Many owners think that the plastics on a motorcycle are actually glass fibre, but they're not. At least none are to my knowledge.

I've read many stories of those who repaired their fairings with a glass fibre kit, only to report that the repair cracked again as soon as the plastic started to flex. Plastex Plastic Repair Kits are unique because the powder and the liquid in the kit actually becomes plastic when combined. And here's the beauty of it: there is no mixing ratio to follow, so you can't mess it up!

Plastex makes a very strong bond. If a repaired area is damaged again, it is more likely to crack next to where the Plastex repair was made than on the original crack -- the repair is that strong.

Each Plastex Plastic Repair Kit comes with powder, liquid, applicator needles, and other containers necessary for its use and application, along with an instructional DVD. A moulding bar is also included for moulding small replacement parts. Powder and liquid refills, moulds, and repair cloths are also available individually.

As long as the lids are kept tightly on the liquid to prevent evaporation, and it's not stored in direct sunlight or high heat, Plastex has no shelf life and is good indefinitely. Plastex can be sanded and painted, by the way, and is available in many kit sizes and colours.

Preparing the Plastics

To overstate the obvious, remove the pieces that need to be repaired.

Per the instructions in the Plastex kit, the back of the crack to be repaired should be filed down to a "V". This allows the Plastex to form a strong bond all the way through the material being repaired rather than just forming a bond on the surface of the crack.

I used an electric mutitool to file the back of the fairing. I tried a couple different Dremel tips and angles to find what worked best.

Once the back of the part is prepped, use clear packing tape and tape the front of the pieces together, being careful to line up the cracks so no gaps show. The tape not only holds the pieces in place, but also prevents any Plastex from running through the crack onto the front of the part being repaired.

Make sure that the packing tape is smoothed flat to ensure a good seal.

Plastex Application

Apply the product in a well-ventilated room because the chemicals in the Plastex repair kit have a very strong odour.

I watched the instructional video to get a feel for how to apply the product. There are two different ways to apply it: The powder can be squeezed into the crack, and then liquid applied over it (I thought this was the easier method).

Plastex can also be applied by placing a drop or two of liquid into the container of powder, then picking up the resultant "bead" with the tip of the applicator needle and placing the bead in the crack while adding more liquid, then repeating.

If glass fibre cloth is to be placed over a repaired crack, cut the cloth to size and place it on a piece of packing tape (sticky side up so the cloth sticks to the tape). Cover the cloth with Plastex Plastic Repair Kit powder, and then squeeze drops of the liquid onto the cloth until the powder and cloth are saturated.

Pick up the tape and cloth and invert over the repaired crack, applying pressure on the tape to smooth any bumps and bubbles out of the cloth, then remove the tape.

Let any repairs sit at least an hour before removing the tape off the front, doing touch-up painting, or reinstalling.

Plastex Plastic Repair Kits are easy to use; the repair dries quickly and is very sturdy. I tried to flex the piece back and forth to see how strong the bond was, and it was definitely strong!

From start to finish, it took me less than an afternoon to have the repair done and the parts back on my bike and the costs were less than £25 including delivery. The plus is that I have 75% left should I ever need it again. I will try to mould and attach a tab to a side panel next.... Watch this space.

Conclusion

Plastex Plastic Repair Kits can fix cracked or broken plastics for a fraction of the cost of replacing them. It's easy to use, cures quickly, and looks a whole lot better than duct tape or zip ties.

Plastex is available in black, white, clear, and a variety of other colours.