A carbon fiber shell is used to change the appearance or look of a vehicle, such as a motorcycle, and is formed to be non-permanently installed over an existing vehicle component to customize the appearance of a vehicle while still being removable. The carbon fiber shell is molded to match the contours or the shape of the original vehicle component so that, when installed, the shell has the same contours and thus the same physical shape as the original vehicle component. Moreover, the carbon fiber shell is configured to be mounted onto the vehicle using existing mounting brackets, holes or other structure on the vehicle that is provided to mount or secure the original vehicle component, thereby eliminating the need to drill holes into, or apply glue or other adhesives to the original vehicle component. This feature additionally allows the carbon fiber shell to be removed in the same manner as the original vehicle component. The carbon fiber shell may also incorporate lighting effects and may be ordered via a system for customizing the vehicle.