new14rider
Novice Class
Posts: 76
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posted January 07, 2016 11:36 AM
 Edited By: new14rider on 7 Jan 2016 18:46
FULL CARBON FIBER ZX-14R 2012!!
So I have been working on a project to make my 2012 ZX-14R all carbon fiber. I have been working with a relatively new company "Motocomposites" who are based in Canada an producing some stunning carbon fiber work. They used my motorcycle as a prototype for a good majority of the pieces and I spent several months test fitting the fairings. It is finished and I left the tank stock but everything else is carbon/fiberglass backed. I can tell you that the pieces weigh almost nothing, stiff as all heck and strong as steel in some regards. Trying to drill holes through this stuff is very impressive. The carbon fiber will smoke and start to wear the drill bit before it is penetrated. Very good stuff!!!! The final finish of the pieces is like glass and the weave is almost artistic in how they patterned the overlay of the fiber in different directions. Very flowing and seamless. Yes, you are talking aftermarket, so you will be widening holes, doing some minor fit modifications as some of the mounting posts don't line up very well, but when you consider you are overlapping three different aftermarket panels with three different holes to line up with one screw post the overall fitment is very close to stock which is hard to do!!!!!! You won't find some of these panels from other dealers because they won't have them in stock!!!! They just have never considered having them made. The front fairing was amazing as to how well everything lined up and how the headlights just dropped into place perfectly and all of the screw posts lined up like oem. The one thing to mention is that most of the screw posts on oem have just plastic holes for the screws to tap into. These actually have metal sleeves for 6mm screws but you will have to get the screws from somewhere like ACE Hardware. But it makes mounting much better as you can torque the panels a little tighter. One thing to note. If you purchase the clutch cover which actually covers the OEM aluminum cover, after you tighten the clutch cover bolts, after a few hundred miles you want to re-tighten them because they will settle in and loosen a slight bit, dripping some oil (no big deal). When you consider the low price vs. value, it really can't be beat. Motocomposites customer service is top notch. I trust them 100% They will return calls promptly, very honest and quick to satisfy.
So how does the bike feel???? Feels much stiffer, way lighter, nimble, and accelerates like a bat out of @*$^!! It honestly feels like a zx-10R (with the BST wheels of course). Even with the Carbon fiber wheels which I have had since I bought the bike when It first came out, the difference with just completely changing out from plastic for carbon is night and day. Feels wicked light, compact, and extremely fast. I'll send some pics in separate posts as there are a few.
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/1%2092.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/1%2079.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/1%2089.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/1%2046.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/1%2066.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/1%2082.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/1%2086.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/1%2087.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/1%2075.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/1%2077.jpg.html] [/URL]
Please let me know If I can answer any questions!!!!! Enjoy the photos!!
  
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21854
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posted January 07, 2016 12:57 PM
Wow!! That is a thing of beauty  
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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zx12mark
Pro
Posts: 1650
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posted January 07, 2016 02:01 PM
We can`t get them to open on pc or mac.................
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moppedmanniemie
Parking Attendant
Posts: 3
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posted January 07, 2016 05:14 PM
Can't see anything :X
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new14rider
Novice Class
Posts: 76
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posted January 07, 2016 11:58 PM
That's weird! I had it going last night, but for some reason it's not showing. I copied the "image" address and pasted it in the post. Should I have copied a different link type??? They have I think 5 different types to chose from on the right side of Photobucket. That's all I saw and I read the directions from this site. I probably copied the wrong link type.
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new14rider
Novice Class
Posts: 76
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posted January 08, 2016 05:26 AM
Here are the correct pics as somehow they got deleted on Photobucket!
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/carbon%20fiber/1%2050.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/carbon%20fiber/1%2079.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/carbon%20fiber/1%2089.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/carbon%20fiber/1%2075.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/carbon%20fiber/1%2046.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/carbon%20fiber/1%2081.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/carbon%20fiber/1%2078.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/carbon%20fiber/1%2077.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/carbon%20fiber/1%2087.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/carbon%20fiber/1%2082.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s927.photobucket.com/user/azpaleo/media/carbon%20fiber/1%2086.jpg.html] [/URL]
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burn
Parking Attendant
Posts: 24
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posted January 08, 2016 06:52 AM
Beautiful what is the total weight savings and the cost
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burn
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new14rider
Novice Class
Posts: 76
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posted January 08, 2016 07:12 AM
quote:
Beautiful what is the total weight savings and the cost
Hi,
I'm not sure of the exact cost as most of it was built under a test fit program, but I'd say a few thousand total. Under 4 grand??? It's on Motocomposites site and I probably lost over 20 lbs. The main difference is that the bike feels much stiffer, lighter in the turns, quicker acceleration, a looks great. I put everything the have on the bike. You will have to get a calculator and just start adding. I used red anodized bolts from Pro Bolt USA and I have BST carbon wheels with all titanium fittings and ceramic wheel bearings. The bike has 200 RWHP with a Brocks complete setup, but with all of the weight savings and the carbon, this thing is a rocket. It feels like it has a small turbo. I can't really take it out as I would put in jail the first 10 minutes. Too dang fast for a middle aged guy with 2 kids.
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9656
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posted January 10, 2016 10:58 AM
I'd be curious as to weight savings too.
Def more than 4g total... but that's CDN. US4G probably about right.
Cool they give you colour options. Haven't seen taht before. Nice idea for the show crowd.
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PuckDracon
Novice Class
Posts: 48
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posted January 10, 2016 11:17 AM
Edited By: PuckDracon on 10 Jan 2016 18:18
I've got quite a few Motocomposite parts as well, very happy with them. I have upper, side grills, front fender, ram air dash pads, tank cover, and lowers. Just need rest of the side fairings, tail, and the seat cowl. The pieces do weigh pretty much nothing, but keep in mind they are super rigid so are a bit more difficult the stock plastics to install since they won't bend and flex much. My lowers came with screens on them.
Here is a crappy pic of a super dirty bike, lol.
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2012 ZX14R. Too many pretty mods and not enough go fast ones.
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new14rider
Novice Class
Posts: 76
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posted January 10, 2016 02:14 PM
quote:
I've got quite a few Motocomposite parts as well, very happy with them. I have upper, side grills, front fender, ram air dash pads, tank cover, and lowers. Just need rest of the side fairings, tail, and the seat cowl. The pieces do weigh pretty much nothing, but keep in mind they are super rigid so are a bit more difficult the stock plastics to install since they won't bend and flex much. My lowers came with screens on them.
Here is a crappy pic of a super dirty bike, lol.
The carbon is definitely stiffer, but I have more confidence in the installing as I can pull and tuck without worrying about cracking it like plastic. Very awesome material!!! Also since the outer epoxy has hardened, it is pretty scratch resistant. When you get the carbon fiber out of the box, you will smell the out gassing! Simply because it was just made and is still curing. What I am trying to say is that it is like fresh paint. Give the pieces a few weeks before you install them because the surface is very soft at first and will scratch easily. It does harden very well, but takes a while like anything else.
Thanks for sharing your bike pic!!! Very cool!!! I like the windshield. Mine is a modified Hot Bodies screen (they never fit as-is!!) and my mirror blockoffs are my own design that Motocomposites used to copy and they should probably be able to make you some. They weigh as much as an oak leaf!!! Nothing, but very sturdy.... and real carbon fiber. Just beautiful how they match the rest of the fairing.....
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fullzx12r
Zone Head
French Guy
Posts: 864
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posted January 10, 2016 07:28 PM
great 
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zx-12r 01'
zzr 1400 06'
hayabusa 08'
zzr 1400 12'
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PuckDracon
Novice Class
Posts: 48
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posted January 11, 2016 10:17 AM
I commute in FL so need my mirrors, drivers around here are nuts!!!
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2012 ZX14R. Too many pretty mods and not enough go fast ones.
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9656
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posted January 14, 2016 04:34 PM
I remember 10+ years ago there was a company that made a CF frame for the big Duc. How come all these years later, with CF being so much more common, we don't see that anymore? I have expected that would be normal by now.
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21854
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posted January 17, 2016 09:49 AM
did you weigh her before and after?
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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new14rider
Novice Class
Posts: 76
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posted January 17, 2016 01:24 PM
quote:
did you weigh her before and after?
I wish I did, but not sure how to weigh a motorcycle. I do know with all the carbon fiber including the wheels and titanium, it performs completely different than stock. More like having a small turbo on the bike.
Anybody know how to weigh a motorcycle realistically?? I heard you can use a household scale using front and rear wheel independently using some simple formula. I have no idea....
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21854
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posted January 17, 2016 11:47 PM
Pretty much exactly that - you can find a truck scale off the freeway or at an industrial loading dock, or you can push it onto household scales and add the two numbers together. If you use household scales make sure to create a small ramp using some wood or a phone book etc or you will kill the scale while pushing it on
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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Fastest-14
Expert Class
Fastest -14
Posts: 354
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posted February 18, 2016 05:31 AM
New14rider...this is a very clean bike. Love the setup! Where'd you get the mirrors and what brand are they?
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new14rider
Novice Class
Posts: 76
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posted February 18, 2016 06:48 AM
quote:
New14rider...this is a very clean bike. Love the setup! Where'd you get the mirrors and what brand are they?
I believe they are CRG Blindsight 2" mirrors. They are convex and are perfect for the sitting position. I used carbon fiber blockoff plates that I designed and Motocomposites should be producing now. They were prototypes and weigh absolutely nothing but are very strong and aerodynamic.
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