I think someone keyed my side panel

5022 Views 14 Replies 6 Participants Last post by mtb2104, Sep 2, 2015

bannhammer

Discussion Starter · Aug 28, 2015

This happened a couple days ago, I'm pretty upset. It looks like someone etched an "R" into the left side panel. I haven't been wearing my rhinestone pants lately so I don't think it was my inner thighs, that and there was a bunch of silly string on a couple cars in the lot which leads me to believe it was some teenagers.

Anyway it really bothers me, so I need to do something about it. I could buy another one, but buying a set doesn't make a lot of financial sense. Ducati charges a lot for these and I'd much rather not fork over $200 for something as minor as this. I was thinking of having it powder coated or painted some matte black possibly, but I'm not sure if a black side panel would look out of place or not.

Can we get some brainstorming ideas for what I can do?

Thanks!

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kjs

· #2 · Aug 28, 2015

I have two nice scratches in my left side panel as well. No idea how it happened, but it seems likely that I managed to scratch them myself.

The panels are soft aluminum and scratch easily. You could try sanding and buffing them...done right, aluminum can look like chrome. Black is another popular color on Icons...I saw someone with white panels that looked nice on a red Icon. People have had success coating, painting, wrapping or plast-dipping.

mtb2104

· #3 · Aug 28, 2015

I wrapped mine

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PERPETUAL MOTION

· #4 · Aug 28, 2015

paint those bad boys with metallic hammered paint! It's about $8 and a few hours of your time to make a one off personalized panel. I'm waiting for my Corbin seat to come in and am painting mine to compliment the combination.

shmakt

· #5 · Aug 28, 2015

vinyl wrap it, changes the look for a very low cost, then when you get sick of it, you can peel it off and re-apply a new finish.

shmakt

· #6 · Aug 28, 2015

mtb2104 said:
I wrapped mine

tip i have for setting the screw so it doesn't twist the wrap, use a little silicone spray on the screw, with a small washer, slips easier on the vinyl, and wont twist it.

Reactions: 1

mtb2104

· #7 · Aug 28, 2015

shmakt said:
tip i have for setting the screw so it doesn't twist the wrap, use a little silicone spray on the screw, with a small washer, slips easier on the vinyl, and wont twist it.

sharp eye! and thanks for the tips!
I wanted to do the screw+washer method, but got lazy
will do that for the next color swap (wanted brushed titanium, but can't get any locally"

littleowl

· #8 · Aug 28, 2015

I powder coated mine black, but I'm sure you could do it in any colour if you didn't want black? It was very cheap (only cost me £30) and the finish is very hard wearing (I got textured black). The original panel scratched really badly just by the seam of my leather trousers - on the clutch side where my leg was moving more. I considered putting some kind of protectors on but decided they would look naff! Haven't needed them now

shmakt

· #9 · Aug 28, 2015

mtb2104 said:
sharp eye! and thanks for the tips!
I wanted to do the screw+washer method, but got lazy
will do that for the next color swap (wanted brushed titanium, but can't get any locally"

I leant the hard way, did my front fender and screwed it in to have the wrap twist, not such a problem on the tank panel as I have now covered with cool new decal, but the fender just stuck out like a sore thumb.
Recovered now and no twisting with the silicone spray.

Reactions: 1

kjs

· #10 · Aug 28, 2015

mtb2104 said:
I wrapped mine

I like that. Link to the wrap?

mtb2104

· #11 · Aug 28, 2015

kjs said:
I like that. Link to the wrap?

Sorry I don't have a link as it was done by a friend.

kjs

· #12 · Aug 28, 2015

mtb2104 said:
Sorry I don't have a link as it was done by a friend.

Any idea what the material is?

mtb2104

· #13 · Aug 28, 2015

kjs said:
Any idea what the material is?

Oh it is a 3M brushed metal series sticker... They have brushed blue steel/brushed black steel/brushed aluminum/brushed titanium/brushed steel

I am using the brushed steel for now.

bannhammer

Discussion Starter · #14 · Sep 2, 2015

mtb2104 said:
Oh it is a 3M brushed metal series sticker... They have brushed blue steel/brushed black steel/brushed aluminum/brushed titanium/brushed steel

I am using the brushed steel for now.

That brushed metal looks pretty good! Unfortunately I'm almost positive someone did this to me, I just got a scratch on my gas tank that is definitely a key mark and nowhere near my leg. Looks like I'm going to have to do something with the tank now (but not before I have a safe place to park).

mtb2104

· #15 · Sep 2, 2015

bannhammer said:
That brushed metal looks pretty good! Unfortunately I'm almost positive someone did this to me, I just got a scratch on my gas tank that is definitely a key mark and nowhere near my leg. Looks like I'm going to have to do something with the tank now (but not before I have a safe place to park).

that sucks!

good luck in finding a safe place to park

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

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