As no-one yet seems to be making a decent extended front mudguard or rear hugger I wondered how difficult it would be to have one manufactured in carbon fibre.
Rather than doing "real work" i've been having a bit of a google-fest this morning and there do seem to be a number of local companies who are prepared to do small runs of stuff like this.
But.... It seems there is a substantial initial CAD design and mould cost of around £750 for each item (yikes!) which is a bit of a show stopper for a one off.
So I wondered how many of you would also be interested in a carbon fibre extended front mudguard and hugger?
If enough people are interested i'll pursue this further. It's just an idea at the moment so obviously I don't have any costs, etc but just wondered how popular such items would be?
I've been reading the board for a while (since October) but haven't posted up. I make carbon fibre parts for bikes. I have a box of MT-09 parts waiting to be made into moulds but cash is the main thing that kept me from being able to do it so far.
I did a extended fender with another guy for my Triumph Street Triple in 2009. Took absolutely ages to get it right. First added the fenda extenda and filled the gaps. Smoothed it back to look like one solid piece and then did a mould of it. That started my previous carbon fibre business (I sold it to my business partner in October 2012). That part is still on my bike and works a treat. When I started my new company that was my 1st part I got moulded. It has to much history for me not to do it again and it's normally a good seller (the extended hugger beats it hands down though). Since then I did a extended hugger (longer and wide) and a extended chain guard (30mm longer) as well.
I didn't realise you guys are in the same boat at the Street Triple guys. The 2013 ST hugger is a joke. I just bought a ST swingarm arm to make a longer and wider version of the 2013 hugger. I have the 3D scan of the hugger (and 2013 chainguard) already but it's a complicated shape. Luckily I know someone that might be able to help me manipulate the scan.
I have thought of 3 ways to extend the hugger.
- 3D file modified, then printed with a 3D printer and then moulded for production after test fitting
- Take the OEM part and leave the base in tact and then build it up in fibreglass till you have a part you can use to mould from
- Wait till you find someone else that has made it and buy it and modify it to suit.
I went to a engineering firm on Wednesday and he was saying that I could get a plastic injection mould done locally for about £1k (was for a smaller part though) and the part would be cheap to produce. Not that I have £1k lying around. I use 4 different factories to make my parts and carbon moulds tend to be cheaper than that. Hugger mould should be around £300-£500 depending on the end design.
Anyway just my input as I've done this a few times and busy doing it again with the 2013 Street Triple.
When I get the MT-09 parts moulded I'm come ask permission from the forum owners to post it up. Till then I'll keep a eye on this thread as I feel there is only one group that should give input into modified parts and that is the community of owners as they know the bike inside out and the ideas are always great that come out of the community.
If anyone would like to fabricate the extended hugger (with of course the MT-09 community's input) then come talk to me as I should be able to help out with producing it in carbon or plastic (carbon definitely, plastic is about 90% definite).
PS:I don't want to post up any commercial info as I don't feel it's fair on the forum as I'm not here to advertise my business just keep up to date on the MT-09.
PSS: Dennis you guys have a done a excellent job with the change over. After our last chat on email I've transferred 3 of the 4 FZ-09 domains to Yamaha USA. Strangely they haven't bothered with the MT-09 ones, give it time and Yamaha EU will probably come after the other lot as well.
