GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

I had one of THESE (//www.braada.com)  on my Katana (pre SV days).....

....I sent him an email wondering what it would take to get some made up for the GS's....

....I did see the solo-cowls in the For Sale section....but these are something entirely different....

.....anyways....I was thinking that it would hard to produce them for both style tails so I included a poll just to gather some initial interest....

....if you have any questions....drop me an email....if they do decide there is sufficient interest, I wouldn't expect them for a few months (at the very earliest)....
                            (this was my Kat)
(http://braada.com/katana-43.jpg)



MODS:

I can't add a poll, but I would like to have on with the following options:

1.  I'd like one for the 89-00 GS (#1)....
2.  I'd like one for the 01+ GS (#2)....
3.  I'm lucky and have 2 bikes and would like one of each (#1 & #2)....
4.  I'm satisfied without one (from either #1 or #2).....
5.  I'd rather have the JamesG solo seat as opposed the Braada one...

2 (04 is same)

thanx....edit has been made...

how bout option D: your buying my GS so its useless to me? :)

Quote from: Danielyhow bout option D: your buying my GS so its useless to me? :)

ummm.....ok.....I guess......if you insist.......since I'll be in the area......

seriously.....I can't wait to get there on Sat....Heather (wife) is so stoked...


...this (the cowl) is just something that may or may not come to be.....but it'll take a while before we know....

Is your wife going to be commin down with you?

.....of course!!.....after all, it is her bike.....but we're not bringing the munchkin.....I don't think she'd do to well for that long in the car, only to end up back at home.....

......dammit......another hi-jacked thread.....

:), btw, THOSE SEATS LOOK NICE!

I'd buy one for sure.
Option 1 (89-00)

I will buy an 01+

It's the seat and cowl, right?

Quote from: junoI will buy an 01+

It's the seat and cowl, right?

no....it's not the seat as well...

LINK to quote below:

QuoteHow do they mount, do I have to modify my seat?[/b]
 
Braada Concepts solo cowls are designed to slide over the stock seat from the rear. They are held into place using four tabs that are strategically placed to fit into openings in the factory fairings. The tabs are easily bendable to conform to fit your seat exactly, making for a custom fit to your bike.  

The picture you have posted is very misleading since does not represent the product at all that you are proposing. The pic shows a seperate seat and cowl. All that you are referring to is a cap to go over the stock factory seat.

Quote from: dgyverThe picture you have posted is very misleading since does not represent the product at all that you are proposing. The pic shows a seperate seat and cowl. All that you are referring to is a cap to go over the stock factory seat.

Sorry.....I'm not trying to be misleading.....(that's why I posted a link to their website).....yes it is a fiberglass cap that is made to fit over the rear of the seat....this is similar to many seat cowls.....the picture I posted is of the cowl on my old Katana....I really don't see what you're referring to as misleading(?).....perhaps you could clarify what you mean....

.....I actually think the picture posted represents the product perfectly....I'm simply showing it as a solo seat cowl on a bike that has one longer seat (similar to the GS).....the seat may look a little different then normal, but that is because I bought a second look seat cover off ebay.....perhaps looking at pics of other katana's HERE would help....



.....I don't have any additional pics of the cowl alone, but I am trying to find some.....the main problem is that the Kat forums I was on have since gone down and all the old info was lost....

PS....

....I would still love to have a mod add a poll to this thread....or if they can't add one at least allow me to be able to create one, then I can create a new thread with the poll in it....

thanx

I'd be down for a '01+

#2 (04)

01+

#2. I would for sure buy one.

Would they come painted?

the first person to manufacture a solo cowl for my '98 gs will get my money. i've been looking and waiting... so i guess #1.

Quote from: Stephen072774Would they come painted?

no....they do come primered and just about ready for paint.....I had mine colormatched along with the lower fairings on my kat for $80.....and that was at a local auto-paint place (A+ Auto Body Repair in Tucson)......


....all the cowl needed was a final sanding right before painting.....which was done by the painters......

Might maybe be interested in the #1, but thats a big maybe.  Id rather have a lower airdam first.

#1.  There are more of us.  Plus you '01+ guys already have cool bikes.  My '89 would look TONS better with that thing on the seat.

Just tell em to make 2.(one for 01+ and other for 00-) THe mold could be the same really, just the clips on the buttom of the mold would have to change right?

Quote from: Jake D#1. There are more of us. Plus you '01+ guys already have cool bikes. My '89 would look TONS better with that thing on the seat.

.....I figured there would be a lot more interest for the 89-00 version....but if there was enough interest for the 01+ then I could see about getting those made too.....

Quote from: stefman722Just tell em to make 2.(one for 01+ and other for 00-) THe mold could be the same really, just the clips on the buttom of the mold would have to change right?

.....as far as one cowl for both seat styles......well I don't think that'll work.....the seats look to be different sizes and shaped differently....

....

i'm so down for #2. . .
let me know how much you're lookin to sell it at. . .

:) put me down for one "1997! op 1...

Hope the shipping is not to much,for the UK..


                  :cheers: Tony

I am interested in one #1 for my '98 GS and I'm also from abroad (Spain).

 Best regards   ;)

#2. i'd buy one for my 04.

I am deffinetly interested, but would like to get an idea about price, and maybe see a pic..
Is it gonna look the same as the one on the tuna can??

Would definately want an 01+. I really dislike the saggy butt of the GS and the high wind fairing doesn't help. I think it would look sick on an F and would definately complete the look. I'm absolutely in for an 01+.

Did you hear from them yet?

id definately be down for option #1  :thumb:

Looks like this thread died. Any news on this what so ever??

01+ ....so #2

i guess it did die.  its surprising how many times i've heard about people fabbin seat cowls for the GS, and i've only been here a few months.  the bike has been out since 89 yet i havent seen a cowl that was ever put into production...weird

Cant have died. Make us all hyped up for nothing? i hope not.

I lost about an hour of sleep the other night trying to figure out if I could make one myself.   Reason #312 why I should get drunk before I try to sleep.

Put me down for #2 (2004 F), very slick looking.

No....it hasn't died.....I just don't have any news to report....I will attempt to locate braada on some other forums this weekend (as katana planet is a shell of its former self to website going down...)....I would have called them directly, but they don't have a phone # on there website....

.....I have sent additional emails linking both this thread and forum....as well as links to some seats on ebay that I'd be willing to purchase and ship to him for molding applications....

.....as soon as I have something new to report I will......as I have said earlier.....even if this is something Braada does pursue.....cowls won't come for a while....thanx....Devon

Just got a reply back from Jim @ Braada (Jim is Mr. Braada):

QuoteDevon,

I did get your emails. I'll be honest that I have been incredibly busy this week so I did not reply to the first one. I did reply to your second one though, not sure why you didn't get it.
Anyway, I checked out the site a little and scanned thru that thread. There does seem to be a some interest in them. I need to get a couple of things under control that I have going on now, but I will look into it and see if I can feasably come up with something for you guys.

Jim

sweeet! Keep on updating for us. I appreciate all your doing! thanks

I'd take #2.   :thumb:

Nice an update. Don't let this one go.

Quote from: TOMIMOTONice an update. Don't let this one go.

I surely won't....I know everyone will want frequent updates....that's just the society that we live in.....I'll post as I know more info....if you've poked around on either the braada site or katriders.com you'll know that Jim has his hands full pumping these out to the katana owners....

....he's also working on a few other projects for them, as well as site owner of katriders.com, so he is kinda busy.....but give him some time, and hopefully he'll make us one (or two) hell of a cowl....

If he can make a cowl that matches the lines of my 99 well, I want one.. I really have to see how they look before I commit to anything..
But I REALLY want a solo tail!!

Do you have any pics of your Kat and how the cowl straps on? Just wondering. Is there any drilling or screwing?

Quote from: TOMIMOTODo you have any pics of your Kat and how the cowl straps on? Just wondering. Is there any drilling or screwing?

CLICKY!!!

I've been watching this thread for the past few days.  Is there any interest in making this fairing out of a molded composite?  I own a family-operated aircraft composites shop and might be interested in producing a fairing similar to the Braada cowl if I can get some firm orders.  Materials could include Carbon Fiber, Kevlar, or Fiberglass.  Colored Carbon/Kevlar could also be an option.

well how would it be different?

The Braada cowl is vacuum molded plastic and requires painting.  Painting takes time, and it can be difficult to match colors correctly.  This is especially true if your bike spends a lot of time in the sun.

What I propose is a part that could be ready to install right out of the box, no painting required.  This would be done by allowing the reinforcement fabric to show through.  The surface would have a deep gloss due to the clear resin used.  Various colors of reinforcement fabrics are available.  These are some samples from my collection:

From left to right:  Carbon Fiber, Fiberglass, Carbon/Blue Kevlar, Carbon/Red Kevlar, Carbon/Natural Kevlar, Carbon/Orange Kevlar, Natural Kevlar.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/horteniv/Samples.jpg)

A Carbon Fiber one would be kick ass!

sounds good to me.  a CF would go good on my bike!  how much do u propose these would cost?

Holy crap!! CF would look so sexy!!
Let me know $$$$ I am VERY interested!

i would be interested in a cf for sure. i have been patiently waiting for some kind of seat cowl to finally be made. :thumb:

Quote from: GeePThe Braada cowl is vacuum molded plastic and requires painting.  Painting takes time, and it can be difficult to match colors correctly.  This is especially true if your bike spends a lot of time in the sun.

What I propose is a part that could be ready to install right out of the box, no painting required.  This would be done by allowing the reinforcement fabric to show through.  The surface would have a deep gloss due to the clear resin used.  Various colors of reinforcement fabrics are available.  These are some samples from my collection:

From left to right:  Carbon Fiber, Fiberglass, Carbon/Blue Kevlar, Carbon/Red Kevlar, Carbon/Natural Kevlar, Carbon/Orange Kevlar, Natural Kevlar.

CF would be good to......but I don't know if Braada would be interested in making them....are you saying that you're willing to develop the cowl?....

....I don't know if I'm right or wrong here, but doesn't CF fade quicker than paint?....I know CF exhausts tend to fade within a few seasons....let me know....I don't want to spread the wrong info....



.....as far as the Braada cowls.....painting does take some time.....but usually less than 2 days.....color match isn't that difficult if you get it done right.....cost really depends on where you get it done, and how many items you're getting painted.....

.....sun fade really depends on how well you care for your bike.....covers help....as does regular cleaning and waxing.....I've got a 97 BMW that's spent 5 days a week over the past 3 years in the AZ sun (I don't know about previous owner)....waxed it alot.....still looks perfect....no fade on an 8 year old bike....

I don't care who makes it, just git'r'done. Hehe. Carbon Fiber would be sweet because if you get tired of the CF look or if it fades all you have to do is paint it.

i'd be down if its in carbon fiber

Tell me when to send my check for a CF!

I am so serious.  Sight unseen.  You can use it as start up money!   :thumb:

ME TOO!
I'M SO DOWN FOR A CF ONE!

let me know

good to see this post isn't dying

I would go for a CF for my '99 GS if you are ready to ship it to Europe.

:thumb:

Well it certainly seems there is interest in a Carbon part.  At the moment I'm very busy, but I'll keep this in mind.  I have a tooling cycle coming up this summer, so I may see what I can do then.   :thumb:

nooooo, everyones so busy...

I know eh! geez. Dont they want money! lol. jk

Any news on this yet?