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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: nascarkeith on August 03, 2008, 09:42:06 PM

Title: Simulated Carbon Fiber Gauge Panel and Fairing Anti-Glare Panels
Post by: nascarkeith on August 03, 2008, 09:42:06 PM
I got the idea from the Bikepower.net section for modifications.  I stopped by the local autoparts store to get some oil filters to do an oil change in my other vehicles and picked up some carbon fiber vinyl decal sheet.  While I was there and they had the led's for the gauges clearance I picked up a set of those to install while the gauges where out.  Much better than the other blue bulbs I had in there.  Glad I saw they were on clearance in the other post.

Gauge Panel as seen on Bikepower.net
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/nascarkeith/gs001-2.jpg)

Left side of Fairing Carbon Fiber Vinyl the Right side is stock
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/nascarkeith/gs005-1.jpg)

Gas Cap (Probably won't last long)
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/nascarkeith/gs008-1.jpg)

The finished product
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/nascarkeith/gs-1.jpg)

I also put the simulated carbon fiber on the black piece under the taillight.  I think it adds a little uniqueness to the bike without going over board.  I plan on doing a couple other mods and posting an overall update of the bike with some better daylight pics.
Title: Re: Simulated Carbon Fiber Gauge Panel and Fairing Anti-Glare Panels
Post by: b_long_1 on August 04, 2008, 12:03:51 AM
Looks good. Good job.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Simulated Carbon Fiber Gauge Panel and Fairing Anti-Glare Panels
Post by: fatboy420 on August 04, 2008, 03:07:03 AM
yeah that does look good
Title: Re: Simulated Carbon Fiber Gauge Panel and Fairing Anti-Glare Panels
Post by: galahs on August 05, 2008, 12:02:40 AM
I remember seeing a bike pic on here with the gauge panel and the speedo & tacho chrome surrounds in black and it looked race!!!
Title: Re: Simulated Carbon Fiber Gauge Panel and Fairing Anti-Glare Panels
Post by: Toogoofy317 on August 05, 2008, 11:46:34 AM
I did the same thing to the gauges didn't come out quite a well as I liked but it was ok. Here is a link hope it works!

http://picasaweb.google.com/toogoofy317/Flick02

Does anyone know what kind of spacers we need when putting in LED lights? As you can see in the pics used a pvc valve but had to glue it on looking for a nicer finish on the front they work great for the back!

Mary S.
Title: Re: Simulated Carbon Fiber Gauge Panel and Fairing Anti-Glare Panels
Post by: The Buddha on August 05, 2008, 01:18:26 PM
Quote from: galahs on August 05, 2008, 12:02:40 AM
I remember seeing a bike pic on here with the gauge panel and the speedo & tacho chrome surrounds in black and it looked race!!!

That was mine. I have also done one set (that I will admit to) in a ahem ... less than very masculine color ... and it also looked a lot better than you'd suspect.
Eye of the beholder I say ...
I did one more in silver under candy blue and that simply is eyepopping.
You want pics now dont you ... OK here ...
http://picasaweb.google.com/srinath.the.man/KatFEPics

And the silver under candy blue is

http://picasaweb.google.com/srinath.the.man/PoppedOpenShocks

That and shiny black make for a serious blink blink situation without chrome.

I consider it to be a neccesity after the katana w/GS guage ear weld up job Cos it burns the lacquer and looks like crap.

Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: Simulated Carbon Fiber Gauge Panel and Fairing Anti-Glare Panels
Post by: The Buddha on August 05, 2008, 01:27:21 PM
I believe I have pics going back to 2000 or 01 with a black top plate and triple. 89's as well as kat triples look gorgeous. Polish the headlight triangle ears and black all else in that area. headlight shell, triple, dash etc etc, then do blue lights in the dash. :thumb:
There is one in the WOF too, blue tank is partially visible in that with a bright yellow graphical sticker that says "warlock" with some weird creature wrapped around it. That was my old 89. Still have that tank though.
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: Simulated Carbon Fiber Gauge Panel and Fairing Anti-Glare Panels
Post by: nascarkeith on August 05, 2008, 07:50:22 PM
Buddha that blue is actually pretty sweet.  Now I wish I had some time and a paint gun.  I am teacher and school is starting so not much time and no paint gun so I guess it will stay carbon fiber but the blue and black both are pretty sweet.
Title: Re: Simulated Carbon Fiber Gauge Panel and Fairing Anti-Glare Panels
Post by: The Buddha on August 05, 2008, 08:10:31 PM
No paint gun ... you know what a freaking nightmare it is to sand and paint cast aluminum. The dash plate with its bends and nooks and crannies - Forget it. Its been powdercoated. I hand him the parts, pick color, hand him the color and hand him a 10 ... that silver under candy blue is $$$, black typically I can get done ~$5 more or less for parts this size. They have a large contingent of black going I just piggy back on it.
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: Simulated Carbon Fiber Gauge Panel and Fairing Anti-Glare Panels
Post by: galahs on August 06, 2008, 12:23:56 AM
Yeah, I think an all black guage panel looks like it belongs to a sports bike  :thumb: :thumb:


(http://lh3.ggpht.com/srinath.the.man/SHAhXd5B8TI/AAAAAAAAAMU/ukXfShr4EGQ/P0010757.jpg?imgmax=1024)
Title: Re: Simulated Carbon Fiber Gauge Panel and Fairing Anti-Glare Panels
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on August 06, 2008, 12:31:13 AM
im really liking that blue candy though, VERY nice  :bowdown: :bowdown:, almost looks like s******hs <- (Shhhhhhh - witless protection, I think he goes by Buddha now) work  :laugh:
Title: Re: Simulated Carbon Fiber Gauge Panel and Fairing Anti-Glare Panels
Post by: CndnMax on September 25, 2008, 03:28:36 PM
What method did u use to get the decals the right size?
Title: Re: Simulated Carbon Fiber Gauge Panel and Fairing Anti-Glare Panels
Post by: efushi on September 26, 2008, 08:47:43 AM
Looks sick. Did you remove the stock black decal on the sides of the gas tank, or did u decal over it?