Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Arizona Wayne on January 12, 2015, 10:09:32 PM
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Those of you that hate plastic parts on your MCs. Have you ever considered that plastic makes your MC lighter than if it was all metal and unlike metal it won't rust or corrode? I have no issue with plastic parts on my MCs. :)
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Personally, I prefer metal parts. Especially tanks and fenders.
I'm not going to go switching in aftermarket metal to get rid of OEM plastic, though.
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I think both have their positives and negatives.
Awesome that I don't have to worry about rusty tanks or side covers, but crappy that the tank expands, and the plastic side covers have somehow warped slightly and no longer stay in how they're supposed to.
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I prefer metal, that's why the Ambassador is my favorite motorcycle. 46 yrs. old now and it hasn't rusted away. ;) The MZ Silver Star has metal tank, sidecovers, fenders, seat pan, rims, heavy original muffler, an enclosed chain and 100 lbs. of Rotax, yet still only weighs 350 lbs. Plastic - bah, humbug...
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I hate those rusty windshields! ;D
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/Penderic/metalwindshield_zpscc636bd2.jpeg)
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who cares about weight? im adding lots to my eldo. but ive got twin discs so it will stop just fine
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No one mentioned the dreaded polyester mite. Attacks plastics and turns it into goo.
Times change. Just wait, 20 years from now your kid's kids will be saying, "look at that classic roto molded polyethylene! With evertything made out of boring carbon fiber now, bikes don't have the flex and give of plastic."
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Plastic doesn't age well and you can't really repair plastic tanks and fenders that are damaged.
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I prefer metal...it's pretty easy to paint or repair and is stronger in most ways. My '03 Triumph is mostly metal...my Vintage, too. It just seems more 'real' to me than plastic...not logical I guess, but if I was truly pragmatic I'd travel by public transportation.
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I was surprised that the Cal 14 had a plastic fender.
As general rule, I have no problem with plastic for the reasons above. Although Carbon would be nicer.
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I prefer metal, that's why the Ambassador is my favorite motorcycle. 46 yrs. old now and it hasn't rusted away. ;) The MZ Silver Star has metal tank, sidecovers, fenders, seat pan, rims, heavy original muffler, an enclosed chain and 100 lbs. of Rotax, yet still only weighs 350 lbs. Plastic - bah, humbug...
My MZ 660 Tour has plastic tank, side panels, fenders, chain cover and weighs about 400#. Best handling bike I've ever ridden and get's 65 mpg. :BEER: Never heard of a polyester mite. ???
My maxi-scooters are covered w/plastic and none of them are light. Can't imagine what they'd weigh w/o plastic. ~;
Unlike metals plastic is an insulator and doesn't transfer heat or cold which can be beneficial for exposed gas tanks. 8)
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Benjamin, I have one word for you; plastics
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Whatever happened to those 305cc Honda Dreams with the pink plastic fenders.
How we sneered at those back in the 60s ???
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I hate chrome plated plastic, that stuff just sucks! I say this as I look at the bubbling .peeling chrome plastic on the front grill of my F-150, and the bubbling ,peeling chrome plastic on the trunk trim on my Goldwing. You cant do anything with that crap once it starts to go.
Plastics also dont do well in this Arizona sun, it really eats em up. Give me metal any time over plastic. Oh, and dont get me started on Italian, and Swedish plastic( Volvo).....Well, I guess Italians can make decent plastics, like Acerbis stuff.
Someone here stated"Real motorcycles are not made of plastic" I agree! ;D
Rick.
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I hate chrome plated plastic, that stuff just sucks! I say this as I look at the bubbling .peeling chrome plastic on the front grill of my F-150, and the bubbling ,peeling chrome plastic on the trunk trim on my Goldwing. You cant do anything with that crap once it starts to go.
Plastics also dont do well in this Arizona sun, it really eats em up. Give me metal any time over plastic. Oh, and dont get me started on Italian, and Swedish plastic( Volvo).....Well, I guess Italians can make decent plastics, like Acerbis stuff.
Someone here stated"Real motorcycles are not made of plastic" I agree! ;D
Rick.
That was my sig line for a couple years. 'nuff said.
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My MZ 660 Tour has plastic tank, side panels, fenders, chain cover and weighs about 400#. Best handling bike I've ever ridden and get's 65 mpg. :BEER: Never heard of a polyester mite. ???
My maxi-scooters are covered w/plastic and none of them are light. Can't imagine what they'd weigh w/o plastic. ~;
Well, that blows your hypothesis of "plastic makes your MC lighter" out of the water, then doesn't it? ;) ;D
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I don't think there's a question in the general populous as to whether they would prefer plastic over metal if there were no perceived performance trade offs.
It would be great if we got back to metal, but I am not sure that's going to happen anytime soon.
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I like metal for its feel, but in reality, plastic seems far more practicle. My 1984 v65sp has plastic fenders, the fronts are still utterly perfect, the rear did suffer a stress crack, but I was able to fix it with a 1/16 hole before the crack. But considering the bike is is 31 years onld and the plastic looks next to new, I don't see a problem. My 07 Breva has plastic everything, and it all seems to be standing up just fine, tank looks great!
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I was going to say cool story.....
Then I realised its winter over there, still pretty cold currently?
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Although my Guzzis do have plastic fenders I'll vote metal. Geez, I'm not running Moto GP here. A few pounds won't effect my 2 or 300 mile day of corner carving. If I was that worried I'd be taking my dog for a walk instead of typing about this and having a beer :BEER:
My '06 Tiger has a plastic tank and has never shown any sign of deformity. Maybe Tiawan has a better idea?
JS
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I like the metal tank on my 2013 Stone .The plastic tank on my previous Classic never seemed right expecially after it deformed and had to be replaced.I got tired of people knocking on it with a knuckle and asking. I'm OK with the fenders and all being plastic. I have Saturn cars and always thought the plastic on them was a good thing.
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Well, that blows your hypothesis of "plastic makes your MC lighter" out of the water, then doesn't it? ;) ;D
Naw, the MZ would weigh more w/o the plastic. :P...as would the maxi-scooters.
I have 8 MCs & scooters....6 of them have plastic gas tanks and none of those tanks have given me any problems. :BEER: Your results may vary.
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Whatever happened to those 305cc Honda Dreams with the pink plastic fenders.
How we sneered at those back in the 60s ???
Roy: I worked for Heyser Honda, Laurel, MD from 1965-70 and assembled more than a few "Dreams" (CA-72 for the early 250s and CA-77 for the 305s) and not one had plastic fenders. They all had color matched pressed steel frames and fenders. I recall the fenders especially well as they were bolted directly to the pressed steel fork (leading link) housings with 6mm (10mm heads) bolts and the holes in the fenders rarely lined up with the holes in the fork housings. These were the times I wished the fenders were plastic so I could bend them into alignment!
Ralph
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Fiberglass ;D
Dusty
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I think inflatable parts are vastly underrated!
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/Penderic/funny-balloon-motorcycle-sculpture_zpsc6b5f950.jpg)
;D
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My old Triumphs and Norton are ALL metal and they sure aren't heavy. Probably the lightest bikes I have for the street.
Much prefer metal thank you.
Regarding weight...if it doesn't serve a function then get rid of it. Too much form over function is what adds the weight.
My new triumph scrambler is unvelievably heavy for what it is, bit I think it would total a car out and still be able to ride away.
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plastic shifter bushings?! ACK!
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plastic bikes just seem soulless, the more metal the greater the connection between rider and bike for me.
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I like metal parts too. ;-T
There are times though, you want some of the parts you come in contact with, to be soft and padded and break off to prevent more damage in the case of an accident.
Remember before air bags? Seat belts were for sissies.
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/Penderic/classicdashboard_zps12473fe8.jpg)
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I'll bet those BMW Isetta cars were an instant coffin if you hit something in front of you. :'( :+=copcar Heard VW beetles were like that too. :+=copcar
Volvo was the 1st car Co. to have lap seat belts in 1959. ;) I had a PV544 in `61. It also had a built in curtain pulled by a chain for cold weather to block off the radiator as needed. 8)
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They looked cool though!
2 years ago I helped fix up a friends junky 60's Chevy Van, it was the Scooby Doo Mystery Van version with the front seats above the front wheels and just one thin layer of sheet metal in front of your legs and a big pane of glass on up! Felt very vulnerable when riding in that thing!
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/Penderic/06yt_cars4_jpg_2188995g_zpseca8df1e.jpg)
Very little of the original plastics and vinyl parts survived - dried out and cracked.
New plastic parts outgas and a new car's plastic interior will smell like the factory for a while .... phew! I think the inside of my windshield gets coated with something emitted from the plastics.
Safety tip. Never stand downwind of a car or truck cab on fire. The smoke from the burning plastics is very toxic!
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Nice looking van!
was a fan of the econoline, VW, and dodge vans of the era -- same basic design. We mounted the spare tire on front for a little extra protection. Sort of a F. Flintstone airbag.
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And the Hippy stickers helped hold the pieces together after an accident! :D
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Volvo was the 1st car Co. to have lap seat belts in 1959. ;)
American car manufacturers Nash (in 1949) and Ford (in 1955) offered seat belts as options, while Swedish Saab first introduced seat belts as standard in 1958. After the Saab GT 750 was introduced at the New York Motor Show in 1958 with safety belts fitted as standard, the practice became commonplace.
However, the first modern three point seat belt (the so-called CIR-Griswold restraint) used in most consumer vehicles today was patented in 1955 U.S. Patent 2,710,649 by the Americans Roger W. Griswold and Hugh DeHaven, and developed to its modern form by Swedish inventor Nils Bohlin for Swedish manufacturer Volvo—who introduced it in 1959 as standard equipment.
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American car manufacturers Nash (in 1949) and Ford (in 1955) offered seat belts as options, while Swedish Saab first introduced seat belts as standard in 1958. After the Saab GT 750 was introduced at the New York Motor Show in 1958 with safety belts fitted as standard, the practice became commonplace.
However, the first modern three point seat belt (the so-called CIR-Griswold restraint) used in most consumer vehicles today was patented in 1955 U.S. Patent 2,710,649 by the Americans Roger W. Griswold and Hugh DeHaven, and developed to its modern form by Swedish inventor Nils Bohlin for Swedish manufacturer Volvo—who introduced it in 1959 as standard equipment.
I don't recall my '59 Volvo having a 3 point system but maybe it was. :-\ I believe my `61 P1800 did. :)