| Author | Message | ||
     Gofastalot99 |
I'm considering throwing some CF on the CR but after looking at some of the pieces, I'm just not sure if I'll save any weight. The exhaust shield is metal and I'd expect to lose some weight there but looking at the "air deflector" right behind the oil dipstick, the rear tire hugger, chain guard, and some of the other plastic pieces on the bike, I just can't see how I'd lose any weight switching to CF. When converting from plastic to CF is there really a weight savings or is it just for looks? | ||
| Trafford |
I have an 'all' carbon XB12R and there is a big difference between the total weight of the plastics compared to the carbon. However weight is relative. If I went on a diet I could easily save more weight than the carbon difference!! | ||
| Gofastalot99 |
So, for example, the CF hugger is lighter than the thin plastic one? When you say "big difference" are we talking pounds or ounces? The bike is already down over 15 pounds and I want to keep going. I saw a passenger cowl that allows the rear seat to be ditched, saving two pounds. It is CF and I wanted to throw on some more CF so it wouldn't look so out of place. | ||
| Froggy |
HUGE difference in wieght between carbon and plastic. I had a carbon airbox cover for a while. Lift the plastic one, not heavy, but imagine it weighing about the same as a sheet of paper or two. The plastic is pretty light to start with, so if your goal is to reduce weight I recommend you change the battery, get rid of the lights, and go on a diet. Carbon is very expensive, so unless your paycheck depends on it I would spend your money elsewhere first. | ||
| Jng1226 |
+1 Trafford. I have an "all-carbon" XB9SX, but I also agree that more "gains" in power-to-weight would be gained by me not stuffing my face every chance I get! Gofastalot99, try to find a shop near you that has carbon fiber aftermarket replacements for OEM parts. Ducati shops do. If possible, compare the weight of the stock piece with the CF piece. Compared to steel, CF pieces are about 1/3rd the weight. Compared to plastic it's about 1/2 the weight depending upon the thickness of the plastic part. Aluminum is somewhere in-between. If you replace everything that is replaceable on an 1125R you might save about 10-15 pounds or more. Sounds good, but it will cost you $$$. Now look at the CR, what is there really to change, the tailsection and seat cowl? Maybe save about 5-8 pounds for nearly $1,000? That diet starts to sound better and better, doesn't it? BUT, carbon fiber is the ultimate bling for me and looks cool as hell:  Jeff | ||
| Jng1226 |
The CF swingarm cover and buckle guard don't really do anything but look cool on my MV. Also, the CF heel guards weigh less than half of the aluminum ones they replaced, but the left one flexes more than the OEM and is actually grinding itself down on the chain when I'm hanging off in right turns. But it sure looks cool though, doesn't it? From that perspective (my own) it's worth every penny.  Jeff | ||
| Stirz007 |
+1 on Tafford. If weight savings is your goal, there are certainly ways to be more cost-effective. I raced bicycles some years ago about the time ceramic bearing sets became available. They were pretty spendy. I got about the same weight savings by not wearing socks and saved quite a bit of coin. Nowadays, I could stand to lose some pounds - that would be MY most effective way to drop bike/rider weight. That said, the CF is stronger, lighter and cooler looking. For me, if I had a grand or two laying around, I'd probably indulge | ||
| Jdugger |
You can shed a lot more total weight with a change of battery, wheels, etc., for the same money. | ||
| Jng1226 |
+1 Jdugger on the wheels. From that standpoint, the unsprung, rotating weight would be the most important to shed first for a quicker accelerating/braking/turning bike. Problem is, who makes aftermarket wheels for the 1125/XB bikes? I only have ever seen the Magnesium race wheels from Buell, and those don't seem to be available anymore. Jeff | ||
| Gofastalot99 |
OK, I think you guys have answered my questions. BTW, I've lost 10 pounds myself since 1/2/10 when I got the bike. I think I'll start with the heat shield, hugger, lower belt guard and passenger cowl first and then go from there. | ||
| Trafford |
 Since I did this I have put on 20 Lbs I really need to get back in shape! I had a CF air scoop too but removed it when I picked up a Right hand scoop in matt black, then I refitted the original so it matches each side.  | ||
| Jdugger |
PVM makes lightweight wheels for our Buells in both Al and Mg. They are a bit spendy, but nice. http://www.pvm.de/w1/en/showroom/buell2/  | ||
| Blackstripes |
On the CR you can't save a lot of weight, honestly the tail section MIGHT weight only 2lbs IF.. I took a couple of body parts apart and I was surprised how light these are! As rotational mass, wheels is where the real savings are... Jdugger, those are nice wheels!!! But... $2500+ !! hehe... Anyone knows how much the stock wheels weigh? how much would you save with these 8.58lbs and 5.94lbs ?? | ||
| Pittsburgh_guy |
truthfully, unless you are racing with Geoff May then it doesn't matter on a motorcycle like the 1125R. Unless you know how to create the molds and do it yourself. On a car, it's a whole different story. On my Acura, I dropped 125 lbs between the hood, hatch, spoiler, front fenders, side skirts, and doors. Total cost was close to 4,750.00 | ||
| Lastonetherebuys |
Michelin has just come out with a new tire that has kevlar belting rather than steel they claim to be about 3 pounds a tire lighter that a standard tire and I don't think they are that much more than a regular tire | ||
| Jdugger |
The power pure? Great street tire. It's an OK track day tire, but really isn't on par with proper race rubber. | ||
| Jng1226 |
Thanks Jdugger, those are great! The one thing I really liked about the Buell Magnesium race wheels is that the rear wheel is 5.75 inches vs. the stock 5.5 inches, so a 190/55 would fit perfectly. I seem to recall that they saved about 1.5-2 pounds each over the stock wheels. Pittsburgh_guy - is the car truly a whole different story? If you Acura started out at 2,800 lbs stock, and you shaved 125 lbs, then that is a reduction of 4.5%. That would be the same as taking 19.6 pounds off of an 1125R (440 pounds wet), about what you would save if you replaced the upper, tank cover, tail section, seat cowl, upper and lower chain guards, huggers and wheels. Checking prices at American Sport Bike and the PVM wheels that Jdugger mentioned, that comes out to $4,490 to upgrade the 1125R. It actually comes out to the same. That is, before you add an FMF or Jardine exhaust that saves an additional 15 pounds for around $550 and makes the total weight loss about 7.9 percent for around $5K. Jeff | ||
| Jdugger |
$250-400 will get you another 10lbs in battery.... | ||
| Jdugger |
> Buell Magnesium race wheels I'd sure like to find one of those myself. I have a 16.5 Marsh that's 5.75x16.5. It fits 190/65 superbike tires, and results in roughly the same profile and geometry as a 190/55 on a 17x6 wheel. The problem with 16.5 tires is they require absolutely enormous speeds to keep them hot and they are really prone to tear if they aren't in a fairly narrow range of temperature. As a mid-pack novice club-level racer in speed, I'm honestly not good enough to run them. But holy mother, the grip they provide!!! | ||
| Pittsburgh_guy |
Jng1226, Maybe, if you are only considering the parts that were replaced with the CF. When you also gut the interior and only leave the race seat(and I mean it it's not needed, it went) we are talking about a lot more than just the 125 lbs. With motorcycles, we don't have an interior. As a side note, stock weight was 2,775lbs which was shed down to 2,231lbs(20% reduction in weight); 1/4 was 11.01 seconds. -Pittsburgh_Guy | ||
| Jng1226 |
Nice! Turbo? Supercharger? Nitrous? All of the above? Jeff | ||
| Gofastalot99 |
Half of the weight I lost already was nearly free, now I will have to spend some money. The $$$ wheels won't be an option for a long while but a piece or two of CF here and there is do-able. So far I've removed the solenoid, rear pegs and brackets, half the tool kit, upper belt guard, different mirrors, rear turn-signals, LP bracket, and an RT-1 exhaust. I've documented the weight of each part removed and each part added. I think I'm about 16-17 pounds down so far. I have no real goal in mind but I can say that based on previous experience, I can tell a difference after a significant weight drop, like 10 pounds. I've dropped a lot of weight off my XL1200S but did not document the loss like I am on the 1125. I guess I've lost about 40-50 pounds on the XL and I can tell big time when I ride on a friend's near-stock XL. Acceleration and braking are slightly improved but the big difference is in handling. I think for me most of the allure of weight loss is in the challenge of losing the weight while still keeping the bike functional and good looking. Of course, many of you may not think my XL Sportster is functional since there are no mirrors, t-signals, horn, front fender, belt guards, or passenger seat, and the only gage I have is a shift light. I plan on keeping all of those items (except the rear seat) on my 1125CR. As I buy CF I will be weighing the parts on and off to see just how much of a difference there is. | ||
| Gofastalot99 |
Does anybody have a lighter battery than stock? Is it the Buell one or another brand? How is the battery working out for a street driven bike? I am considering it. | ||
| Pittsburgh_guy |
greddy turbo and zex nitrous, as well as cams, pistons, rods, Ti exhaust, intercooler. beat a dodge viper at Pittsburgh raceway by a 1.5 seconds in the 1/4 mile... He was pissed. E B R racing has one. It's about 400 bucks. | ||
| Gofastalot99 |
Nice bikes by the way. | ||
| Stirz007 |
No one said it, so I will. You can drop 15 lbs easy for track time. At about 6 lb/gallon you don't have to run a full tank. | ||
| Xcephasx |
i know this thread has been dead for a while, so i thought i'd bump it... looking at getting into making CF as a hobby. my xb12x would be a great place to start. by replacing the airbox, handguards, fenders, beak, exhaust cowl, belt guards, etc. (everything plastic) how much weight would i be looking at dropping from the bike? all of the other suggestions are great, about dieting and batteries, wheels, etc. but the fact is, i'd be doing it more for aesthetics and fun than anything else, but am still curious about the final outcome. even if anyone has weighed a cf airbox v.s. the stock, that would be enough for me to establish the weight ratio between cf and plastic. |
