I've read this on two different forums, That Airtech is closing shop? Anyone here know if that's the truth...I would hope not. I need glass for 4-5 bikes...but not all at once... lol I saw that he was auctioning off some motorcycles at the Mecum event... If so hard to believe there's not a buyer for the company? But I imagine the days of aftermarket bodywork..are getting slow and not too much being produced for old bikes anymore. Push comes to shove I'll have to order up some seats and uppers for at least two bikesAs no other company in the world makes em but Airtech.. Post some info if you know, Thanks
That site is guilty of a few of my daydream builds over the years. That xs650 roadracer is damn beautiful!!!!
I have a Kent Riches story... In 1986 I bought a used TZ250G with ratty bodywork from a racer in LA. I somehow found out about Kent down in Oceanside. He was just starting AirTech and operating out of a tiny little space behind an industrial building. I was a broke kid who needed bodywork so I could go racing with ARRA and AFM South. I had no money. Kent set me up with new bodywork from an S model, complete with snazzy handcuffs. My bike looked like it was straight off a European GP grid. Then, he hooked me up with a female painter just starting out who painted my new bodywork in Marlboro orange colors for free. So, off I went racing at Willow Springs, telling everyone about Kent and the painter (Heidi?). I couldn't have gone racing without Kent's help, and also the help of John and Bill Matherson at Mission Motorsports in San Juan Capistrano. They used to work on my bike after they closed their shop for a 6 pack of beer. Kent's a solid dude and I wish him the best of luck in his next endeavour. (Years later and the paint had faded since I didn't have a garage and the bike was stored in my carport)
Armour body is awesome. Airtech was the only place to get vintage stuff though, at least that i know of. If Airtech would remake the Hex Cell bodywork from the 80's it would be as good if not better than Sharkskinz. I never understood why they started making thick ass non flexible bodywork.
IIRC Sharksinz doesn't have any of their old molds anymore. Really with Airtech gone somebody gonna have to pick up the pieces or we're gonna have a huge hole for old race bike bodywork.
Man,I kinda knew it might go this way.A couple years ago he contacted me about a bike I had sold about an hour before he called.We talked probably for 1/2 hr,he lamented that he was getting close to retirement,but his son had no interest in motorcycles or the business.