Patching up plastics - how?

[agy]

Out of curiosity. Is it possible or do you just have to get a whole new panel?

[NTECUK]

Not nesaserily.
Been a few threads on hear dealing with it.
Try the serch function.

[Wideboy]

What do you mean by patching up? Repairing damage? No its impossible to fix with plastic welding or some specialist glues.

Painting? it depends on the colour and the damages proximity to things like stickers ect and equipment you are using. Some colours will match up quite well and others won't. For example if you mask off an area and spray up to it there will be a masking line visible once the tapes removed which 90% of the time doesn't blend back in properly.

As said, loads of threads and If you're expecting a professional finish then take it to a professional.

[NTECUK]

Out of curiosity. Is it possible or do you just have to get a whole new panel?

You can also vinyl wrap panels as an alternative to paint.
pic of what you want fixing be handy .

[agy]

Paint. The edge side on the front panel that takes the hit when you come off. It's light metallic blue
It's not bad. It's been like this for ages now. Certainly doesn't warrant buying new plastics but if I could cover it that would be a bonus

[agy]

I'll post a pic later

[Dicky Ticker]

In a word Yes--------I normally reinforce the damaged area at the back with fibreglass and resin before starting to work on the visible damaged area. Depending on what repair is necessary, but this usually requires cleaning before hand,rub or grind out chipped scored areas,fill and build up with fibreglass resin and finish with the gelcoat that they use on boats and then rub down by hand,prime and paint. I would do the whole panel in regard to painting and get new decals if required.
I go to a reputable commercial paint supplier who mixes on the premises with the relevant paint codes and take a panel that he can match it to. If you don't have spraying facilities they can supply the paint in aerosols---primer,paint and lacquer

IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO PAINT IN COLD CONDITIONS so if you are doing this outside wait for warmer weather [+15c]

[Wideboy]

If its metallic then do the whole panel

[NTECUK]

It might lend it self to fix the damage and paint or apply a contrasting stripe to save painting the complete panel .

[Dicky Ticker]

If you are only talking about bikini fairing panel scuffs and scratches try and do it on the bike providing it is in the correct position and still properly attatched. Reason I say this is their are some plastic securing/positioning lugs inside which tend to get broken off on any frontal or side impact and you will not know they are broken till you remove the front.

[agy]

Phew, sounds like the kind of job I am 100% likely to mess up :/
Does it cost a lot if you get someone to do it?

[Dicky Ticker]

Agy,it is not hard,just needs patience. Providing it is only scuffs you would have to pay the professional for the paint,they would already have all the other bits and pieces.
By the time you buy paint,primer,lacquer filler and rubbing down papers you could more than likely get it done professionally for a similar cost.
Like I said earlier if you want it done now it is to cold to spray outside.You need a nice heated garage or remove the bits and do them indoors[It will stink with fumes]

[agy]

I only have the main public road. And zero tools

[Jayneflakes]

The hardest part of repairs is the preparation. Get that right and the final job can look good. My Step son is currently repairing a dropped Honda he got cheap, but being a young lad he does not have a lot of patience and wants it all done in thirty minutes. The final result is not as good as it could be.

I have repaired cracked panels and prepared stuff for respray, but matching is hard work. A mobile scratch repair service can do wonders and prices can be so reasonable as to make it more realistic than doing yourself.

[yorkie_chris]

If you've just scraped the front corner of the fairing back to black plastic then it's not really worth repairing.

If you're very good you could get it back to looking perfect but any sort of bodged up repair with touch-up paints or anything is likely to look just the same or worse.

[Dicky Ticker]

Re JF,Very sound advice for slight cosmetic damage. Cost nothing to get a quote.