DIY Cutting Board Skidplate Recipe $4.99

This is just for fun...I know the idea is pretty simple. This is temporary for me. Use at your own risk.

Want to ride your bike but are afraid to bc you don't own a skid plate? Or are you like me and want to ride your bike while you wait to receive your skidplate? Well I'm here to tell you how you can ride your bike and have the peace of mind that comes with owning a skidplate. No it's not ideal, some would say it's even ugly. But for only $4.99 you can rest comfortably knowing at least there's something there...

Things needed: a drill, drill bits capable of drilling plastic, a marker, measuring tape, an oven with something to bake on and some type of cutter if you use tie wraps

Recipe:

1 11" x 16" polypropylene cutting board
4 appropriate sized bolts with washer(Anyone know the exact size)
or
4-8 ties wraps

Preheat oven to 260°F.  I read polypropylene begins to melt at 266°F so I chose 260°F to get the cutting board pliable. Put it on some type of oven safe material/pan and bake for 10-15 mins. Keep an eye on it so you don't over cook it. I suspended it between a cookie sheet so I could see it start to bend as it became pliable. There was no odor or anything as you're just bringing the plastic to the point it's bendable. Once the cutting board is pliable, using some type of gloves take it out and bend about a 110° angle. Once bent quickly check it on the bike and make any adjustments. I used a table to bend mine over. Then quickly run it under water to cool it off and cure the plastics shape. Once cool get out your drill and measure and mark the appropriate spot for the bolts. Or do like I did and approximate it and use tie wraps. Attach to bike with your preferred method.

Note: You could easily drill out an oil drain hole. It's actually pretty strong and provides fairly good coverage without getting in the way of your feet. I left the plastic corner shields on that came with the bike to help protect the engine. Someone who took the time and was handy could probably rig up something to protect more than just the bottom. But for me just riding on the road right now the bottom was the most important part. If someone took the time to make a mold I could see heating a cutting board/polypropylene sheet into the mold and making your own DIY skidplate.

Be careful, have fun. And please excuse the mess, it's clean now!

Not bad for 5 bucks!

If you trim the edges so its flush with the out side of the frame and mount it with bolts it will look a ton better too.

that's awesome man i might have to try this.

Nice! That stuff will slide over rocks better than anything, too. I bought sheets of this UHMW polyethylene online, and use it under my off-road truck for skids. It is incredibly tough.

It actually looks good with the handle part still there.  

That is so cool! Betcha it's quiet too. Got to dry that this weekend. Thanks!  

Raymond

I actually had this idea a year ago and had purchased the cutting board but never got around to doing it. Now that I have a new wr250r I finally did it. If I recall correctly I had purchased best and largest plain hdpe cutting board walmart sold. 22" long to be precise which turned out to be a perfect length to provide adequate front to rear coverage.

Cutting board skidplates rule! I expect soon to see everyone using them bc they're just that cool. Looks good bracky, I still have mine on. If I keep it I might cut it down, btw I had this idea two years ago :P