Aftermarket plastics worth it?

Emu · May 16th, 2020, 07:04 PM

TLDR; Are aftermarket plastics worth the money, what do you recommend, what's your experience with them?

My bike is generally in perfect mechanical condition

BOY DOES IT HURT TO LOOK AT SOMETIMES

That being said, I have thought about getting replacement plastics. I low sided going about 20mph and the right side is scratched to hell, the tank isn't dented but it's seen better days, and all of the unpainted plastics like the meter cover are super faded.

I have really thought about doing a full restoration on it but I would be dropping a bunch of money on basically a one time project.

I'd either like to get some used oem blue plastics and if I can't find a full set at a decent price cheap used ones and get them vinyl wrapped.

Any input is welcomed and thanked!

GAU-8 · June 8th, 2020, 12:27 PM

I ordered a set from amazon. It was the "ZXMOTO" brand. Honestly I have zero personal issues with it. I was extremely surprised that each piece had a mfg date, and stamped( moulded) ZXMOTO on the inside of it. Maybe its chinese law or something...but I honestly thought I was going to get an unmarked box, with unmarked fairings.

So I am going to nitpick at what you will find. ( if you order white) i cannot speak about the painted ones.

You know how when you build a model plane or car theres the little bits you can sand off, or cut from the trees/sprue. Same thing. Maybe a little edge flashing, and an injection nipple.

Bolt holes all line up, if you TAKE YOUR TIME. Fasten everything in place LOOSELY, then tighten everything up slowly, here, there, over there, under here...oh and right there..perfect fit.

psykown · June 8th, 2020, 01:22 PM

I got a cheap set awhile back as well and like gau-8 said, everything fit fine paint looked ok even though it does chip a little easier on mine. if your plastics are only scratched pull em off paint them something crazy and have some fun with it

DannoXYZ · June 8th, 2020, 04:34 PM

I got a set from eBay for totaled bike I revived. Ended up not even painting it. Sold it off with bare plastics. Note that this is pretty much exact same as stock, meaning it'll shatter to bits if you crash. For my track bike, I went with 1-piece fibreglass fairings. Much easier and faster to mount, and much more crash-resistant.

Emu · June 8th, 2020, 04:51 PM

Thank you all for the feedback. I'm not doing a track build Danno, but I will 100% keep that in mind if I do, I have seen some theft recovery new gens in my area for like $300. A bike like that would be perfect for a track build. Right now I just want something more stock looking and not a total eye sore.

DannoXYZ · June 8th, 2020, 05:01 PM

Yeah, plain satin white looks quite nice. Not too flashly, but good looking.

Emu · June 8th, 2020, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannoXYZ

Yeah, plain satin white looks quite nice. Not too flashly, but good looking.

You think doing a home paint job would be worth it or just buy them in white? I haven't done it but honestly I am torn between doing that project or not.

Animal78 · July 29th, 2023, 05:51 PM

I am also looking at fairing replacements for my bike it’s really bad like pieces broken off it fell over n the garage and landed on a jack stand when I picked it up the stand was sticking out of the plastic straight out lol. It slipped off the front stand while changing the tires and the other side is beat up from the previous original owner when they didn’t know how to ride. They let out on the clutch and ran it into the side of their garage. Then proceeded to put 5000 miles on it over the years.

Anyway cheap fairings that would look ok with my metallic green tank.

cancov · July 31st, 2023, 06:01 PM

I made an attempt to paint the Amazon/EBay fairings. The fairings were fine. I spent approximately 8 hours sanding by hand and an orbital sander. Then adhesion promoter, primer, paint and then clear. Expensive products too. I wasn’t completely satisfied with the end result. I ended selling that 250R as is. Not a horrible mess but not to my standards. Round 2, I ordered the white fairings, sanded to 400 grit and left matte white, I’ve applied sealants and waxes on top and keep detailed with a graphene product. I actually really like the matte white. I have a black gas tank and I rattle canned the front fender satin black which turned out better than I thought. I’ll try to figure out how to post a pic.

cancov · July 31st, 2023, 06:25 PM

These are a little dated, I’ll try to get a few better ones:

Animal78 · August 9th, 2023, 11:54 AM

That looks pretty good. I have painted quite a bit of plastic but like you it never comes out like a metal part would. If my tank was not metallic green I’d go something like the white. But really I’d like to match up the factory color. For now I am riding it as is.

May 16th, 2020, 07:04 PM	#1
Emu ninjette.org member Name: Emu Location: Oklahoma Join Date: Jun 2019 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250r Posts: 55	Aftermarket plastics worth it? TLDR; Are aftermarket plastics worth the money, what do you recommend, what's your experience with them? My bike is generally in perfect mechanical condition BOY DOES IT HURT TO LOOK AT SOMETIMES That being said, I have thought about getting replacement plastics. I low sided going about 20mph and the right side is scratched to hell, the tank isn't dented but it's seen better days, and all of the unpainted plastics like the meter cover are super faded. I have really thought about doing a full restoration on it but I would be dropping a bunch of money on basically a one time project. I'd either like to get some used oem blue plastics and if I can't find a full set at a decent price cheap used ones and get them vinyl wrapped. Any input is welcomed and thanked!

June 8th, 2020, 01:22 PM	#3
psykown ninjette.org member Name: Joe Location: Lancaster CA Join Date: Dec 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 "sold" 2014 ninja 300 "Gold" 2000 DRZ400S (Sold the POS) K7 GSXR600 (Also POS...see a pattern? Posts: 207	I got a cheap set awhile back as well and like gau-8 said, everything fit fine paint looked ok even though it does chip a little easier on mine. if your plastics are only scratched pull em off paint them something crazy and have some fun with it __________________________________________________

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June 8th, 2020, 12:27 PM	#2
GAU-8 Socially inept. Yet FUN! Name: C Location: Houston Tx Join Date: Oct 2015 Motorcycle(s): Current machines- 1992 SECA II 600, 2006 Ninja 250, 2008 Ninja 250 Posts: 231	I ordered a set from amazon. It was the "ZXMOTO" brand. Honestly I have zero personal issues with it. I was extremely surprised that each piece had a mfg date, and stamped( moulded) ZXMOTO on the inside of it. Maybe its chinese law or something...but I honestly thought I was going to get an unmarked box, with unmarked fairings. So I am going to nitpick at what you will find. ( if you order white) i cannot speak about the painted ones. You know how when you build a model plane or car theres the little bits you can sand off, or cut from the trees/sprue. Same thing. Maybe a little edge flashing, and an injection nipple. Bolt holes all line up, if you TAKE YOUR TIME. Fasten everything in place LOOSELY, then tighten everything up slowly, here, there, over there, under here...oh and right there..perfect fit.

June 8th, 2020, 04:34 PM	#4
DannoXYZ ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: AKA JacRyann Location: Mesa, AZ Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17	I got a set from eBay for totaled bike I revived. Ended up not even painting it. Sold it off with bare plastics. Note that this is pretty much exact same as stock, meaning it'll shatter to bits if you crash. For my track bike, I went with 1-piece fibreglass fairings. Much easier and faster to mount, and much more crash-resistant.

June 8th, 2020, 04:51 PM	#5
Emu ninjette.org member Name: Emu Location: Oklahoma Join Date: Jun 2019 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250r Posts: 55	Thank you all for the feedback. I'm not doing a track build Danno, but I will 100% keep that in mind if I do, I have seen some theft recovery new gens in my area for like $300. A bike like that would be perfect for a track build. Right now I just want something more stock looking and not a total eye sore.

June 8th, 2020, 05:01 PM	#6
DannoXYZ ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: AKA JacRyann Location: Mesa, AZ Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17	Yeah, plain satin white looks quite nice. Not too flashly, but good looking.

July 29th, 2023, 05:51 PM	#8
Animal78 ninjette.org member Name: Larry Location: Albemarle NC Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250(sold) 2000 Ninja 250 (sold) 2012 Ninja 250r 2020 Harley Sportster (rarely ridden) Posts: 104	I am also looking at fairing replacements for my bike it’s really bad like pieces broken off it fell over n the garage and landed on a jack stand when I picked it up the stand was sticking out of the plastic straight out lol. It slipped off the front stand while changing the tires and the other side is beat up from the previous original owner when they didn’t know how to ride. They let out on the clutch and ran it into the side of their garage. Then proceeded to put 5000 miles on it over the years. Anyway cheap fairings that would look ok with my metallic green tank.

July 31st, 2023, 06:01 PM	#9
cancov ninjette.org newbie Name: JL Location: NC Join Date: Feb 2023 Motorcycle(s): 250R Posts: 2	I made an attempt to paint the Amazon/EBay fairings. The fairings were fine. I spent approximately 8 hours sanding by hand and an orbital sander. Then adhesion promoter, primer, paint and then clear. Expensive products too. I wasn’t completely satisfied with the end result. I ended selling that 250R as is. Not a horrible mess but not to my standards. Round 2, I ordered the white fairings, sanded to 400 grit and left matte white, I’ve applied sealants and waxes on top and keep detailed with a graphene product. I actually really like the matte white. I have a black gas tank and I rattle canned the front fender satin black which turned out better than I thought. I’ll try to figure out how to post a pic.

July 31st, 2023, 06:25 PM	#10
cancov ninjette.org newbie Name: JL Location: NC Join Date: Feb 2023 Motorcycle(s): 250R Posts: 2	These are a little dated, I’ll try to get a few better ones:

August 9th, 2023, 11:54 AM	#11
Animal78 ninjette.org member Name: Larry Location: Albemarle NC Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250(sold) 2000 Ninja 250 (sold) 2012 Ninja 250r 2020 Harley Sportster (rarely ridden) Posts: 104	That looks pretty good. I have painted quite a bit of plastic but like you it never comes out like a metal part would. If my tank was not metallic green I’d go something like the white. But really I’d like to match up the factory color. For now I am riding it as is.