Fairing DImensions

[MisterCinders]

Thinking of fabbing up a half-fairing over the winter. Can anyone post some dimensions for their fairings. As I try to sketch out some shapes to brainstorm, the only measurements I have at hand are:

7.5" headlight
11.25" clubman bars surrounding the triple tree.

Looks like the widths of these fairings are around 15" at the rear and about 10" up front. Some other measurements would be useful, including:

- Distance between the headlight opening and the steering stem

- Distance/gap between the steering stem and the side gap for bar clearance

Obviously I will have to fine-tune these to actually fit the bike, but trying to sketch out the rough size will be easier with some guidelines.

TIA

 

[Toasty]

I think you should go with a fairing like this

 

[MisterCinders]

Heh.

I am aiming for something Rickman like.

 

[Toasty]

If you look at the Glass From the Past website they have some general measurements. I'd like to see a GS with a half fairing, I want to get a ducati style half fairing sometime in the future too.

Width at front: 14"
Width at upper wing tips: 15"
Width at lower wing tips: 18"
Height: 12.5"
Length: 25

http://www.gftpstore.com/Avon-Half-Fairing-AVOHFA-AVOHFA.htm

Website

 

[MisterCinders]

Yeah, I was looking at those. The bar gaps and margins around the headlight would go a long way toward fleshing things out.

 

[Crankthat]

Could you fab some things out of cardboard with some soft lead/tin strips taped to hold shape?

Possible to cut fold and heat plastic (milk jugs-soda bottles) To hold cardboard shape folded and taped, folds taped for strength and heated for shape requirements?

Thinking may be easy and cheap way to experiment with design.

I don't have the time at present to build a faring as I need to finish some projects but was thinking would give this a try.

 

[MisterCinders]

So I cooked up a plug for the half-fairing. After a ton of sanding and shaping, she is taped up and ready for a bunch of wax before laying glass. Here are some pics.

 

[dr_fosg8]

Looking good. What are you going to use for a screen?

 

[nvr2old]

Looking good. What are you going to use for a screen?

Exactly what I was thinking. It might be a good idea to find one that's close to your idea and then shape the foam to fit it (if you haven't already, that is). That's quite a project to undertake. I hand-made lowers to fit a Honda Interceptor 1/4 fairing to turn it into a full race fairing one time for a CB750F, and it was a pain..not to mention fabbing up all the mounting brackets. That was, of course, before such a great aftermarket or the internet were available. You can get (I'm sure you know) a nice Rickman-style fairing through Airtech for a mere few hundred bux, with the correct screen. They even offer the correct mounting hardware, but it gets a bit pricey with everything combined, probably around $500. Just depends on the time and effort you want to expend building one compared to the cost of just buying the stuff outright.

 

[MisterCinders]

Plan on fabbing the screen out of plexiglass or lexan. Shape a separate plug for it, cover in tape, then heat the plexi in an oven before laying over the plug.

Snooped around eBay and airtech for fairings, but they quickly get to $500+ for a half-fairing and bracket.

Will make my own bracket from steel bar material. The airtech bracket doesn't look like it will work with my frame, since there is a healthy flange behind the steering column that would interfere with the U-bolt. I plan to tie the bracket to the tank posts instead.

This will be a winter project, of course.

 

[Mista M]

looks great, love the diy spirit on your bike. I miss sanding and filling for hours....not!

 

[Toasty]

I'm looking forward to seeing how this comes out, especially the windscreen. Those suckers are expensive to buy

 

[wedoo2]

You're bike is going to look hawt with a fairing.

 

[Toasty]

Any progress with the fairing and mounts?

 

[Bonehead]

Hey Mister I have a broken fairing/winshield if you want to use it as a template. I don't think I will use it since a piece broke off and another is just plain missing, but dimensions should be close to your bike

 

[MisterCinders]

Long time no see.

Some progress on shaping and sanding the fairing bit.

If we get some consistently warmer weather, I'll make more progress.

 

[Toasty]

I just discovered a good, relatively inexpensive way to mount the fairing.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608413&page=2 Post #26

You can get the whole bracket for about $50 on Ebay. I'm gonna pick up one of these to modify for my 1/2 fairing.

 

[MisterCinders]

I may have rethink my mounting angles to go for this instead:

 

[Carter Turk]

I've been wanting to do something with this, but to me it's like doing ding repairs on a surfboard. I doubt I'll ever fix it, but considered many times to repair it.
I'm sure some one could modify the dimensions to make a cool vintage style 1/2 fairing out of it.

I just watched the 100 greatest TT moments last night, with several fairings like the ones posted.

 

[MisterCinders]

Still in rough stages, but made some progress on my half-fairing and mounting bracket.

Bracket:

Fairing. I split the fairing horizontally to angle the top up a bit and make it tall enough for the handlebars to clear. Here it is after reinforcing the expanded sides with some sheet aluminum and glassing over stuff. I'll sand it back into a better shape.

A new fairing warrants another seat. Or I am addicted to fiberglass and resin. Here is the new seat, so far. Pretty similar in shape to the last one, but this seat is slightly wider, and should allow me to install the tail-light differently (i.e., better).

More progress to come.