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Product/Service: Race Bodywork
Manufacturer/Provider: MD-Racing
Reviewed by: Jeff Kufalk

Bodywork. If you race, or run track days, you will be looking for a set. Years back, there were virtually no choices (Airtech or Sharkskinz), but that has changed within the last 2 years. Suddenly everybody and their grandmother is making the stuff. So, what's good, what's bad, what's ugly?!?

Well, that's a loaded statement. In my consideration of bodywork I look for a few things. It must be:
Light
Extremely flexible
Fit well
Good finish (coming primered is a huge plus)
Affordable

In the end, I want bodywork that is made GOOD, FAST, & CHEAP. But reality is that you can only have 2 of those choices.

Sharkskinz is the the longtime "standard" by which good bodywork is measured against. The big issue is that people make the comparison in quality, but neglect to compare the price. At $1004 + Shipping, sharkskinz is one of the most (if not THE most) expensive brands on the market. I can't dispute the quality of the product because I've found skinz to be absolutely top notch, but if I can find a comparable quality at a better price, I'm going to be all over it.

Talking to a sponsor of mine, Matt Drucker (owner & Racer) of MD Racing, he indicated he has his own in-house brand of bodywork. He made claims of it being "just as good" as skinz, but at a fraction of the cost.

I ordered up a set from him $550 complete package, shipped!

The delivery time was about 3 weeks, and this was in the off-season. During the race season, the delivery time should be expected to be at LEAST 3 weeks, and sometimes more. This is typical of most EVERY bodywork manufacturer (sharkskinz is on 4 week backlog right now). Reality is that manufacturers don't have the money or space to bulk build and store the stuff, so it is made to order.

I had a set of sharkskinz already on the bike (bought from Matt as well, before he had 600rr bodywork in production), so I had a very good comparison base for Matt's in-house stuff.

Out of the box, my initial thoughts of MD Racing's bodywork:
Just as light as skinz
Finish is very good (primered and clean)
Just about as flexible as skinz (sharkskinz feel a touch more flexible, but these are by no means stiff)

I scuffed and painted them and when mounting them up, I lost track of which brand I was handling (Skinz or MD Racing). By touch and handling, they really felt the same.

Mounting them up, they have hole markers which are fairly accurate (just as accurate as the skinz), and the fit is very good. Now to qualify "very good"... No racing bodywork on the planet will fit like stock bodywork. It just plain doesn't, so get that out of your head. However, there are brands of bodywork which require a LOT of pulling and "stretching" to get to fit right. This stuff doesn't require that. It fits as one would expect it to.

Crash durability? I can't personally comment, but I have seen 2 other RR's with this same bodywork on it that have gone down. In both cases, the bodywork held up very good (no broken holes, etc) with the exception of a tail-section that broke in half, but considering the subframe was in about 20 pieces, this would be expected.

In conclusion, at $550 shipped to your door, including the Upper, Lower, Tail and Tank Cover, I really don't think you can beat this deal. The quality is good and the price is even better.

What could make this bodywork better? Well, if production times were shorter, I'm sure that they'd sell more, and they could consider including fasteners and a tail section 'stand-off' mount (mounts tail to the subframe at the rear). However, all of these things would add to the cost of the stuff, so I'm happy right where it's at.

Price Comparison (Upper, Lower, Tail, Tank, Fender):
MD Racing - $550 SHIPPED
Sharkskinz - $1004 + shipping
Hotbodies - $734 + shipping
LP USA Hotbodies (Team Privateer discount) - $565 + shipping
Airtech - $850 + Shipping

Where can you get yours?
MD Racing
Call them and talk to Matt. Tell him you read this review!

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