch of research online about this). It also helps to have a black layer under the CF since you can see through one layer between the threads (the black layer can be both insulator and cosmetic).

Make sure to use a clear epoxy resin.
Make sure to use NON prepreg CF (unless you want to bake it).
Make sure the resin is UV stable.
Top coat with UV inhibiting clearcoat.

The process we used was easy:

Scuff the insulating layer.
Apply epoxy to the entire surface.
Wait until the epoxy is tacky enough to hold the CF.
Apply the CF cloth, the tackiness will allow it to hold its shape on a irregular item.
Apply more (fresh) epoxy.
Wait for the epoxy to harden, if there are low spots scuff and apply more until there is a consistent coating.
Scuff and spray with clear.

A vacuum bag approach would be even better but more money...

We bought the supplies at a boat store in Etobicoke. Since then I found the aircraft supply place at the Brantford Airport which is less than half the cost.
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