BIKE BODY MODIFICATIONS

Bike modification is much more common in India than car modification. There are three simple reasons : 1> Bikes are ridden by younger people who are more prone to change and want to be different ; 2> Bikes are cheaper to modify ; 3> And most important, youngsters are aspirational, they want to be like their heroes and role models, in this case, Valentino Rossi, the 500 cc GP world champion for as long as anyone can remember. Indeed, the REPSOL bike you see in the picture is an exact replica of what Rossi rides in the races.

Modifications are of two types : Performance and / or Looks, with looks modifications being much more prevalent, because even with enhanced performance there is no guarantee you will win the race, for if that were so, you would not be reading this article. You’d be out there on the GP circuit doing what Valentino is doing. For winning races, rider skill is far more important than the bike he is riding. So, if you can’t beat them, join them, at least in looks !

And that is precisely what Mr. Prakash Kunthe of Fibrimo Enterprises, Pune helps you to do. The name Fibrimo comes from FIBRI==fibre, and MO==molding. Prakash has been in this business for more than 20 years, and is a master in FRP molding. The bodywork you see in the accompanying photos is made of FRP, that is, Fibreglass-Reinforced-Plastic. Indeed, the original headlight fairings, mudguards and side panels of all modern bikes are made of FRP, as is the huge front face of the Hero Honda Karizma. The quality of execution, fit-and-finish, and paint done by Fibrimo, is excellent. I would say it is quite close to what Dilip Chhabria (DC Design) does. But then DC Design costs the moon. Fibrimo prices are more down to earth.

If you have your own idea and design, no problem, Fibrimo will execute it. Price can be negotiated. For off-the-shelf buyers, as well as for out of town orders, Fibrimo sells “ready-kits”. While cost of made-to-order bodies would depend on complexity of the design and can be negotiated, ready kits are available quickly, off-the-shelf, anywhere in India.

Three types of KARIZMA based kits are available off-the-shelf from Fibrimo. First is the low-budget belly-kit which suits the original fairing of the Karizma, priced at Rs.3500/-. The second option is the CBR / F4 type body for Rs.20,000/-, which includes clip-on handlebars & grips, lower belly, graphics & stickering, and 2K system painting with Du’Pont Paint. This is also available for Pulsar, Unicorn and Apache at @ same price. If you want extra Mag-Alloy wheels (any color), tuned-length performance exhaust silencer (any color) and fairing mounted rear-view mirrors, the price is Rs.45,000/-. These prices are ex-Pune city. If you are ordering from any other city, packing and transport charges will be extra at actuals, plus 12.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) for Mr. Chidambaram, our finance minister.

Fibrimo Enterprises is located at Shop No.12, mantri Estates, Salisbury Park, Pune 411 037. Prakash Kunthe's phone is 0.9822442911.

Ordering your kit is quite simple. Fibrimo has a deal with M/s City Motors, Hero Honda’s leading Pune dealer. Whichever city you are in, just place your order with your local Hero Honda dealer in your city. He will do everything and deliver the kit to you in your city. He may (or may not!) charge you a couple of hundred bucks to fit the kit on your bike.