 Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 112
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I'm sure this has come up before, but where can I get a chromed METAL replacement warning light display to replace the plastic one? I'm tired of people oohing and awwing at my bike until they tap on the shiny plastic and then make a face.
Thanks and please forgive me if this is an old & busted subject.
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Quote:
where can I get a chromed METAL replacement warning light display to replace the plastic one?
There isn't one.
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 406
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Adjunct
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Posts: 406 |
Quote:
until they tap on the shiny plastic and then make a face
Tell em to keep there stinkin hands off your bike!
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Just wondering why they would go around tapping bits of the bike 
As you say, I wouldn't consider touching someone elses bike anyway.
Unless it's a friend - in which case, a smack in the mouth shouldn't offend them too much 
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816
Freelance Jedi Knight
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Freelance Jedi Knight
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816 |
Quote:
Just wondering why they would go around tapping bits of the bike
As you say, I wouldn't consider touching someone elses bike anyway.
Unless it's a friend - in which case, a smack in the mouth shouldn't offend them too much
Will remember
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 Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,240
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,240 |
I made the same face in the Harley dealership last Saturday. New store, just opened near the bank, so just for grins, I stopped in to browse.... The strap around the battery boxes on all the new Harleys looked a little flimsy, so I reached out and tickled one a little with a finger nail. Rattled like a buzz saw. If it is not plastic, it sure isn't heavy metal. Tin maybe. You will find plastic fenders and trim pieces of all sorts on all types of bikes these days. For what we pay for these things, you would think they could do better. I would expect as much on a Vento, but on anything over $6k new, I would like to think they could fabricate nearly everything out of some grade of suitable billet or steel. 
Keith
Houston
Ridin'Texas
'04 Speedmaster
AI removed, Pingle, UNI Filter, 1 shim, straight-through slash-cut TORs, Stage 1 DynaJet, 140 mains, 3 turns, 16/42 final drive, 115K
2020 T120 Black
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1 |
What I can't figure out - with all the complaints there are about this piece - none of our more talented members or aftermarket venders have made a replacement yet.
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,527
Loquacious
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Loquacious
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It'd be very costly I would think. If they were made for mass production I think they would be made with a casting?
"Proud to be an Infidel" ... "100% pure American Jingoist"
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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It'd be very costly I would think. If they were made for mass production I think they would be made with a casting?
My thoughts too.
Perhaps polished aluminium?
How does aluminium take to chrome plating?
Which works best, ferous or non-ferous??
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,172
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,172 |
I'm no expert, just a supporter of the industry, but I think aluminum requires more effort and a plating of copper or zinc before the nickel and chrome goes on. Something about aluminum starts to oxidize as soon as it is exposed to air.... But they both look good afterwards.
More flags
More fun!
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 112
Adjunct
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OP
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i was in a Kawi shop last year sitting on an 1800 Drifter.. and the entire headlight housing was plastic
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
While in the garage and looking at my old '70 Triumph and then glancing over at the BA, I sometimes wish that the new bike had less chrome on it(don't get me wrong...I ain't no "paint it black Speedmaster sort o' guy...no offense) and was more like the older machine, which has polished aluminum engine cases all around. Ya know...there's NOTHING "classier" than polished aluminum.
And THEN, I think about all the Mother's Polishing Compound I use on the older bike to get it to shine, and I say to myself...."Thank God for CHROME!"
But ya know....for non-stressed parts on bikes, I really don't have a problem with plastic. I know many around here think that it's "cheap", but if the front fender of my BA wasn't plastic and was metal(like the rear fender), I couldn't have modified it(cut about 3 inches off the front of it) without having to get it repainted.(okay, so maybe I AM "cheap")
Cheers,
Dwight
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150 |
I would have preferred the warning light console was chromed metal myself and if someone made an after market one, I reckon I would buy it. I remember when I first looked at a sm and must admit, was dissapointed it was plastic. It's just one of the areas on the bike that could (not that it needs it much) determine it's superiority compared to metric or harley cruisers. To many this is an important factor that would help set it apart from the pack. It's just one of those things I guess. As far as plastic elsewhere, it's not so much of an issue due to practicality reasons.
Staintune Pipes, K&N Pods, 45 pilots, TBS needles and 145 mains.
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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... I think aluminum requires more effort and a plating of copper or zinc ...
I thought I'd heard something along those lines before, thought I'd ask the collective minds off here though.
I knew someone would know. 
If only the metallurgy class at college WASN'T after the evening pub break, I might not have slept through so many classes! 
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Be careful what you wish for
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643 |
Didn't Brent go into the costs etc of making some out of Ally or something similar. I remember something years back about it, but everyone said the costs were too dear  I'm sure someone with a better memory than mine will chip in 
Ray(UK)
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
Yeas Brent looked into it. I think he looked into a billet one. IT would have been way expensive.
As for cast, it could be done, but would require a lot of finishing steps to get it nice, probably bring the cost right up there too.
I have seen a few painted black, didn't look half bad! At least it wasn't trying to be something else, ya know?
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152 |
Quote:
What I can't figure out - with all the complaints there are about this piece - none of our more talented members or aftermarket venders have made a replacement yet.
I'll tell you what I'd like would be a little arc of lights that would fit around the speedo - where you could see them for one thing. Then I'd replace the Console with something a half inch higher, in body color, that would clamshell up at the front to be a little storage compartment. I'd be perfectly happy with ABS plastic for that.
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,555
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,555 |
Plastic or not, if somone who is not a close friend goes tapping in my bike,He'd best be prepared for me to go tapping on his skull.
The percentage you're paying is too high-priced
While you're living beyond all your means
And the man in the suit has just bought a new car
From the profit he's made on your dreams
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 9,223
Big Bore
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Big Bore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 9,223 |
One post up from your's, Ray. Moe linked to the discussion by Brent. To distill the thread, it was going to $650 for a billet cover!  I believe everyone ran away screaming
"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity" - Robert Heinlein
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
Yeah you are better off buying a slab of sheet metal and playing with a hammer and dolly for about a month...
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1 |
A few of the ideas I had were - A sheet metal replica of the current dash. After looking at a few of the parts on boogieman's site, he may be able to handle something like this. - Also a fiberglass replacement (could be painted bodycolor as mentioned earlier by Bill). Could be any shape to overcome all the flaws of the current one. Should be alot cheaper than anything else. If anybody, more talented than me, decides to run with either of these - just remember me.
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Quote:
What I can't figure out - with all the complaints there are about this piece - none of our more talented members or aftermarket venders have made a replacement yet.
Cheaper to shave it and repaint, probably. Put the lights on the handlebars with a new gauge or something.
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150 |
I remember talking to a bloke I work with who builds chrome bits for hotrods and has orders from all over. I believe he told me that much of the cost comes from setting up the mould etc for manufacture. Maybe it's got to do with how many you sell to re-coup costs. What we need is someone with some expertise in this area like maybe Stuart from SRS chrome or anyone else with experience in this area.
Staintune Pipes, K&N Pods, 45 pilots, TBS needles and 145 mains.
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Quote:
Yeas Brent looked into it. I think he looked into a billet one. IT would have been way expensive.
As for cast, it could be done, but would require a lot of finishing steps to get it nice, probably bring the cost right up there too.
I have seen a few painted black, didn't look half bad! At least it wasn't trying to be something else, ya know?
Brent posted his progress on this item a year or so back. Everyone jumped on it, till he posted it would be necessary to sell it for $500 or so to recoup costs. Not many (none?) takers after that info. Guess we do have a price.
Al
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Re: Annoying Plastic
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
Yeah it is mui expensivo. I saw a biker build off the other day, and the guy made a tank by making a buck out of MDF, then screwing a piece of AL to it, then banging the crap out of it till it was nice and rounded in the shape he wanted. Then he flipped the buck over and made the other side. Then he cut off the exess and put the two halves together. It was pretty cool. Said it cost him 35 bucks I would think someone could do something similar with the tank console with some time. Not really a good idea for production (actual stampings would be better) but for the guy looking for a weekend project... Might help if you had an english wheel laying around or were REALLY good with a hammer and dolly.
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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