Understanding the Role of Fiberglass in Motorcycles
Fiberglass is becoming increasingly important in the realm of two-wheeled vehicles, primarily due to its ability to enhance aerodynamics and reduce vehicle weight. Moreover, it facilitates modifications and repairs in a straightforward manner. Let’s delve into what fiberglass is and how it is used in motorcycles.
Defining Fiberglass
Fiberglass is a lightweight, flexible, and durable material that can be easily employed in various types of vehicles. It is manufactured by combining resin and glass. The resin ensures that the glass filaments remain bonded, thereby transferring loads effectively. This versatile material finds application in numerous elements, including the fabrication of parts for vehicles, transportation mediums, boat construction, machinery components, high-strength equipment, and construction or sports gear, owing to its manifold properties.
It is produced by stretching molten glass into long, thin threads. These filaments can be used individually or grouped into strands for weaving or pressing, enabling them to adopt a wide variety of sizes and shapes to suit different products, such as motorcycle fairings.
The Role of Fiberglass in Motorcycles
Fiberglass plays a crucial role in motorcycles as it enables the creation of lightweight vehicles with a material that is both resilient and easy to mold. Additionally, being a malleable material, it can be utilized in a multitude of tasks ranging from installing accessories on the motorcycle to repairing the fairings.
Typically, fiberglass is widely used in motorcycles, primarily in the fairings of racing bikes, regardless of their type, to provide aerodynamics and lightness.
In the market, you can find economical fairing kits made from fiberglass that allow you to customize the appearance of your vehicle effortlessly. Their installation is simple and does not require extensive knowledge to fit them onto your motorcycle.
Since fiberglass is lightweight, it is used in parts where weight reduction is possible. Furthermore, it can be used to repair any type of cracks in the plastic parts of the vehicle.
Moreover, it is possible to manufacture parts and spoilers that you can easily attach to your motorcycle, with most added elements of tuning motorcycles being made from this material.
As it is a straightforward material to use, you can handle it yourself, although you can also visit a specialized workshop to repair a specific part of your motorcycle or add a new customization element. This way, you ensure that it is approved, and you won’t encounter any issues during the ITV inspection.