Wednesday, April 6, 2011

wrapping the cafe seat on the xs500 with 3M carbon fiber wrap

Primer to make sure that shit sticks.


3M carbon fiber vinyl. The next best thing to the real thing.


Tools required and a shitload of patience! I have to give credit to the wife for helping me on this. Really should have 3 people on something like this; one heating and two pulling and stretching it. 3 hours! Not fun at all.


Started...


Back side.


Getting there....


Trimming off the excess and bringing it around into the seat.


Finished look. Fucking cool :)

3 comments:

  1. Eric, this is way cool. Can't wait to read how your road test was. All the best for the test. Your fellow-XS500-fella, Robert

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  2. thanks Rob!!i'm very excited that u dig what i did with the bike, u beeing into these machines!!yea can't wait to get her runnin,thats why i've not finished the wiring on it,otherwise I would dump some gas in it and take it for a spin,but going over the whole bike to make sure everything is right and finishing up whatever needs attention still..

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  3. Hi Eric,
    Sorry that I wasn't able to answer faster here. Am totally wrapped up in family stuff, but want to let you know this: I've got three XS500s in my garage, one since 1981. Had to learn fixing that first one back then because I was in grad school w./out money. The XS500 is a diva, I think, considering the factory's history and how that model came into being plus most owners back then not knowing how to maintain it, including me. Long story... I learned it the hard way, taking it apart often, putting it together and liking it more and more. It's young guys like you, Jason Lajkov and Ted Cichoki plus the Wrenchmonkee #4 that I thank lots for keeping the XS500 alive with great builds like yours and cool ideas that I find in many details looking at this blog. So,again, thank you! You can't go wrong with this bike, no matter how you finish at the Grand Opening of Rustus Knuckulus. Don't want to waste more of your precious time before that date, bud. So, take me up on my offer helping you with publicity in the Olde World once you're done and need help over here in Europe.
    Have a great weekend, Eric and family,
    Robert

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