Holy cow - this is a lot of chrome!

[annguyen1981]

True, what he did wasn't original.  But I ask you, what did YOU do to YOUR bike?  Or does it look mainly stock?

It is about being different, but it's mainly about DOING something you like.

[GeeP]

I think it has some redeeming qualities.

You have to see beyond the stereotype.

[SmartDrug]

I think it looks great, good for the owner for making something different as far as sportbikes go.  Who cares if the tires are cheaper, if they work for him, who cares.  It's not like he'd need great rubber for the track or anything, and besides it has the yellow Maxxis logo, maybe he thought that looked cool and for most daily riding, who uses even 50% of your tires full potential?  Not I.  I do think the wheels look like crap though, but then again unless they're stock or marchesini rims, I hate them.  Has anyone considered the fact that it's not chrome, but a paint job made to look like chrome, it's crazy what they can do these days:  http://europeancarweb.com/features/0505ec_sl_01_z.jpg  This is from an article in European Car Magazine that was published sometime in May 2005.... crazy skill whoever painted this beast  http://europeancarweb.com/features/0505ec_sl/.   For what it's worth, this $300,000 car is running Nitto tires... if we're getting bent out of shape about tires= quality, why isn't this beast running PZeros?   
-Brian

[Jake D]

I doubt that is real chrome (and therefore doubt it weights 20 pounds).

Correct me if I'm wrong (and I want to be corrected if I am wrong because I am unsure of this) but the chroming process requires metal (an positive electrical charge is sent through the piece to allow the nickle, chrome, et al. to stick to it and it is dunked and washed in the different coatings and finally acid).
You can't chrome plastic.  So that means it may be paint.  And it it is paint, it is pretty trick paint. 

[GeeP]

Plastic can be plated.  Chrome plated plastic is all around, especially in cars.  It's done via vacuum metalizing.  Electroplating aka "Dip plating" is ineffective because plastic does not conduct electricity. 

If you have a metallic faceshield you're looking at vacuum metalized plastic.  If it's deep blue in color, you're probably looking at chrome plate.

If it's as good as it looks, with no flaws, the person that did it has mastered his trade.  I would not be suprised if there was a thousand man hours in that job.

[Jake D]

That's kind of what I was thinking.  That just couldn't be dipped in chrome and sent on down the road.  Impossible.  There is something to that bike.

[fettcols]

FYI.... In case you didn't know you can buy a completely chrome R1 or GSXR1000 brand new... It kind of defeats the effort of making something yourself but...

check out spyderracing.com

[Jake D]

I went ahead an ordered one.  Can't get the Aprilla tail, but I figured for $26,500?  What the heck! 

[fettcols]

I haven't looked at the site in a while, I thought they were under 20K.