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Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

  1. #1
    Back marker... jwm2k3's Avatar
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    Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    I've gotta either paint the racebike or been toying with the idea of getting it wrapped...

    Anybody have their bike wrapped?

    Would the wrap give the race plastics more strength in case of a fall??

    Who can you recommend?

    What's it cost?

    Thanks in advance!

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  2. #2
    Have you seen my baseball GingahNinjah's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Mike Randi has his bike wrapped. def want to make sure you bring the entire bike to the shop to have it wrapped. having the bodywork on the bike makes it alot easier to stretch the vinyl than if it wernt on the bike

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    You dont know slow... PainfullySlow's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    I wrapped my own and while it can be a pain in the ass, it really isnt all that difficult. Did the entire bike for about $110 in vinyl.

    If you like doing stuff yourself, all you need is the vinyl and a heat gun.

    I can say that it doesnt add any kind of strength. A crash is still a crash. What it DOES do is allow you to nearly instantly make a cosmetic repair and have it look pretty damn good.

    If you do crash, you fix the crack/damage and then just put a new piece of vinyl right over it. You wont even see the seam unless you are less than 2 feet away.

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  4. #4
    xxaarraa
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    I have wrapped parts of various bikes - there is a learning curve, and you need a lot of patience. However, factory bodywork is much more intricate and has a lot more bends than race bodywork i.e., wrapping race bodywork should be easier. As painfully pointed out above, main advantage (HUGE) is to not have to ever worry about paint matching.

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  5. #5

    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Don't listen to Weyant. It's hard. He's just good at everything. And I'm not being sarcastic.
    He can do any number plate / vinyl work in 1/4 of the time and ten times better than anyone I know who doesnt do that professionally

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  6. #6
    go faster cdovego's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    My bikes were all wrapped by TSS Graphics.

    Doug did a great job and I think a ballpark of around $400-$600 depending on brand of bike is what he told me.

    His number is 978-562-1300.

    Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...-cbr-jpg

    Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...-cbr1-jpg

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  7. #7
    Back marker... jwm2k3's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Oh man, TSS Graphics looks good!! I may give him a call...thanks

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  8. #8
    Powered by Kurtz theducman's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Johnny, I did have mine wrapped. I brought them the bodywork, next time as Brian said I will bring the whole bike.

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  9. #9
    xxaarraa
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    John, the benefit of not having to color match only applies when it's just a plain wrap. If you decide to wrap with text/patterns/decals, it is no different from paint in my mind. If you go down, it's just as complicated of a fix as fixing paint.

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  10. #10
    go faster cdovego's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Take the whole bike, complete.

    X - you're wrong bud. Spot fixes with vinyl.

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    Central Mass Powersports #123

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  11. #11
    Lifer Ductard's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Well....I know what I'm gonna be doing this winter.

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  12. #12
    Lifer Ductard's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    I'm guessing you can layer the vinyl? I'm only thinking a couple deep, to put some stripes / decals on.

    Also, guessing from P-Slow's comments above that having seams isn't that big deal for a track bike, where you're not going for the showroom look.

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  13. #13
    xxaarraa
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Quote Originally Posted by Ductard View Post
    I'm guessing you can layer the vinyl? I'm only thinking a couple deep, to put some stripes / decals on.

    Also, guessing from P-Slow's comments above that having seams isn't that big deal for a track bike, where you're not going for the showroom look.
    What painfullyslow is talking about is consistency in color reproduction. Vinyl print is vinyl print - the colors always look the same. In the case of CF vinyl for example, if you match the weave on the spot fix, it is extremely hard to even notice the spot fix. Paint on the other hand, is always a function of prep and the unique conditions of how it cures. A red is not always red and color matching becomes a nightmare.

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  14. #14
    Back marker... jwm2k3's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Quote Originally Posted by Ductard View Post
    Well....I know what I'm gonna be doing this winter.
    You gonna attempt to do it yourself? Or goto TSS???

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  15. #15
    Senior Member AEG's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Quote Originally Posted by xxaarraa View Post
    I have wrapped parts of various bikes - there is a learning curve, and you need a lot of patience. However, factory bodywork is much more intricate and has a lot more bends than race bodywork i.e., wrapping race bodywork should be easier. As painfully pointed out above, main advantage (HUGE) is to not have to ever worry about paint matching.
    Does the color of the vinyl fade? Then it might be still a noticeable difference between the old and new layers

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  16. #16
    Lifer Ductard's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Quote Originally Posted by jwm2k3 View Post
    You gonna attempt to do it yourself? Or goto TSS???
    I'm leaning towards trying it myself. My reasons:
    1. Seems like a low-risk off-season project. Worst case I throw my hands up, take it to TSS anyways and I'm out $100-200 of vinyl, an hour or two of couch-time and a 6 pack.
    2. Also attempting fiberglass repair on bike. Can find out how much an iffy vinyl wrap job can cover up a shitty fiberglass job.
    3. Would be wrapping a Ducati - Less reason to go to tss / fancy pattern. They really only look good in a solid color. They only look really good in solid red (IMHO).


    Maybe the stretching, etc. is easier when the bodywork is on the bike, but my current thinking is that I take the plastics off and wrap them in the comfort of my living room. Gives me something to do with my hands while I'm watching my shows.

    I value the sense of accomplishment that I get from doings in the real world that I don't get from churning out spreadsheets/presentations at work.

    Bottom line is I know after screw-ups, buying tools / supplies, etc. I often spend more with the DIY way than paying the pros to do it. But if I do it myself I wind up with the skills, the remaining tools, and a sense of get-er-done that I don't get from paying somebody to do it.

    On the other hand, I use a wash-n-fold laundry service. Because - fuck that shit is why.

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    "Where are we going?...and why am I in this handbasket?"
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  17. #17
    Back marker... jwm2k3's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Lol....I'm doing a Ducati as well. Red of course. I'm fully on the 'pay the guy' program...I only asked to possibly bring them to TSS at the same time, maybe a better deal....

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  18. #18
    Powered by Kurtz theducman's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Quote Originally Posted by jwm2k3 View Post
    Lol....I'm doing a Ducati as well. Red of course. I'm fully on the 'pay the guy' program...I only asked to possibly bring them to TSS at the same time, maybe a better deal....
    It better be red,that's our team colors, even though my bike is not red lol. But I'm working on that.

    Here is a picture of my bike wrapped

    Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...-15518771541_efc64fe94c_b-jpg

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  19. #19
    Lifer
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    I have no experience. But I am going to guess that the underlying fiberglass needs to be pretty solid and smooth. I don't imagine vinyl deals with rough edges under it well.
    My fiberglass, for example, is a freak show of cracks and rough edges. I do not imagine vinyl would cover that well.

    Would it?

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  20. #20
    Back marker... jwm2k3's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    I hope the vinyl deals with imperfections....I've got lots of those on the Armorbodies...lol@me

    Do I need to fill and sand?? Gah...I hope not. If so, I'm going rattlecan instead...

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  21. #21
    KNEE DRAGGING BAGGER sedanman's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    I'm picking up a beater to use as a track bike for my wife. I'm going to paint it with plasti-dip. It's easy, cheap and reversible (peel it off when it no longer suits you). Not show quality but it hides rash well.

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  22. #22
    Back marker... jwm2k3's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    I've seen a lot of plastidip. I don't mean to insult you, but plastidip sucks.

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  23. #23
    Changes come butcher bergs's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Think about adopting the "100 rule"

    Nice 100 feet or 100 mph

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  24. #24
    You dont know slow... PainfullySlow's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Vinyl is only a few mil thickness, and it conforms to any shape under it. That means it will conform to cracks, dents, and whatever else. It *will* show through. You can get away with a slightly rough surface, like you just sanded it with 400 grit rough, but anything more than that and it will show.

    If you are going for a truly good looking bike, you will want to fix those cracks first. That's what bondo and spot putty is for =).

    I haven't noticed any fading on my wrap job after 2 years now. The stuff is "calendared" (no clue wtf that means) but supposedly the vinyl is good for 7 years.

    If you do decide to wrap your own, make sure to buy a quality vinyl like 3M or Hexis. You want the kind that has some sort of air release/bubble release technology. It makes a world of difference when installing.

    Oh, and yes you can layer vinyl without a problem. There is something called 'knifeless tape' that is used to cut vinyl from underneath. It makes for an easy way to get your lines straight. If done right, you wont ever see a seam.

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  25. #25
    KNEE DRAGGING BAGGER sedanman's Avatar
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    Re: Wrapping bodywork instead of painting...

    Quote Originally Posted by jwm2k3 View Post
    I've seen a lot of plastidip. I don't mean to insult you, but plastidip sucks.
    On the bike I'm doing it to, it will be an improvement. I do agree that plasti-dip is no match for a good paont job or wrap.

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