Bodyshop Advice

[Spinal]

Greetings - I seem to be in the most unfortunate situation of needing a body-shop in/around Uxbridge.

Ideally one that knows how to fill scratches in fibre-glass/ABS and repaint them (no metal involved in my problem)

If they specialise in motorbike fairings, even better!

Speaking of which, any idea what it would cost me to get the fairings on the side of a bike repainted (in red if it makes a difference?) The exhaust and chassy are fine, and I've just dislocated a pinky (how stupid does THAT sound?)

Thanks,
Michele

 

[nick mercedes]

Greetings - I seem to be in the most unfortunate situation of needing a body-shop in/around Uxbridge.

Ideally one that knows how to fill scratches in fibre-glass/ABS and repaint them (no metal involved in my problem)

If they specialise in motorbike fairings, even better!

Speaking of which, any idea what it would cost me to get the fairings on the side of a bike repainted (in red if it makes a difference?) The exhaust and chassy are fine, and I've just dislocated a pinky (how stupid does THAT sound?)

Thanks,
Michele

Ital Coachworks in Wembley and Auto-prep in Northwood are both very good.

 

[pammy]

Did you drop it or have you bumped it?

I put mine square onto a lampost cut the length of the bike by a fair bit and broke my arm in four places

Either way - at least you're not badly hurt - more your pride by the sound of it.

 

[Dieselman]

I put mine square onto a lampost cut the length of the bike by a fair bit and broke my arm in four places

Trying to park were you Pammy.?

 

[Will]

Bad luck Michele - what happened?

Have you got any pictures of the damage? It might be worth looking out for panels on eBay/bike trader etc?

Will

 

[MBManInKen]

Trying to park were you Pammy.?

I wanted to LOL at that, but was afraid Pammy would hear me .

 

[pammy]

Trying to park were you Pammy.?

actually - and you will laugh, I was supposed to have gone round a corner - a fairly straightforward manoeuvre- or not in my case Haven't been on a bike since

I wanted to LOL at that, but was afraid Pammy would hear me .

I have no prob's with ppl taking the proverbial for this one as it was a totally stupid error. Were that I was trying to park it

 

[MBManInKen]

I have no prob's with ppl taking the proverbial for this one as it was a totally stupid error. Were that I was trying to park it

Phew, I feel a lot safer now .

 

[Spinal]

Hehehe, I feel so stupid now... Just been back from the hospital (my friends forced me after my pinky turned purple and swelled to more than my thumb)

Apaprently I've broken one of the smaller bones of my pinky... and my pride!

What happened- short story, I was going around a bend at the Heathrow/M4 roundabout, the light was green I went around. There was gravel on the floor, I panicked and pressed the brakes. By pressing the brakes while turning, my bike just fell on its side... while moving...

No major injuries, a scratched leg (jeans), an injured pinky, a ruined pride and a fairing panel that needs respraying. Oh and I need a new indicator/mirror...

The part I find most annoying is that I had ordered some crash mushrooms to protect the fairing, but they haven't been delivered yet!

I've looked on ebay for fairings, I can't find any in the same colour/year for the bike - only race fairings that are unpainted.

I'll definetly give those two a ring though; thanks!

Michele

p.s. oh, and now I have an excuse to change my helmet

 

[pammy]

Aaw - easy thing to do. I hate loose gravel when on my mountain bike, scares the bejeezus out of me, for that very reason.

The tiny bones are often the hardest to heal and can cause a disproprtionate amount of pain. But I hope you get the bike fixed and regain your pride quickly.

x

 

[Ade B]

p.s. oh, and now I have an excuse to change my helmet

Bad luck with the crash, you're on a steep learning curve but it could have been a lot worse.

I'd really strongly recommend you don't ride around in jeans, I have skidded down the tarmac twice on track days - the first time I got up without a mark, the second time my knee went through my leathers and I ended up with an exposed knee cap needing 4 stitches - pretty minor compared with the horrific injuries you can get but painful none the less.. had I not been wearing leathers it would have been a different story.

I hope you mend quick and the bike gets sorted, but please make sure you ride with proper kit (jacket, gloves, boots and trousers) it doesn't have to cost a bomb but it makes a huge difference - hein gericke does decent cheap stuff.

Ade

 

[Dieselman]

Spinal.
Sorry to hear of your tumble but not too bad..

Brakes and bends just don't go together on Bikes.

AdeB
Couldn't agree with you more regarding the proper clothing, it amazes me when I see Bikers in shorts and T shirt.
Yes we've all done it but protective clothing is a must.

 

[Spinal]

Thanks for the concern and advice

I have the jacket, gloves, boots and trousers... I just don't wear the trousers as I can't sit in them I need to get some better trousers, the ones I have aren't great!

I must say, it feels VERY strange typing with 9 fingers... I never realised how much I use my pinky!

Michele

 

[Dieselman]

actually - and you will laugh, I was supposed to have gone round a corner - a fairly straightforward manoeuvre- or not in my case Haven't been on a bike since


I have no prob's with ppl taking the proverbial for this one as it was a totally stupid error. Were that I was trying to park it

What you forget to tell us was this was a Ladies folding shopping bike....you know with the basket on the handlebars...

 

[pammy]

What you forget to tell us was this was a Ladies folding shopping bike....you know with the basket on the handlebars...

Damn - who's been yacking

 

[Dieselman]

That reminds me of when we were teenagers and racing around on pushbikes.
A mate had a folding bike and we were messing about. I was really flying round a sharp bend on it and the front wheel lost traction and slid sideways with the bike hitting a steel post. It twisted the frame and sent me flying...

The funny but is he continued riding the bike 7 miles to work as a poor apprentice when the frame gave out completely whilst in the middle of an urban dual carriageway going down an underpass.

He said the pedals were touching the floor as he pedaled and the handlebars were getting closer and closer....

 

[Gollom]

Damn - who's been yacking

That 'aint no lady - that's Pammy

 

[Sp!ke]

I doubt there's any point in painting the scratches Spinal. This is your first real bike... You *will* be falling off it again, I'll put money on it. Just make sure you are wearing proper protective clothing (including on your legs), that way its only your wallet that stings when you do.

Oh and if you do get the fairing fixed, take both sides off and put them somewhere safe for when you sell it on. Personally, I'd stick with bike repairers as not many car bodyshops have the same expertise with plastics.

As for the crash mushrooms, most do more harm than good. Which ones were you thinking of buying exactly?

 

[Spinal]

I doubt there's any point in painting the scratches Spinal. This is your first real bike... You *will* be falling off it again, I'll put money on it. Just make sure you are wearing proper protective clothing (including on your legs), that way its only your wallet that stings when you do.

Oh and if you do get the fairing fixed, take both sides off and put them somewhere safe for when you sell it on. Personally, I'd stick with bike repairers as not many car bodyshops have the same expertise with plastics.

As for the crash mushrooms, most do more harm than good. Which ones were you thinking of buying exactly?

I don't like the idea of leaving the fairings off as if/when I fall again, I'll scratch the chassy... the fairing I can always buy new fairly cheap (brand new fairings for my model sell for £100 on eBay, unpainted). I guess because this model is used alot on the desmodue race series...

I didn't know there were diffrerences in mushrooms! I just bid on these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230165594833
The bike has 2 stiff rubber/pastic rods sticking out to behind the widest part of the fairing I noticed today. I think the idea is that if you fall, these take the brunt of the fall instead of passing it on to the frame - they also have screw threads inside where the mushrooms fit...

I might buy a set of fairings on eBay and keep those aside to use in a few years - and self-paint the damaged ones... How hard can it be? (famous last words...)

Ingredients:
-filler*
-sandpaper
-base coat*
-paint*
-transfers*
-clear coat*
-compressor+spray gun

The liquids I think I can buy for a total of £30 and the filler for another £5. Question is, if I do do this myself; how likely is it that I damage it beyond further repair by a professional? I'm thinking,
-sanding the fairings,
-filler, sand,
-basecoat, sand,
-[basecoat, sand](as many times as needed.
-[paint, sand]x3,
-clearcoat, decals
-clearcoatx6

It can always be resanded and redone should I need a pro to do it, right?

Michele

 

[Ade B]

R&G make the best crash bobbins - I've personally tested them

Not the cheapest but the bolts are designed to bend without damaging the frame.

Good investment INMHO

Ade