Fairings are one of the most essential accessories of a motorcycle since they not only help improve the vehicle’s performance and protect the rider against weather conditions (rain, cold winds etc), but also make the vehicle appear all the more stylish. However, not many riders are aware of the materials used to manufacture motorcycle fairings. If you too belong to this league, it’s time to learn a few things about them. After all, in order to choose the right motorcycle fairings, you need to know about the different materials with which fairings are made of.

 Here’s a brief account of the materials used to create motorcycle fairings:

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) - This plastic is known for its strength, flexibility and durability, apart from being light weight. It is most commonly used for creating fairings for sport bikes. Some aftermarket fairing manufacturers also use it, thanks to its impressive features that combine the rigidity and strength of styrene and acrylonitrile with the robustness of polybutadiene rubber. ABS is preferred by many as it is resistant to scratch and protects the riders from flying debris. Originally, ABS was created to ensure the best protection to the rider in case s/he faces any type of accident. However, some experts dealing with motorcycle accessories and fairings say that as compared to other modern materials, ABS may be a little fragile and tend to get ruined easily in case an accident involves a massive force. If you are wondering how to make motorcycle fairings using ABS, two common methods employed are injection molds and compression molds respectively.

Fiberglass – This material is made of woven fibers and is largely used as a reinforcing agent for a lot of polymer products. Motorcycle fairings made of this material are mainly used on the race track. Usually, fiberglass is more durable and lighter than ABS plastic. In case your fiberglass fairings are damaged, you can repair them by applying new coats of woven fiberglass cloth combined with a polymer such as epoxy, over the damaged part, after which sanding and finishing should be done.

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer – This is the lightest but one of the most expensive materials used in motorcycle fairings. Fairings made up of this material are mainly used for extreme racing and sport motorcycles.

Now that you know about the different types of material used in motorcycle fairings, you can make an informed choice while buying motorcycle fairing kits for your precious vehicle.

Posted Jun 22, 2015 by John Speights