Hardtail Monster?

[MendoDave]

Here's the hoop on my 01. I painted it the same as the tank & fender.

[Monster Dave]

That bike needs some love.

Ain't that the truth...

[Jimmy Ducati]

every time I think I want a ton of CF I see something with old CF and the desire just disappears.

I never thought of it that way before, you might be on to something.
However after looking at that bike, it might not be your best benchmark for judging.

[Turf]

every time I think I want a ton of CF I see something with old CF and the desire just disappears.

how much does a ton of cf weigh 

[Stinky Wizzleteats]

how much does a ton of cf weigh  

About as much as a ton of Lead.  

[bunnyman666]

every time I think I want a ton of CF I see something with old CF and the desire just disappears.

A lot of that was just the lack of topcoat over carbon back in the day. The old Duc stuff (I had a 900ss SP with all the carbon stuff) was literally two layers thick with no real topcoat. I could bend my fender and hugger by merely pressing it!!! It was definitely made to save weight and damn the looks!!!! Also, the older epoxies really didn't have much UV protection. Bad for the aesthetics, but doesn't affect function. Modern CF will have UV protection in the epoxy. But old Duc CF looks pretty ugly, I will agree.

[bunnyman666]

That bike needs some love.

Looks like it's stored outdoors. 

[ducpainter]

A lot of that was just the lack of topcoat over carbon back in the day. The old Duc stuff (I had a 900ss SP with all the carbon stuff) was literally two layers thick with no real topcoat. I could bend my fender and hugger by merely pressing it!!! It was definitely made to save weight and damn the looks!!!! Also, the older epoxies really didn't have much UV protection. Bad for the aesthetics, but doesn't affect function. Modern CF will have UV protection in the epoxy. But old Duc CF looks pretty ugly, I will agree.

I don't think the epoxy has any UV protectants added. Epoxy, by chemistry, has very poor UV resistance.

They're clearcoating the new stuff with urethane to achieve both the gloss and UV protection.

Carbon fiber parts were originally intended to be painted for appearance, and as you say were built for light weight.

[bunnyman666]

I don't think the epoxy has any UV protectants added. Epoxy, by chemistry, has very poor UV resistance.

They're clearcoating the new stuff with urethane to achieve both the gloss and UV protection.

Carbon fiber parts were originally intended to be painted for appearance, and as you say were built for light weight.

Newer West Systems epoxy does have UV protection (yup, I used to build composites).

[mjk778]

Here's the hoop on my 01. I painted it the same as the tank & fender.

+1 On the painted fender.  That looks a lot better than the carbon.  Nicely done!

[ducpainter]

Newer West Systems epoxy does have UV protection (yup, I used to build composites).

Really?

Cool.

I have some west system...and that stuff is not cheap.

Do you think the manufacturers of moto stuff are using it?

[bunnyman666]

Really?

Cool.

I have some west system...and that stuff is not cheap.

Do you think the manufacturers of moto stuff are using it?

If they are doing wet layup. I surmise that most every moto thing is done with pre-preg unless it is done in a small shop. I did rig up an oven in the garage to do pre-preg when I was doing the stuff.

West Systems is basically the small composites shop standard bearer when it comes to composites construction, IMO. Everything else I have tried was just a bit lesser.

[ducpainter]

If they are doing wet layup. I surmise that most every moto thing is done with pre-preg unless it is done in a small shop. I did rig up an oven in the garage to do pre-preg when I was doing the stuff.

West Systems is basically the small composites shop standard bearer when it comes to composites construction, IMO. Everything else I have tried was just a bit lesser.

So you'd agree that most of the stuff we buy has little to no UV protection built in to the resin, and it's achieved with a urethane topcoat?

[bunnyman666]

So you'd agree that most of the stuff we buy has little to no UV protection built in to the resin, and it's achieved with a urethane topcoat?

Yes, indeedy.

There are some good epoxy top coats that have good UV resistance, and they were originally used in Marine applications.

[671M900]

Curses.

I spent about 5 minutes looking at that first picture trying to see what was different?