| Author | Message | ||
     Slowride |
I heard a few threads ago someone mentioning Airtech. Well I looked into them and really like some of their Manta pieces for the Buell. I am on the verge of buying some of their product and wanted to get some feed back from the board on any experiences they have had with this company and their products. So let it rip! | ||
| Lake_bueller |
You asked.... I have an Airtech tail section for my S1W to use on track days. It was purchased used here on Badweb. According to their website, they have an undertail section for this part. They have been unresponsive to my requests for purchasing just the undertail section. As for the quality of their product...it is VERY light weight. But that also means it's not very sturdy. All in all....I'm not sure I'd use their stuff for everyday riding. One last thing...you'll get a better price purchasing the bodywork from Al at American Sport Bike! | ||
| Smitty808 |
I have a friend that has been trying to contact Airtech for a month about their BMW R90 fairing...they must not want to sell their stuff, because they wont return his calls! | ||
| Bomber |
I tried without success standing in front of Airtech's virtual door, trhying to shove money into the mailslot it's a mistake I won't repeat | ||
| Bob_thompson |
My own experience with Airtech was very positive. As seen in my profile, there is a picture of a full fairing I bought about six weeks ago with absolutely no problems from start to delivery. The person I spoke to on the phone had plenty of info and time for me and delivery was about ten days later as they don't mold anything until they have the order. The quality seemed very good and yes its light weight but strong fiberglass which I preferred. I politely disagree with Lake on the sturdiness for everyday riding. I believe that the proper bracketing to hold it in place is paramount. I am completely satisfied with Airtech's professional service and product. Bob | ||
| Se7enth_sign |
Bob... what fairing is that? | ||
| Al_lighton |
I can get anything that they have. Airtech is about 1/2 mile from here as the crow flies. I can get any answers on products that you need, I'm over there or driving right by it at least once per week, if not more. Their phone lines can get overloaded, there is often only one guy (Ben) taking orders if Kent isn't in the office too. Their stuff ranges in quality from poor to very good. The workmanship is generally OK, the accessory parts can be lacking. The Fiberglass isn't autoclaved prepreg stuff, so it isn't as light as it could be for it's strength. But for what it is, it is pretty decent stuff. I get my XB-S seat cowls and airbox covers from them, I've been satisfied with the quality. For some components, it's what the doctor ordered. For others (i.e. front fender), maybe not. They do have virtually all the tube frame molded plastic parts done in fiberglass, even if you don't see it on their web site (or mine). Al | ||
| Chasespeed |
I bought the Rogue fairing for my X1.. I had to have someone else deal with them, via the phone while I was away(didnt know Al dealt with them, wish I did)... The order went through, no problem..the part is done, BUT, the person that ordered it for me, received a phone call, after the part was done, that the part hasnt shipped, because the lights themselves are on back order...no big deal, and that little heads up was cool...I mean, wont do me any good whiel I am still here in italy..so.. On another note, my buddy had the Grand Prix fairing on his S1..sold it to anotehr buddy, to put on his X1.. I agree with Bob, that the product is plenty sturdy for every day use, and the bracketry is the key...(we still hadnt had it fitted by the time I left VA, so, cant say how the mounting will work out with the tank and all..) My 2 cents.... Chase | ||
| Bomber |
Al -- hmmmmm -- do they got tuber Fuel Containment Vessels in 'glass? that's be wunnerful, indeed! | ||
| Djkaplan |
Do they got M2 tail sections in glass? Mine finally cracked. It's where I got Erik to sign it, too, damnit!! | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Shadow, Fairing is Suzuki RF900 that I adapted easily except for brackets. Al, good to know that you have a connection with Airtech. I did talk to Ben and he was very helpful. Waited a few minutes for him to get to the phone and then we talked for about five minutes. I believe that anyone going with anything but stock items, be prepared to improvise and adapt for a good outcome. I spent many hours fabricating brackets for my full fairing. Bomber, looks like on their website their only showing fuel tanks for the RS1200's @ $687.00. None for the tubers. You'll probably want at least two of those at that price. My whole fairing wasn't that much. Dj, they show M2 tail sections in glass @ $159.08 which need holes drilled. Here's their website "www.airtech-streamlining.com" Maybe see Al Lighton for a better/faster deal. Bob T. (Message edited by bob_thompson on December 29, 2005) (Message edited by bob_thompson on December 29, 2005) (Message edited by bob_thompson on December 29, 2005) | ||
| Rick_a |
I've been using their superbike tail for some months. It has held up really well, and only required a little finishing and drilling a couple holes to get it mounted. It shakes a bit at idle...but has yet to crack anywhere, amazingly. | ||
| Al_lighton |
Fuel tanks, I think not. M2 Tails? Here's a few pictures. Doesn't an M2 tail have a hook under the back for supporting the LP assy? Don't see it here, but I don't own an M2, so I'm not 100% sure.    | ||
| Slowride |
Al, I originated the post because I wanted to purchase the MANTA 4 tail piece for my M2. If you go to their site you can see it pictured but not offered. I talked with a guy there and he told me the body identifier. I inquired about a seat and whether it came with the tail piece as it would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack unless I could get that fabbed too. The guy on the phone didn't know if the tail came with the kit. Would that be something you could nail down. If yes, I would prefer to buy through you. I have purchased with you before with OUTSTANDING results. Micah  | ||
| Slowride |
The guy on the phone didn't know if the tail came with the kit. I meant to say the Seat came with the Tail Kit. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Al.... Any luck I can get just the under tail section of the Superbike tail for the S1? Thanks!!! Dennis | ||
| Al_lighton |
Dennis, Likely. Please confirm, you want the part in the foreground of this picture?  Micah, I'll ask. Not sure if they're over there today, I bet they shut down or minimized operations over the holidays. But I'm going to my machine shop today, which is right down the road, so I'll stop by and ask if they're there. Al | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Al... That would be the piece. I'm in no hurry right now. Too many other irons in the fire! I have Marylin completely tore down for a rebuild. New pistons & rings, cylinder head work, powder coating frame & misc. bits, rebuilding tranny, etc, etc. Lucky for me, it's a long cold winter in Green Bay! | ||
| Al_lighton |
John, Not airtech, but I'll use your question about fiberglas fuel containment vessels as a cue to show this picture I've been meaning to show off here for a while. One of our CF suppliers does CF overlay work for us. It's a very different process than the normal autoclave cured Pre-preg that we make our other parts from. Prepregs use epoxy resins, and the minimum amount of resin possible is used, because of weight, UV stability, and optical clarity reasons (epoxy resins are milky/amber colored). This shop uses water clear polyester resins, which aren't as strong as epoxies but are more UV stable, so thicker outer resin layer is actually quite beautiful. These pictures don't do this tank justice, it is drop dead GORGEOUS. But you don't want to know the price...   | ||
| Lake_bueller |
All Hail Carbon Fiber!!!  | ||
| Djkaplan |
Why, oh why, did you have to post those pics of the CF tank? Just what I needed, more stuff I shouldn't buy..., or should I? Anyone got a pic of the Manta tailsection on an otherwise stock M2? | ||
| Slowride |
DJ, Only what I saw on the Airtech site.... Now you know why I want one!  | ||
| Bomber |
Al -- sigh -- I don't suppose the vendor needs a test subject for his CF tank coer thingie ;-} To Quaote my Grandpa, Ya never get what ya don't ask for!" thanks for the eye candy! | ||
| Sleez |
al....that is sweet!!!!!!!!!!!! how much is too much???? | ||
| Ara |
Awww, Al. Don't do that to us! Show that card. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Al,can they do a cut down version for my Bonneville bike so I can lay down low on bike?And , I do want to know how much!I am running a regular S-1 tank right now. | ||
| Al_lighton |
You REALLY don't want to know how much.....But it IS drop dead gorgeous. $950, and that is just the cost for covering an existing tank like that. The actual tank cost is in addition. It isn't a molding process like other carbon fiber. The tank is prepped, and the CF cloth is bonded to the surface of the tank using proprietary methods that I'm not privy to. The cloth is then coated with multiple coats of water-clear polyester resin, with lots of sanding involved. Think of it as a very complicated paint job that won't bubble up on the tank as some paint jobs have been known to do. My vendor does excellent quality work. He can cover just about any object like this with this process. Just after I bought the company, one customer had a swoopy plastic rear fender done in this process that had lots more complicated geometry than the tank shown above. I thought the vendor would say he couldn't do it, but it came back beautiful. All of our tube frame dash overlays are done using similar process, but they are done as flat objects that you then stick onto your dash with thin double stick tape. It's bling, though. It ADDS weight, doesn't save weight. | ||
| Bomber |
wow -- mebbe if I can find a couple of liquor stores on the way home tonight (though worth the dough, if the pic begins to do it justice) the flip side of the the coin is, though, one more failed paint job, and I'll have spent darned near that much money -- hmmmmmmmmm . . . . . . | ||
| Slowride |
Al, Any luck finding out if the seat comes with the Manta 4 tail kit? | ||
| Chevysolid |
Ok? You all been talking M2's and such What about a seat cowl for the X1, can a snap on one be fabricated or is there an existing one... if so what would the cost be?(fiberglass..paintable) Heck if the price is right I would be interested in purchasing an extra seat that a glass cowl is perm. attached to the passenger seat. Al.... What do ya think?? | ||
| Al_lighton |
I started down that path...for what I had to pay for the tooling for the XB seat cowl, and the prospects for how many X1 cowls would be sold, I shelved the project. If I paid someone to do it, I wouldn't recover the costs, and if I did it myself, I wouldn't get the myriad of other projects finished. The fact is, I just have too many pokers in the fire on composite tooling projects on XBs as it is. Micah, Haven't been able to get over there this week. Thought I was going to today, but several other things kept me from getting back by there on my rounds today. I hope to get there tomorrow. Al | ||
| Al_lighton |
Micah, It does come with the seat. The next question I asked was how is the seat retained. Kent was deep into a fiberglass project so he wasn't available, and Ben didn't know. So I'll have to get back to you on that. Dennis, They don't have a part number for just that part, but I'm not taking that as a "you can't buy it separately" yet. Stay tuned. Al | ||
| Firemanjim |
Al,I saw this set of bodywork on eBay and had a question maybe you can check with the Airtech guys on. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AirTech-Buell-S2-Complete-Body-Kit_W0QQitemZ46020 96240QQcategoryZ35583QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem If they make the S-2 gastank in fiberglass,can they make a cut down version?Or if they can make a fiberglass one I can always get it cut down.Next time you go by,if you remember.Thanks. |
