That rusty tin heat shield panel!!! / hello!

hey guys!

new to this forum and had this bike (2001 vfr 800 fi) just over a year now and finally getting around to 'doing it up'
ive wanted to replace that side panel/heat shield that goes near the rear brake for a while, ive had a look online and for a new part £120 :crazy:for used £60:crazy: sooooo......
i decided to make my own and share the results! otstir:

i bought a 3mm thick sheet of aluminium £5 free delivery (i chose this as aluminium is used for heatsinks, has good anti corrosive properties and is light and easy to work with:glee from ebay 300mm x 200mm traced the old panel and holes,
then i cut out the shape with an angle grinder, smoothed the edges with a file / dremel
i then used a rubber mallet and a piece of wood to put the contours in the metal to match the original.

and hey presto!!!! very chuffed with the results!!:triumphant:

definitely try this if you are thinking of replacing this panel it cost me £5 and about 2 hours of my time

 

Cool. I've been thinking what I could do with this piece myself, even though there's nothing wrong with it, it sorta just kinda doesn't look right. I'd like a CF one, but at $120 I'll wait for other options

 

Those heat shields as OEM are cheesy. Probably outsourced by Honda. If they were made of stainless steel or aluminum alloy it would be great but that ain't gonna happen.

If being handy and fabricating a new one is not in the cards. There is another solution that works. With a little prep with some sandpaper, apply 2-3 coats of a rust converter. I have been using this stuff for years. The name brand is Corroseal. It's made in Seattle and distributed by Rodda Paint HQed in Portland. There are other brands for sure. The chem is about the same. I have seen the same basic stuff in rattlecans by Krylon.

The coating is waterbourne in a polymer base and needs a couple of days cure time. Best topcoat for the purpose of painting a heat shield is one of the high heat paints including Barbeque black..

My original use was stopping oxidation on wrought Iron railings, bannisters, gates ect. The paint I used as a topcoat for longevity , color and sheen retention was marine grade alkyd boat paint.

 

Did ya have them do both sides? Just curious..

 

Gracias! Muy macheesemo..