Wrapping track fairings

Disclaimer :

• This isn't a 'should I, shouldn't I thread', more of a has anyone done this/if you're thinking of doing this.
• I know they're track fairings and that they're there to take the beating if the bike goes down, but it might as well look awesome (subject to personal preference) as it goes cartwheeling through the gravel trap.

OK so I saw this whilst at Goodwood and it got me thinking.....that would look amazing on an 848!







AB Matt was then selling his track fairing which I snapped up and the plan started to come together.



Spraying the fairings is going to be expensive so I looking into vinyl wraps. Its significantly cheaper than good old fashioned paint and could look good if its pulled off (excuse the pun) well. It's going to be a nightmare to get the vinyl into some of the nooks a crannies but Im up for a challenge :biggrin:

I got a couple of samples and am going to go with a brushed aluminium (to match the tank) as seen below. I'll add pictures and swear words as I try and apply the stuff and hopefully I'll end up with an acceptable result. I'll be flatting down so that the existing patterns/lettering doesn't show through.



I'm thinking about an older style Ducati logo like the below to finish it all off.



If anyone out there has done this before and has any helpful advice its always gratefully received. I have a heat gun, sqeegie and cleaning fluid at the ready!

Alistair

 

Ah.....I might need to go and visit Dave in that case!

 

I'll have a stalk.....or maybe see if I can be friends

 

Right. The vinyl arrived today and I started with the simplest part.....the seat cover. I should have taken a before during and after but suffice to say it was red, white and black. It now looks like this :







Im very happy with the result. If you're going to have a go Ive learnt a few things already.

- Put your patient hat on. You'll have to stick, lift, heat, stick, lift, stick etc to get it on right so its not quick......this took about an hour although Im sure I'll get quicker.

- Any tiny specs of dirt will show (especially on a flat, metallic surface like this) so make sure everything is spotless. The good news is that you can lift the material and remove any offending specs should you need to.

I'm going to attempt a side panel this evening....wish me luck!

 

Thats the one. So far so good but now it gets harder. I wish I had 4 hands!

 

*shudder*

 

The fairings were as hard as I expected! There's so many external curves which mean cutting the vinyl which is means you then have to join it up again without it looking like there's a join.. Tricky! The hardest part was stretching the material into the air vent. It's so deep that it's right at the limit of hoe far the vinyl will stretch. Still the results not bad... Onwards and upwards!

 

Front mud guard. This needed to be done in 3 pieces as I'm not convinced I could have got it smooth with all the curves and the drop down the sides. I'm also going to be a bit tight on material so it saves wastage a bit :biggrin:

Whilst I flatted off the stickers on the side, I've left the Ducati Corse logo on the front of the guard as it comes out rather nicely once the vinyls on....it looks like its been stamped on there.

 

Thanks. I also have very sore fingers. You have to pull and stretch this stuff so much!

More lessons.

If you can, leave at least 3 inches around the edge to pull rather than trying to stretch from a 5mm overlap. Its easier and it allows you to pull wrinkles out better too.

Stick the vinyl to the back of the item before using a scalpel to trim to the correct size. Again its much easier and hopefully avoids loosing stickyness from over working it with greasy fingers......wash you hands often!