GS 550E 1980 - headlight fairing

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Update:


same one as Rich&$&^-%& he posted with ebay details.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]59430[/ATTACH]

Slow boat from China is still gonna be a few weeks to get to me. Your fitment notes are... well... noted. I think it looks good. I'm looking forward to getting it.

[BigD_83]

It does look good. Perhaps it is the perspective of the photo, but it seems like the fairing would direct a fair blast into one's upper torso and jaw rather than over one's head. Still, if it doesn't rattle around and takes some strain off of you, it's a fair price.

[ukjules]

When sitting on bike it looks like it would divert
wind to my head (I'm 6ft 2").
I need to test on motorway but on the road all
j know is it helped . It wasnt full on taking the wind
and it didnt rattle or move about.

I am considering getting one of those extension
bit that clip on to deflect from head ?
they truly look awful but can be removed
after 300mile hop through Europe. use as a tool only.

Screenshot_20191029-055912_eBay_resize_27.jpg

[ukjules]

Having spent 13£ on superb headlight fairing
(details in this thread) to be sure
I have bought the extender shield.

will report but I gota say I am astonished how
good the headlight fairing is in both looks and function.
this allows and will transform my next years eu tour.

[know I need a gs55/750 for my usa tour
starting in the cheapest airport from the uk
to the usa] How could i do that ?
hire , buy , beg and borrow ?

20191101_125403_resize_99.jpg

[BigD_83]

How about a long-term rental situation? Buy a running GS from a member, and return it in good condition to get your money back. Donate a portion of the funds back to the owner for maintenance, etc...not sure how you'd work out insurance, etc but I'm sure someone is in a postion to come to a mutually-agreeable arrangement.

If that doesn't work for you, I posted a link sometime ago about flight-shipping, and it was surprisingly affordable.

[ukjules]

Long term rental (from GS owner):
- this would work for sure. you see if I did this
I could do it on no other bike as I know GS's
are ideal for long distances.

Next spring that would be just outstanding.

I'll check out link for flight shipping !

and you guys in usa ! I tell you an EU tour is amazing.
I dod uk - Normandy to somme - Amsterdam to Germany and all
the sights to prague back to swiss to France spain Gibraltar
(as. nice to be in a bit of uk again)
then back up through spain looking at the amazing
deserts, roman ruins etc)

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Unbox?ing/ Fitment

First impressions of the packaging were not encouraging. Wrapped, no box. Unwrapping revealed 2 layers of foam and 2 layers of bubble wrap. The shield is really light, so I guess it didn't need a box to protect it. It came with a good protective film on the outside as well. Fitment only took about 20 minutes including a slight straightening of the metal ears that tuck between the headlamp bucket and the bikes headlamp mounting ears. I think it looks pretty good. for $22, I'm well pleased with the look. No test ride yet.

Don't know what's up with the "H" logo front and center. It's the only thing I don't like about it.

What should I be using to clean this shield?

[ukjules]

Like you I am massively impressed so far.
Quality , speed of arrival everything.

I cant get my bike out for a long ride
so cant test at cruising speed but I am convinced
it is going to help long rides.

I'll report on the extra attachment fairing when it
arrives.

be interested in your test!

[fastbysuzuki]

Due to the two people on here that has purchased one of these has caused me to bite the bullet and buy one
For that price it's well worth a try.
The single fixing does look like it could move at speed but as jules said a hat or another idea would stop that.

If either of you have tested it at speed please post results.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

I put about half hour of paved road riding in this past Sunday. In my very un-scientific analysis of the the cheap ebay shield shown in my pics above: It does help, a bit. Instead of my entire torso getting the all of the the buffeting, the air seems to come over the shield and concentrate pretty evenly across, right at about my shoulder height. It's just not high enough to get it up over my helmet as I had hoped. I do have it angled forward as far as the adjustment in the brackets will allow, I think. But I may play with that some. It definitely feels better at 55-65 mph with the shield than without.

I really like the look though.

To mount it, as I said above, I did have to hammer the 2 bent mounting flanges a bit to widen them to slip between the headlamp ears and the bucket. But nothing major. And the mounting seems to be really secure. I did not get out on the interstate, just too cold.

Worth $22, at least.

[ukjules]

I'll inform when the extension arrives in a few days.
that might give the added protection head height.
also it can easily be removed leaving main headlight fairing only.

but I confirm I am very impressed so far too.

[Steve]

Looking at all these postings, I saw a reference to National Cycle shields. I have installed a few on different bikes. The LARGE PlexiFairing 3 is definitely more than you want, but it offers almost as much protection as my Goldwing. A smaller one that might not "ruin the look" of your bike is the Street Shield EX. You can see it installed on my son's (former) GS650L by clicking on the picture in my sig. Cowboyup has installed on on his daughter's bike, he might be able to provide a picture or two. I like it because it is steady. Two mounting points on the handlebars, another two on the fork legs. Initial installation of the brackets might take 10-15 minutes. About 30 seconds to remove, probably a minute or two to re-install.

.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Quick search of the Street Shield EX looks like a good shield for @ $180.00. Will keep that one in mind. I know I'm going to need something more than the one I just installed if I want to do any extended highway riding.

[ukjules]

Update :

I installed the headlight fairing and the extension.
Roadtest:
While it wobbles a bit on rought terrain (without
the extension it does not wobble ).
Again I cant test at 70 mph but at lower speeds
there is.no doubt it took all the wind off
my helmet . Having been buffeted for thousands
of miles round Europe it was instant relief !
the ext seems to be built very well.



so the 13£ fairing and 14£ extension I am gonna
go with until someone can show me better .



guys we need pics of fairings if you have !

[ukjules]

20191116_121445_resize_26.jpg

bike with fairing and extension