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[Rebel]

Anyone using a fairing bra?  There's a lot of salt and cinders on the roads up here in the Great White North this time of year- the bra is a pretty cheap accessory and might be a good move to protect the fairing from chips, but I'm concerned about it rubbing and wearing against the paint.  Any input and/or feedback from experience would be appreciated.  Thanks.
Later-
The "Rebel"

[Twolanerider]

Already got chips.  Big honking chips.  Just comes from being on the road; even in good weather.

[hd-dude]

Like I said on another post "bras should be banned from motorcycles" (even on passengers)

Seriously thought, the bra will protect from rock chips and such but if anything (dust, dirt, etc) get underneath the bra it will scratch the paint under. Also as they wear they tend to get loose and move a bit in the wind. This will wear into the paint as well.

For me its a "no way" item. Just keep good coat of wax on and hope for the best [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

[Twolanerider]

Like I said on another post "bras should be banned from motorcycles" (even on passengers)

Seriously thought, the bra will protect from rock chips and such but if anything (dust, dirt, etc) get underneath the bra it will scratch the paint under. Also as they wear they tend to get loose and move a bit in the wind. This will wear into the paint as well.

For me its a "no way" item. Just keep good coat of wax on and hope for the best [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

Never used one so didn't know how they were held in place.  What kind of straps do they use that stretches out Jim?  That'd be as bad as putting a cover on a car or bike in an open trailer.

[hd-dude]

Never used one so didn't know how they were held in place.  What kind of straps do they use that stretches out Jim?  That'd be as bad as putting a cover on a car or bike in an open trailer.

The are held on at the top by the windshield trim, Not straps, the leather (vinyl) itself loosens up over time. I don't have personal expirience but have a friend that had one on for a couple of years, when he took it off it looked the fairing was pretty scuffed and dull, he ended up just putting it back on. AK had one on his SEEG for a short time but removed over concern for the same thing happening.

[grc]

Perhaps we need some of this stuff:


Nissan New Car Paint Fixes Scratches
Washington Post      12/05/05
by Associated Press
Copyright 2003&044; The Washington Post Co. All Rights Reserved
 
TOKYO -- Nissan's new car paint repairs its own scratches and scrapes.Minor scruffs disappear like magic in about a week on cars that have Scratch Guard Coat, a clear paint that the Japanese automaker developed with Nippon Paint Co., company spokesman Kiyoshi Ariga said Monday.The coating, which Tokyo-based Nissan Motor Co. says is the first of its kind in the world, contains elastic resin, similar to a rubbery surface, and can repair itself of slight scratches caused by car-washing, off-road driving and fingernails.Car-washing machines account for most car surface scratches, according to Nissan, which showed before and after photos of a car with scratches on the hood and one with no scratches a week later. The coat lasts about three years, Nissan said.The scratch-proof paint job will be offered only in some Japan models of the X-Trail sport-utility vehicle, planned for sale soon, and overseas plans are still undecided, Ariga said. It may be offered in other models, but no decision has been made, he said.In terms of costs, Nissan would only say Scratch Guard Coat costs a hundred dollars extra.

[grc]

Anyone using a fairing bra?  There's a lot of salt and cinders on the roads up here in the Great White North this time of year- the bra is a pretty cheap accessory and might be a good move to protect the fairing from chips, but I'm concerned about it rubbing and wearing against the paint.  Any input and/or feedback from experience would be appreciated.  Thanks.
Later-
The "Rebel"

Rebel,

One thing about "bras", on cars or bikes, is that you do not want to leave them on the paint once they get wet.  If you do and then let the bike sit in the sun, the paint will soften and depending on the type of clear coat it can turn cloudy.

You would probably get better protection without all the hassle if you used the clear film that 3M has for stone chip protection.  It was discussed on another thread a few months back.  We use it in the auto industry on rockers, etc., and it works great and is barely visible.    http://flhrsei.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1128881044/5#5

Jerry

[grc]

Link to one of the places selling pre-cut kits for bikes:   http://www.stickercity.com/store/home.php?cat=2094

Jerry

[Rebel]

Link to one of the places selling pre-cut kits for bikes:   http://www.stickercity.com/store/home.php?cat=2094

Jerry

Now that's pretty cool! Thanks Jerry.

[bbsiding]

I had one on  my 03 FLHTI . It was on it when I bought the bike so I figured it was on to cover some flaws. I was right. I removed it when I did some behind the fairing work and the metal clips that hold it on between the inner and outer fairings tore loose. The paint din't appear to be clouding or scuffed and I kept it on for a couple more months. When I removed it to replace the stereo more clips fell off and made it to hard to re-install and I left it off. Still no scuffs though.

[DW6019]

Any auto/bike bra needs to be removed or "opened up" daily. If you leave it on the bike/car the condensation will fade, or dull the clearcoat to a point where you have to use the bra, want to or not. They are meant for protection only, not a permanent coverup. If you doubt me, walk thru any parking lot and gently look under the bra on the first BMW car you see, the paint will be so faded it will amaze you.
The dressser bra is hard to deal with because it is held on with the windshield screws, so it takes a minute or two to remove/install. But removing is a must.

[Fired00d]

Any auto/bike bra needs to be removed or "opened up" daily. If you leave it on the bike/car the condensation will fade, or dull the clearcoat to a point where you have to use the bra, want to or not. They are meant for protection only, not a permanent coverup. [highlight]If you doubt me, walk thru any parking lot and gently look under the bra on the first BMW car you see, the paint will be so faded it will amaze you.[/highlight]
The dressser bra is hard to deal with because it is held on with the windshield screws, so it takes a minute or two to remove/install. But removing is a must.

That is the gospel truth there, I found out the hard way.   I took mines off every night, and never left it on in the rain. Had thought about putting a bra on my  [smiley=pumpkin.gif], but after finding out that you have to have the chrome molding under windshield (another item that could damage paint) to hold bra on, and remembering what happened to my BMW I decided against the bra. I think no matter how careful you are, once you put it on, you are never going to be able to ride with it off again.

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]