Track Bodywork Question

[duc_fan]

Hi all,

I recently aquired my brother's "totaled" 2005 CBR 600RR.  The plan is to build a reasonably inexpensive track bike.  I've sourced the mechanical stuff that needed replaced (radiator, cables, etc), but I'm undecided about bodywork.  Does not need to be street legal, so I'm looking at race/track bodywork specifically.

The bike has a usable OEM fender and tank cover (they're scuffed & scratched, but not cracked).  The tail fairing/cowling, the upper front (nose), the side panels, and the lowers all need replaced.  The OEM nose and side panels seem to be made as a one-peice upper by most companies, and the split lower is also one peice in the aftermarket.

There are cheapo sets on fleaBay for a few hundy, but I hear bad things about those, and don't want to deal with it.

I've heard mixed reviews on Hotbodies, and the one set I saw for an SV by them was paper thin and flimsy.  I know track bodywork needs to be flexible to survive a crash, but there's a difference between flexible and frail.  In any case, they're not enough cheaper than the "big name" stuff to warrant chintzing out.

On to the contenders that I've compiled so far:

Sharkskinz is arguably the industry standard.  Downside that I'm aware of: pricey.  $762 for just the upper, lower, and supersport tail.  Not including tank and front fender.

Catalyst Racing Composites gets a good review on some forums and by Arun, the general manager of MotoCorsa (the Portland, OR Duc dealer).  Arun uses these on his 1098 race/track bike, and he likes 'em.  Catalyst isn't much cheaper than Sharkskins, but it is a little.  $705 for the upper, lower, and tail.  They offer 10% off if you buy 4 peices at once, so I could add the tank cover and the total is $776.

Armour Bodies is a relatively new player on the market, but they got a great review in Roadracing World, and in a series of 3 youtube videos by a shop that installed 'em on the presenter's R6 track bike.  They can be had for $800 for the full set (including tank cover & fender), AND this summer they're throwing in a set of Woodcraft frame sliders ($70 on their website) for free.

I was wondering who has used which of these sets, or seen them up-close, and what you thought about them.  Also, if you have experience with another brand, I'd love to hear about it.

Alternatively, if you have a used set of decent bodywork for an '05-'06 CBR 600RR, I'm in the market.   


Mods: if this belongs in Tech, feel free to move it.  I wasn't sure where it needed to be, figured it was track-specific, and put it here.

[darylbowden]

I've had all 3 that you've mentioned at one time or another (and hotbodies actually).  Honestly, any one of them are good, but I like Catalyst quite a bit. you could also check out Attack Bodywork as well.  Really, between those 4, I would go with whichever set you can get the best deal on.

[gm2]

you pretty much have it covered.

there's also e-racing bodywork and Attack.  don't know much about e-racing but they're out there.  i have Attack on my r6 and am happy with it.  paid about $600.

[mikeb]

I'd ask around on WERA or other racing boards for firsthand knowledge.  Each bike has certain areas that may pose problems that other bikes don't have.  I'd ask other 600RR owners what brand tends to fit the best on the RR.  Plus you may find a set of used bodywork there.

I've got a set of Armour Bodies on my SV.  The fit is pretty good.  But I don't know how well their RR bodywork is.

A friend of mine got a set of E-Racing bodywork for his SV and for the price their stuff is hard to beat.  But they are no longer in business.

Remember the 50/50 rule.  It only has to look good from 50 feet with the bike going 50 mph! 

[derby]

i think i heard that e-racing went out of business...

just get the hotbodies. they have a satisfaction guarantee. if ya don't like 'em, send 'em back.

[ducpainter]

From a painters perspective...

go with Skinz.

[derby]

From a painters perspective...

go with Skinz.

lazy...

[ducpainter]

lazy...

yeah...

and frugal...

cheap is expensive...

and expensive is cheap.

If the stuff is going on a race bike as long as it fits it's good because it won't look good for long

If it's going on a fancy track bike...

you get the idea.

[Stillie]

i think i heard that e-racing went out of business...

just get the hotbodies. they have a satisfaction guarantee. if ya don't like 'em, send 'em back.

That is correct. e-racings is now defunct.

Woodcraft is sponsoring a deal on Armour Bodies stuff through Nesba right now but you have to be a member. I hear its good stuff.

I have little experience with HB but I agree with Derby. They are also making a concentrated effort to improve their product through direct involvement with the customers via the WERA BBS. We're running them next season so I guess it will be a trial by fire. 

I also agree with what's been said about the 50/50 rule. You're going to crash. Why sink all that money into a paint job unless you have deep pockets, get paint for free, or have sponsors with a vested interest in the appearance of your bike?

[tufty]

I think the cheap stuff on ebay is E-racings unsold stock. I hear that they'll be coming back soon using their own casts.

I threw my 848 down in a set of E-racings a couple of weeks ago, they were undamaged! (unlike the rest of the bike )

[duc_fan]

Hmm... I don't think I said whether or not I'll be painting it... the answer to that question is "no", because I don't feel like spending another couple hundy on what's supposed to be an inexpensive track bike, particularly when the whole point of the track/race fairings is to make the bike more crashworthy.  It'll be remaining primer grey.  I might slap a few stickers on it (primarily on the lower), maybe rattle-can a Honda Wing in flat black over the grey base, but otherwise it is definitely not getting a professional paint job.

My main considerations with getting decent fairings are: fitment, quality of material, and crashworthiness.

 

Thanks for all the input so far!  I'm leaning toward the Armour Bodies, because I can get the whole kit + sliders for $800, and nobody else gives me that great a deal.  I can save $20-$40 by getting just the peices that are absolutely necessary from another brand (upper, lower, and tail), and buying the sliders from a buddy at a discount.  But to think about it another way... at that point it's only another $20-$40 to include the tank cover and front fender.  Crap, I could rub out the paint on those two peices and eBay 'em for that much pretty easily...