No plastic on V9 Bobber?

[Guzzidad]

   I guess for the most part that's true. But today I opened the headlight and was surprised the bucket is plastic. The reason I opened the headlight is I'm chasing down a metalic noise that sure sounds like valve noise. But a thorough inspection under the valve covers revealed nothing. It only happens when I'm moving. I've had both wheels off the ground to spin them and they feel good. Tapped all around the exhaust but can't replicate the noise. I'll just keep riding it and it will reveal itself eventually.

[Dirk_S]

Headlight bucket is the same as the one on the V7 III…if you’re talking about a pre-E5. So I imagine the E5 V9 and V7 also share the same buckets.

But come now—there’s plenty of plastic on them—the starter motor guard, the corner lights, tail light, gauge bucket, I believe. But those mudguards sure feel quality.

Hope you figure out your metal noise!

[Kev m]

How are the floating disc bobbins?

When they get really loose you can hear clicking from vertical suspension movement.

[Guzzidad]

    checked the bobbins. They're fine.

[bad Chad]

The gage bucket on a v9, at least mine is steel.   Compared to almost all other motorcycles, there is not much plastic on a v9. 

Fenders, steel
gas tank, steel
gage bucket, steel
side covers, steel? definitely metal
headlight bucket ring, steel
Wheels, alloy

As said the starter cover is indeed plastic, toss it away!

[Vagrant]

If it has heat shields check them.

[faffi]

Seriously, for non-structural parts like fenders and sidecovers and seat pans etc., I see no benefit of using metal over plastic. Plastic will not rust, will not corrode, will not easily dent and usually weighs less than metal parts. Which is why BMW used plastic fenders and side covers and more from the late 60s on their motorcycles.

[Kev m]

Seriously, for non-structural parts like fenders and sidecovers and seat pans etc., I see no benefit of using metal over plastic. Plastic will not rust, will not corrode, will not easily dent and usually weighs less than metal parts. Which is why BMW used plastic fenders and side covers and more from the late 60s on their motorcycles.

Though I agree with you intellectually, there's something emotionally satisfying about metal on a bike. Call it a nod to the past, I dunno. It gives me warm and fuzzies.

That said it's arguably ridiculous as you point out.

So what's dumber, metal bodywork on these bikes or the carbon fiber on my Carbon Dark to save all that weight over plastic.   

[Dirk_S]

I get that plastic has its benefits, but I was fond of walking on top of my Ural all over when I had it; that includes all three steel mudguards. Can’t do that on plastic (or aluminum)

[DoubleGuzzi]

So what's dumber, metal bodywork on these bikes or the carbon fiber on my Carbon Dark to save all that weight over plastic. ..

Ain't nothing dumb about carbon fibre.  If only it was used for some of the heavier bits..

[faffi]

Though I agree with you intellectually, there's something emotionally satisfying about metal on a bike. Call it a nod to the past, I dunno. It gives me warm and fuzzies.

You are not alone, and metal also has its pros, like being more repairable and do withstand UV rays without becoming brittle, as some plastics will. 

That said it's arguably ridiculous as you point out.

I do not think I said metal non-structual parts are ridiculous, only that I do not think of plastic automatically being inferior.

[Kev m]

I do not think I said metal non-structual parts are ridiculous, only that I do not think of plastic automatically being inferior.

You may not have explicitly stated it, but I think you laid out a let good argument for it. 

[TN Mark]

Though I agree with you intellectually, there's something emotionally satisfying about metal on a bike. Call it a nod to the past, I dunno. It gives me warm and fuzzies.

That said it's arguably ridiculous as you point out.

So what's dumber, metal bodywork on these bikes or the carbon fiber on my Carbon Dark to save all that weight over plastic.   

IMHO, the beauty and the uniqueness of the carbon fiber pieces outweigh any ‘advantage’ of weight savings whether the original part is plastic or metal.
Bikes like the V7 Carbon and the Audace Carbon are years ahead of their time. That the designers at Piaggio did it, and they went ahead and built those bikes is amazing.

I’m discovering the plastic parts on my ElDorado. Does it ‘matter’ to me? No, not one bit. The overall package is so good that the plastic or metal debate never takes place.

[DoubleGuzzi]

IMHO, the beauty and the uniqueness of the carbon fiber pieces outweigh any ‘advantage’ of weight savings whether the original part is plastic or metal.

You'll get no argument from me, on that one. 

Bikes like the V7 Carbon and the Audace Carbon are years ahead of their time.

Woah there fella! I was putting carbon fibre bits on my Sprint ST 25 years ago, replacing both metal and ABS stuff, as well as a few extras. This was spurred on by the CF that came as standard on the Triumph Daytona Super III and my wife's '99 Laverda 750S Formula. The ultimate is however Carbon Kevlar, as used on the likes of the Laverda 650 Sport.
Then there was the gorgeous MV Agusta F4 750 Serie Oro.
Must stop..