fiberglass tail section

urbandork

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hey I have an xs650 and I'm also working on a friends xs400... heres a few pix of the tail section I did for his bike

xs400a.jpg

xs400.jpg
 
Any chance of a "how to" on this? I am looking to do the same thing, but I cant see, to find the right mold for the shape I want.
 
I use floral foam called oasis in order to shape out the hump. Its similar to shaping a surf board, and the foam is soft enough where i can use tools, cardboard sheets, and hand to shape it. Sometimes I do the hump on the bike and intergrate it with the seat section and other times I do it off the bike and combine the seat and hump after the first layer of glass.

After i shape the foam I put a layer of masking tape over it and a thin layer of vasoline before I lay the glass down so that way it will not stick to the tape. Plus after the seperation the foam is still intact. After im done laying down the glass i then sand it down and use body filler in the few spots that i may need. (depending on how well you lay glass)

This is actually the opposite way of using a mold of a negative impression and instead is more like using a ballon to paper mache a pinata.

here are some pix of a hump im working on. Its the first layer and i still have to lengthen the bottom of the hump so i get the desired line to match the seat and tank line. With this one it was easier to shape the foam off the bike rather then on. (the xs400 seat i did for my friend was done on the bike and the seat pan and hump where done as one)

drawing.jpg

IMG00011-20101116-1629.jpg

xs650.jpg

xs650a.jpg


Im actually been thinking about doing this for ppl in the local area as a side buisness. I figured it will be a true one off and the owner of the bike will play a important roll in the design and shape of it. Something turely unique and personal :thumbsup:
 
Great stuff, are you also a surfer? Maybe I can put my ding repair experience to use in putting together a flat tracker tail.

Also, what tank is that? Looks great!
 
yes, what tank is that man? How much for one of those seats? no lights , just one exactly like the red one pictured. Looks nice!
 
That's a Benelli tank if my memory serves me right.

yup its a benelli tank from a mojave BUT I knocked out the indentations and made a new tunnel and base for it so it would provide more volume and sit better on the frame

yes, what tank is that man? How much for one of those seats? no lights , just one exactly like the red one pictured. Looks nice!

Wish I could but the friend who I made it for threw away the mold i think. I didnt save it because if i do start making these for people I would like them to be one offs and an inspiration of the owner of the bike.

If I did make a new mold similar to the one you see I would probably charge 200 plus shipping due to the fact that its one of a kind.

Oh yeah , I think you are correct man.
wow that fits great , did it have to be modded any to fit

Nope direct fit. the seat pan sits flush with the frame and the hump clears the stock brace/tail light thingy. The seat can be attached several differing ways using what ever you might come up with.
 
Great stuff, are you also a surfer?

nope not a surfer but I do want to learn how to.... I was suppose to this summer but didnt... I do skateboard and snowboard tho.

I always did like board shapers. I guess its the So Cal/Hawaii in me.

do you surf? got any pointers?
 
Urban dork , I was talking about the tank. Did you cut the bottom out ? would love to see pix. How did you knock the indent out , looks pretty stock to me . This is a tank I been considering as it would polish up nice cause the old badges were glued on so there are no areas that'd need to be bondo'ed so it would look like a much more expensive alloy tank with the knee dents and all and these can be had on the cheap!
 
Urban dork , I was talking about the tank. Did you cut the bottom out ? would love to see pix. How did you knock the indent out , looks pretty stock to me . This is a tank I been considering as it would polish up nice cause the old badges were glued on so there are no areas that'd need to be bondo'ed so it would look like a much more expensive alloy tank with the knee dents and all and these can be had on the cheap!

yup i cut the bottom out and made a new less narrow tunnel for it and then made a base for it... most of its welded up when its done ill take pix.

I was able to knock the indentations for the badges out once i had cut out the bottom.
 
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