Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > General Motorcycles only > help please - carbon pipe question

[Ian]

I have some very shinny new pipes; - they are shinier than a shiny thing after it has been shined. I want to dull the look of the cans down with some carbon fibre. I guess I can get flexible carbon fibre sheet to cut and wrap around the outer casing of the twin pipes/cans. Can I glue the stuff with heat proof glue? Is there such a thing? Termis are carbon fibre all the way through I believe but I think some carbon look pipes may be a wrap like this.

Does anybody know about such things?

[RD]

Hello Ian,

My favourite hobby is sailing (Motorcycling and Dukes second I'm afraid) and If I were you I would enquire at a chandlers or a boat building yard especially ones that specialize in GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) not wood.
When GRP yachts are constructed and some wooden boats are sheathed with a glass fibre skin (GRP) a resin is used, this is usually a clear resin which is applied during what I think is called "Lay Up" numerous layers of glass fibre, much like carbon are laid and resin applied, I know that it is extremely important at this stage to ensure there are no air bubbles or voids as when the resin cures the air bubbles or blisters will be permanent. I believe the final stage is a Gel Coat followed by a primer and several coats of anti-fouling paint. A resin is what you need and I'm sure they will be able to help.

Another alternative are fishing rod manufacturers, most mordern fishing rods are made from carbon fibre or carbon fibre with kevlar weave, I know this as I'm also a fisherman, although I have not been for sometime because of commitments I have a few carbon fibre rods sitting in my loft collecting dust.

Good Luck and hope this helps.

[HW]

There is a company somewhere on this green and (damply) pleasant Isle that carbon sleeves cans like those on the ST's (they left the stainless inner and fitted a carbon sleeve in place of the aluminium outer I think). I will try and find a link, but it was some time ago that I saw it so might not. They might be worth talking to though.

[chicken]

might be able to have your cake and eat it. Drill out the rivets to remove the original sleeve - that way you can always keep the originals as new if you eventually sell the bike.

http://www.arracing.co.uk/anr.nsf/vi...xhaust+systems

courtesy of Antonye.

scroll to the bottom of the page for "spares". Not sure if they have non-round outer sleeves though.

cheers, Chi

[Edited on 5-5-2005 by chicken]

[antonye]

If you really want to wrap them in carbon, let me know as I'll probably be able to do it for you as I have plenty of cloth and resin.

I'd personally go down the replacement tube route first as this will give a much better look. You can buy replacement sleeves direct from Ducati as a repacking kits in a choice or oem, Ti or Carbon, or go for an aftermarket manufacturer as the link above.

[neil748r]

Here's another link to a company that supply sleeves - both round and oval, carbon or titanium.

Hope that helps,

Neil.

[Ian]

thanks guys, thought there was a way, now just have to decide which way