I’m picking on the F6B a little here simply because it has so much plastic, but the truth is that plastic is a feature of a great many bikes. I’m in stupid love with the Victory Cross Country, for example, but I know that if you fling that bike on its side the result will be quite similar as with the F6B: lots of cracked plastic (b).
My question is: why?
Not why does plastic crack, but why do modern motorcycle manufacturers use so much plastic? Or, rather, isn’t there anything else they could use instead?
I understand that plastic has a fair few advantages: it’s relatively cheap to make (and therefore less cost is passed onto the consumer) and it’s light. Both very good things. But would it be possible to use some sort of other material, like aluminium? Why not make aluminium fairing? Is that possible?
Is plastic really the best solution? I feel, however, that if my aluminium or magnesium idea was valid somebody would be doing it by now. So, there must be a good reason; I just don’t know what it is. Anyone have an answer?
I’d love to know.
___________________
(a) I can’t help noticing that it costs $20,000 in the United States, which is terribly unfair. Because $20,000 is £12,263. If offered here at that price it would be a damned reasonable machine. That price difference is so huge, I wonder if you’d ultimately come out ahead buying an F6B in the United States and importing it to the UK.
(b) Actually, no, I don’t think that would necessarily happen, because I’m pretty sure the Cross Country comes with those kick-ass Victory floorboards that keep the bike from going all the way over.