I was wondering the difference in the two. Only thing I can really tell is the part that latches to the sub frame. Cheap one being plastic and OEM being metal. Since the pics are generally the same i wonder about the pattern on the cheap one, if it matches the section in the tail. If so I can buy the cheap one and buy the metal latching part off of babbitts and have a carbon fiber cowl for a hella lot cheaper than OEM yes?
I bet even the cheap one likely has metal to lock on to your subframe just like the OEM cowls. Mine does and I paid about $34 on eBay for a China version. Couldn't justify spending $200 over at Ron Ayers when I could have just kept the pillion seat on. Only the pure enthusiast can tell the difference and they're all already on this forum. :lol
Fits like a glove and happier than I expected to be. If you can afford the bike you can afford to gamble on a $31 seat cowl. It's a cowl for God's sake. Not like your buying a set of Chinese brake rotors. :wacko
I bought a cheap China made rear seat cowl for my L6 750. Fits like a charm and the "carbon" pattern lined up nicely and blends right in. So far it has held up to the weather, but I keep my bike in my house so that could be different if it was in direct sunlight all day long.
For $30, definitely worth the gamble..but I wouldn't take that gamble on any parts that actually matter.
I just received my "cheap" Chinese replica rear seat cowl and it also fits perfectly and the pattern matches well. Only paid $33.00 including shipping.
Thanks for the pic. I've been thinking about getting this for my Gixxer (2012) but worried about quality. Looks darn good to me so gonna pull the trigger. Only 3 more months before I can take my baby out for the first time. The pillion seat has gotta go! Man it's ugly!
Re-read the thread again. Not a single person argued that the fit and finish would be perfect. :wackoThat fact that you even have to look for and find imperfections in the China product means the China boys did a decent job all things considered. Again...we're not talking brake levers here. For $30 some odd dollars...who gives a fuck if the color's off a bit? They're not gonna notice at Starbucks. hhht
Mine looks great. Yeah, it's plastic, but so's the rest of the carbon fibre behind the seat, right?
The trailing edge is a little thin with a sharp edge, so I wouldn't drop it on something hard, but man, for the $, you can't beat it! I didn't notice the gloss difference. Hard to see in the pics, but again, for the $, the Chinese guys did good.
Before and after pics attached. (Oops..more like after and before pics..)