# Motorcycle plastic panel repair **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 9, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-plastic-panel-repair/356109 "2006-05-09T19:39:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-plastic-panel-repair/356109/1 "2006-05-09T19:39:53Z")
I may have mentioned a couple of years ago that a neighbour kid backed his mom’s car into my [Yamaha YZF-R1](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/r1.jpg). I didn’t notice the damage until **Shayna** pointed it out, and I didn’t find out who did it until the night before I left L.A. The kid never did pay me the $285 for the new piece of plastic. Anyway, I still have the old panel. For reference, it’s the white panel as seen in the link, only on the left side. You’ll notice there is a bolt just aft of the frame slider. That’s where the crack is. The new panel is on the bike, but I thought I should keep the old one as a spare – just in case. Or I could offer it on eBay. It’s a nice piece with no scratches – just the crack. So how do I repair the crack? I thought I might join it with cyanoacrylate (AKA ‘super glue’). Will that make a sturdy repair? Or I could use epoxy. How about that? Either way, should I get a piece of fiberglass cloth and reinforce the back with epoxy? Any other suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-plastic-panel-repair/356109/2 "2006-05-09T20:15:54Z")
I used some brand of super glue-type glue on the mirror housing of my van. The housing cracked into several pieces when I whacked it on the garage door frame backing out. The repair looks unnoticable from a few feet away but on close inspection you see the cracks. To get a good repair with super glue the parts have to fit perfectly, which they do when you have cracked plastic. If you can get it in the crack. You also want to avoid getting anywhere _but_ in the crack to avoid unslightly blobs. You will probably be left with a slightly visible hairline crack, but it won’t impair the performance of the bike 😉 Since your cover looks just cosmetic and doesn’t take any stress, you probably don’t need a heavy-duty patch, such as backing with fiberglass cloth. I went the fiberglass repair route on a Vetter fairing once, which was subject to a load and twisting, but I don’t think you need that. Parts are too expensive. Yamaha and your dealer are making a lot of money on that part. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-plastic-panel-repair/356109/3 "2006-05-09T20:33:38Z")
Check these links: [http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146\_0204\_body/](http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0204_body/) > **[how to: repair missing pieces in stock fairings](https://www.r6messagenet.com/threads/how-to-repair-missing-pieces-in-stock-fairings.57756/)** > > tool/products needed: > > > > orbital sander with 150grit sandpaper > > rotary tool (dremel or equivalent) > > soldering iron > > 120 / 400 grit sandpaper > > scissors > > carpet knife > > exacto knife > > card stock (you can use a 3 x 5 notecard or any stiff paper) > > pencil... ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-plastic-panel-repair/356109/4 "2006-05-09T21:45:36Z")
Grazie! ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-plastic-panel-repair/356109/5 "2006-05-09T22:15:16Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > The kid never did pay me the $285 for the new piece of plastic. Have any friends with Harleys? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-plastic-panel-repair/356109/6 "2006-05-09T22:34:50Z")
Friends don’t let friends drive Harleys. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-plastic-panel-repair/356109/7 "2006-05-09T23:14:43Z")
Suck it up and and buy a new piece. I tried the superglue method on a friends bike (what you think I’d do it on my own bike?) and it was messy. If there is a way to repair ABS I don’t know what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-plastic-panel-repair/356109/8 "2006-05-09T23:22:06Z")
> [@Mr. Goob](#): > > Suck it up and and buy a new piece. I did. Two and a half years ago. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-plastic-panel-repair/356109/9 "2006-05-10T03:11:55Z")
They make some special ABS epoxy that is sold in quality plumbing stores. I was told to use it on the cracked panel on my YZF600R. I haven’t gotten around to it yet though. By the way, nice bike. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-plastic-panel-repair/356109/10 "2006-05-10T03:18:39Z")
Thanks. I like it too! 🙂 Is that that goopy stuff like they use to join PVC tubing? If so, I’ve used that for making induction loops. Very messy. ---
**Author:** ![Anachronism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-plastic-panel-repair/356109/11 "2006-05-11T11:02:05Z")
The panel will probably have the type of plastic it is made out of stamped somewhere on the backside. Mine was ABS and I used ABS glue that you can find at most home improvement stores in the plumbing section. I also stuck a few pieces of ABS plastic to the back for reinforcement. It worked great for me. The ABS glue melts the plastic and fuses it together, essentially a weld. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-plastic-panel-repair/356109/12 "2006-05-11T16:42:14Z")
I like the ABS glue idea, if it is ABS. If it isn’t, may I recommend JB-Weld. A tough as nails two-part epoxy. Rough up the surface and apply a thick layer. This epoxy is just fantastic stuff. It held the bumper on my car for 8 years until I traded it. (The car is now probably a crushed paper weight with a firmly attached bumper). It does fail about above 400-something degrees, though, says the manufacturer. You’ll want to watch the proximity to the engine.