Does a Sport Fairing = wind protection?

[Clone]

The headlight bucket came with that light in it, still had the original H4 and the little green light in it up until last weekend. Now it has a little amber one in there as the green one died. It passed inspection with that light, so it must not be much of an issue, the big thing is no blue at all, no amber to the rear unless it is intermittent in the form of a signal light, and no red showing to the front.

 

[Craiger]

What the heck is holding this bike up? Has the center stand been edited out? Is there a special anti-gravity field in effect? Or has the tank simply been filled with helium?

Intersting. Found the pic in the Gallery. I hadn't noticed that when I posted it.

 

[Grandpa]

I like full frame-mounted fairings, being a GK owner.

My first GS850G, which I bought in '86, had a National Cycle Plexifairing III, and I was very happy with it. Clear shield, handlebar-mounted, with "leggings" and protection that flared around the hands. I highly recommend this setup for protection.

Why do I prefer the frame-mounted jobs? Because of the extra room for small stuff. My Windjammer IV has two cavernous storage areas. The stock GK storage is much smaller, but it's a very protective fairing.

For a GS650G, I'd rather have the lighter Plexifairing III. It's as protective as a full fairing. A full frame-mount is more appropriate for the 850G, 1000G, or 1100G.

I'm a wimp. I like protection against cold, wind, and rain. The full fairing enhances my riding experience, it allows me to ride much longer distances, even in light rain (only the boots get wet in light rain, and this is an easy problem to fix). It also allows me to ride much deeper into the cold season.

By the way, the Venture's fairing is superb for weather protection. No storage, though (more than made up by the huge bags and trunk).

 

[spyug]

I find the bikini fairings don't do much to stop wind blast. I've had a couple of the emgo types and they tend to shoot the blast right at the chest and shoulders. In my mind they are more of a cosmetic device.

For cutting the wind, you really need a windshield/screen. They do have issues as well most notably they can act like a sail in crosswind situations. This can be quiet scary the first few times it happens. On my first bike as a newbie, I was pushed into the on coming lane (luckily no cars coming) one time and on the same ride, almost into the ditch. If they are not tall enough the wind can hit you in the head but if they are too tall you are forced to look through the screen which can give you a distorted view of the road and can be hard on the eyes if you get sun glare. Big screens mounted to the bars can also make steering a bit heavier so a smaller more compact screen maybe best.

Lots to think about and some research to be done. if you don't do much highspeed or highway riding then it might be better to do without.

Let us know how it works for you.

cheers,
Spyug

 

[emjay]

... I can easily go 60 miles in a day without getting tired ...

WOW, 60 miles in a day, you're one tough sucker.

 

[Bert Patterson]

But damn i need to find a way to make it quit buzzing!

I don't know where your buzzing is coming from, but mine was from the point where the fairing contacted the headlight housing. Stock Wes Cooley's, I think, had a space between the fairing and the headlight, but mine touches. I simply took a couple of those little round sticky felt pieces made for the bottoms of chair legs and stuck it between the fairing and the headlight - no more buzzing.

 

[Bert Patterson]

WOW, 60 miles in a day, you're one tough sucker.

Oh,....ooops, left out a zero.

 

[emjay]

Oh,....ooops, left out a zero.

Figured as much, just couldn't resist the opportunity to razz ya.

 

[doctorgonzo]

I don't know where your buzzing is coming from, but mine was from the point where the fairing contacted the headlight housing. Stock Wes Cooley's, I think, had a space between the fairing and the headlight, but mine touches. I simply took a couple of those little round sticky felt pieces made for the bottoms of chair legs and stuck it between the fairing and the headlight - no more buzzing.

Mine toches the top of my brake master cylinder. Fixed it with some fuel line split open and placed on the edge of the fairing like a pad.

 

[don_gibb6512]

I have this: http://www.cyclepages.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=4005943

and it's pathetic at blocking any wind. Looks nice though.

 

[Zook]

I like full frame-mounted fairings, being a GK owner.

My first GS850G, which I bought in '86, had a National Cycle Plexifairing III, and I was very happy with it. Clear shield, handlebar-mounted, with "leggings" and protection that flared around the hands. I highly recommend this setup for protection.

Why do I prefer the frame-mounted jobs? Because of the extra room for small stuff. My Windjammer IV has two cavernous storage areas. The stock GK storage is much smaller, but it's a very protective fairing.

For a GS650G, I'd rather have the lighter Plexifairing III. It's as protective as a full fairing. A full frame-mount is more appropriate for the 850G, 1000G, or 1100G.

I'm a wimp. I like protection against cold, wind, and rain. The full fairing enhances my riding experience, it allows me to ride much longer distances, even in light rain (only the boots get wet in light rain, and this is an easy problem to fix). It also allows me to ride much deeper into the cold season.

By the way, the Venture's fairing is superb for weather protection. No storage, though (more than made up by the huge bags and trunk).

Grandpa, hate to nitpick, but those Plexifairings aren't fairings. They're big windshields.
Want a good full fairing? Sit on a first generation Concours. You can stay dry from head to toe behind one of them.
Another good one is the Moto Guzzi SP 1000/SP1000 II. Lowers are frame mounted and upper is bar mounted. Not as good as the Connie but it has the feature another mentioned-the headlight shines where the bars are pointed.
Not to mention the land yacht, the Gold Wing.

Those are FAIRINGS. Handlebar mounted Plexiglas windshields are that-windshields.
But, many of them do a good job for what they are intended.

I also recommend avoiding any windshield that has a "flip" at the top. They will add turbulence compared to a straight shield.

 

[Grandpa]

OK, Zook, nitpick all you want -- fine with me. You are, indeed, nitpicking. Being a nitpicker myself, I can spot one when I see one. Go back to my post and you'll see that I describe the Plexifairing III as a shield, not a fairing.

And you is one, Zook. Welcome to the nitpicking club.

Having owned a Guzzi many years ago, I know what you're saying about the SP fairing. Good-looking unit, and functional.

The topic here is protection from the elements while riding, whether this is accomplished by a full fairing, such as the one on the GK, or a windshield, such as the Plexifairing III.

So I like a large windshield, or fairing, or whatever. Semantics...

 

[sabreman-v65]

Zook, a first generation Concours fairing has nothing on a Windjammer with lowers. I had a 99 Concours, and sold it after 2 months.....hated it!

 

[Idalltaken]

What is the brand of the fairing and was it difficult to install.

 

[TheCafeKid]

It'll look great! Here's a black bike with the very same fairing. Granted, it's had some pin-striping added, but it's unpainted.

Here's another.

Oh look at that... A 750E with leading axle. I got into a heated debate a while back with someone who claimed that the Es never had leading axle. IN fact, they all did 80-82 (maybe even further) as did the 1100Es from the same era....Take that! (it was so long ago i couldnt tell you who it was...lol)

 

[Zook]

Zook, a first generation Concours fairing has nothing on a Windjammer with lowers. I had a 99 Concours, and sold it after 2 months.....hated it!

I've had both, and respectfully disagree....YMMV.

Gramps, now don't get me to nitpicking....

 

[Craiger]

Oh look at that... A 750E with leading axle. I got into a heated debate a while back with someone who claimed that the Es never had leading axle. IN fact, they all did 80-82 (maybe even further) as did the 1100Es from the same era....Take that! (it was so long ago i couldnt tell you who it was...lol)

TCK,

Here's my 82' 1100E.

 

[seuadr]

i thought all the e's had anti dive on'em?