Is the ST1100 too old for a modern look?

Simon

Hi All - my first post .....

I have the dreaded UK Seized Alternator Syndrome :(

Anyway, while I have the bike stripped I continued to take more parts off and I am pretty much left with and Engine in a Frame (I thought it would be a good opportunity for some cleaning and close scrutiny of the frame and electrics).

Well, my plastics are looking a little tired and I am considering a repaint but then I thought of an alternative.

I'm not sure of the correct term, but I'll reffer to them as the inner plastics (the bits in front of your knees and all around the dash etc - the textured stuff) - how about wrapping all the inner plastics in 3M Carbon Fiber Vinyl.
I'd probably do all of the textured plastic like this (ABS Trim on the front wheel, bottom and back of panniers etc).
I'm not sure if I'll need to remove the texturing first by adding a fine stopper filler to give me a perfectly flat surface to apply the vinyl on .... I'll just do a test piece first and see if it looks ok over the texture.
And what about the shiny paintwork ?
Well, I cant really afford a good paint job and I doubt I will be able to get a professional result with rattle-cans - So what about wrapping the shiny plastics in Vinyl too? I was considering a brushed aluminium look.
I am getting my Swing Arm sand blasted tomorrow and I have found Carbon Fiber faberic which you use with a resin - I'll probably cover the Swing Arm with this as it seems an excellent way to protect it from our salty UK roads.
So, what do you think .... Will it look silly or can my 1997 bike carry off the modern look ?

There is also a carbon fiber skin system available which is high temperature tolerant - I may cover my Cylender Head Covers with this?

Links to items mentioned

Vinyl Wrap
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3M-Di-Noc-Carbon-Fibre-Vinyl-Wrap-30-x-120cm-CA-421-/260650753104?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3caffedc50

Brushed Aluminium Vinyl
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30cmx75cm-3M-1080-NEW-SERIES-BRUSHED-ALUMINIUM-FIBRE-FILM-VINYL-CAR-WRAP-BR201-/120841051321?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c22b01cb9

Carbon Fiber Matting and Resin (Skinning Kit)
http://www.carbonmods.co.uk/Products/Carbon-Fibre-Skinning-Starter-Kit__CMCFSK300.aspx


Please give your opinions

Simon
 
Well, IMHO carbon fibre looks crap on any bike, the fake stuff even worse.

Again IMHO, the ST1100 is no looker in the first place. I reckon it's a bike for riding, not for looking at! Personally I wouldn't bother spending money on cosmetic 'improvements'.
 
Would like to see pictures when you are done! Sounds like an opportunity to "personalize" your ST1100! Do what makes you feel good, and don't pay attention to what others think.
 
I think the ST1100 has a modern high tech kind of look, I stripped off all the Honda logos after having the Airbox repainted and did not replacing the stickers there, I slapped on a few Ferrari stickers, people ooohh and aaahh at it all the time.. I always get the comment " I didnt know Ferrari made motorcycles"... the ST is unique enough that people dont know what it is... I say go for it.
 
As Trekkor Dave says, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I bought mine for its touring reputation first and its incredible beauty, second. No comment about the riders here other than to say we're all very, very smart people.:)

Btw, those long, inner plastic pieces with the little trunks are called the "fairing pockets" and the grey plastic around your instruments is the "dash", according to Honda.

Personally, I'd try a reconditioner for plastics in a small test area first. It usually helps greatly in restoring colour and lustre to the surface and will hide scratches. The plastic is solidly coloured. Paint or wrap is a cover. I'd think about the work you'd have to do to repair ugly scars in a covering from bumps and scrapes vs what you'd have to do occasionally to keep the factory plastics looking pretty good.

Just my 2 cents worth, (even though we don't have 'em anymore). Ross
 
Thanks for your comments guys - The previous owner had a bucket load of farkles fixed to the inner fairings (sorry Ross - Fairing Pockets) and dash and there are lots of drilling holes and cut-outs. Ross makes a great point about subsequent maintenence but due to the drillings and cut-outs I want to be able to fill them and cover them somehow.
I could fill them and paint them, but how would I get the texture to match ?
 
Thanks for that update, Simon. NOW I understand your predicament. I can empathize, believe me.

There's a pretty easy solution to it if you're into doing some small body work and can get the following stuff easily:

  • short-strand fibreglass polyester resin body filler.
  • polyester resin final filler, (very fine fibreglass powder in it).
  • fine mesh fibreglass cloth, (optional in your case I think).
  • a paint supplier of epoxy paint who can colour match.
Have a look at my attachments. As a kid I did a lot of custom fibreglass work and became pretty good at designing my own bike tanks, panel, etc. Lately I've added an upper dash stereo unit to my ST1100 and had to design and build a cover for it that also provides cooling air to its amplifier fans. Polyester resin-based fillers are ideal for doing this sort of work as they will effectively bond to your bike's plastics. You can easily fill ALL those unwanted holes and cut-outs with it, then fill it smooth with final filler.

To get that mottled plastic look I used epoxy resin paint and had it exactly colour-matched to my dash. The mottling is not shown very well in the image, sorry. Timing is everything with epoxy paint. It sets very slowly and is thicker which gives you plenty of time to play and helps hide borders. As it became tacky I used window screen first then a disposable roller to smooth the uplifted "points" left when I pulled the screen off. The mottling is not an exact match to OEM but it's fairly close. The colour match is perfect.

Best part of all is there is no need for painting afterwards and epoxy paint wears like iron.

Ross
 
Not wanting to undermine Ross's advice, which is excellent and he is obviously a skilled fella, but the fairing panels and instrument cowls frequently show up on eBay - why not keep an eye open and get used replacements? Here's the RH part for starters. There's a LH as well but too tatty for your requirements... another is sure to appear soon though!
 
Hound said:
the fairing panels and instrument cowls frequently show up on eBay - why not keep an eye open and get used replacements?
Click to expand...
Also good advice.

In fact, if it's just the dash you need I'd actually consider buying it new if you can't find a used one first over trying to repair it. Some pix of your farkle openings would be helpful here, Simon.

One thing I like about the 1100 is that, at least in Canada, fairing parts are pretty reasonably priced. Think I paid $275.00 for a new upper front quarter panel a couple of years ago. It came painted and decaled too. I don't see the dash being terribly expensive either. It's pretty small.

Ross
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom