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Mending carbon bodywork

bic_bicknell

bic_bicknell

2015-07-08 10:11:00 UTC

Today I finally got round to mending the carbon bodywork brackets on the 990. I've been just so busy over the last year or so but the bike has done some high mileage and been a bit neglected. One of the consequences of this is that I've ridden it knowing that some of the brackets have broken and the single seat bodywork has been rubbing in different places on the frame and the front spoiler vibrates when you blip the throttle which really pisses me off!

All the bodywork is german carbon and it's almost handmade. Brackets and fixings are matched to the OE Superduke mounting points but they are mostly attached to the carbon with some sort of two-part adhesive like Araldite. Over the years this has started to lift from the carbon and then parts just started dropping off regularly. I tried a few months ago to fix everything with fiberglass and resin but it was a total failure as the resin would not bond to the inside surface of the carbon.

Finally I managed to get organised and ordered some carbon rod, carbon sheet and bought some really good superglue and accelerator, some of that two part chemical metal putty and satin spray paint so I was all set.

I erred on the cautious side and tacked everything in the right place with superglue. Then when it all fitted right I used two part Araldite to make big fillets of material round all the joints. Then after a night of setting and a final check for positioning I used the chemical metal to totally reinforce it all wherever I could. It's not really pretty but it's all hidden on the bike so I'd rather it was strong.

Took a few hours but it's all done now and everything is fitting solid, in the right place. Very satisfying.


Sarasota_Steve

Sarasota_Steve

2015-07-08 11:31:00 UTC

looks like that worked well - good outcome.
When I did my carbon/epoxy resin bellypan for my 1290 I had to post cure the epoxy in a make shift oven. Was told the epoxy I used won't reach post cure strength without it!
Can you tell me the name of the high strength epoxy you used and do you know if it needs post curing?
Thanks
EDIT: Oops sorry bic I didn't read your post correctly - ignore my question. good job