2006 R1 buld - long time between drinks ;)

[LKC73]

Today has been a good day. Blocked back the fiberglass and the sides as well.
I made an under tray too and now just have to wait for the tail light to arrive.
this will be placed in the rear slot and molded to the rear.

I have a second small stop light coming, which I plan on putting into the undertray so I can have dual stop lights.
It wont be set up as a tail light, just a extra stop light.

The other thing I need to make is the new rear section of the sub frame to support the new tail end.
I have a plan, and it should be able to hold the rear of the tail from the underside. Which is good as I didnt want bolts on top of the tail section. Anyhoo, enough talk more pictures.

[The Phantom]

Looking good

[JimZXR]

Mate, that tail looks awesome.

What you doing for paint?

[LKC73]

Mate, that tail looks awesome.

What you doing for paint?

Cheers, paint will be again black with red for now. Then after its ready when time comes and I organise it, it will be a custom air brush works done to it.

[Gix11]

Just one question mate: is that the final tail piece or are you using it as a mold for a final fibreglass tail? If not, you are mixing fibreglass and plastic there yea? If so, I best warn you that plastic and fiberglass don't work together. They look great when finished and just sat there, but after a few rides (yea, not the first one or two that give you confidence), because they are different compounds and vibrate differently, they will start to crack apart where they join. I learnt this the hard way a long time ago and always warn anyone I see doing it, especially if they are going to get them professionally pained as well as the heartache isn't worth it. I had to create a full fiberglass mold by using the shaped template as a core and then doing another final fibreglass piece from the mold. It's a lot of work! The rule is to use just one substrate if you want it to work.

[LKC73]

Hi Si,

I have read your view on the issue of fibreglass and plastic. It is all fibreglass though
The tail end is a race tail that's in blue. This fools a lot of people in thinking its plastic by the pictures.

So all good mate, I learnt from your experience long time ago.

[Gix11]

I thought it would be a bit of a rookie mistake for someone like you mate, but sometimes the smallest little things slip through the cracks and I'd hate to see your efforts go to shit if I didn't say anything.

[LKC73]

I thought it would be a bit of a rookie mistake......

If I did make such a mistake, you are allowed to smash it over my head Si Hahaha...

I really should have sanded it all the way back to the very front so it wasn't blue.
The race tail is a woven matt fibreglass compared to the fighter butt end that's is kitten hair type glass.
Should have more updates over the weekend with pictures

[LKC73]

Back at it again over the weekend and carried on putting the new tail light in and glassing around it to fill the gap of the opening.
I've also made a small under tray and rear bracket to hold the back end of the tail up off the pipes. It was that short you wouldn't think it did much but it has made the tail so much more solid now. Im pleased with it and how this thing is starting to shape up.

[JimZXR]

You're looking like more of a dab hand at this fibreglassing now mate!

[Gix11]

Nice one Luke. Keep it coming mate.

[LKC73]

Another weekend and another heap of work done. Spent some hours sanding, filling and repeat.
I have filled the the tail and the under tray and its now sitting in primer filler.
Leaving it to sink back for 48 hours then I'll give it a wet sand.
Here are some pic's.
First of the body filler,





Than after a few sand and repeats with more filler.







The spray filler and primer, needing wet sand next.

[chinski]

MAAAAAAAAATE !!! haven't been online for a bit so was a few pages to catch up on, but fucking hell man this thing is going in an awesome direction ! loving those pipes & your tail work, sick one !!

[Bob]

Mate. Thats cool. Great work

[geesexar]

yeah mate that tail is coming along nicely

[Gix11]

I completely relate to how much work goes into getting a tail like this done mate, so I have to take my hat off to you; that is excellent work!

[JimZXR]

Top job mate; this is my inspiration for getting my project done!

[LKC73]

Cheers guys, it is a huge effort when I sat and thought about how many hours I've done on this thing.
It has seen almost seen more hours in the tail than the rest of the bike combined.
It also has been a great learning curve for me on problem solving. I am now more confidant to give other custom parts a go.
Thinking about re-doing the dash mount is one that comes to mind.

[rod185651]

Love it, Was it a challenge to get a nice straight edge?

[LKC73]

Love it, Was it a challenge to get a nice straight edge?

Rod, it was a challenge because it wasn't straight to begin with. The R1 tail was off to the right, and so was the fighter tail end.
In saying that, the R1 subframe has a slight twist in it too, so nothing is straight on the back of this bike LOL.
From the riders seat backwards it was affected by the accident from previous owner.