fairing or windshield

[brower]

Greetings,

I recently purchased my first motorcycle, a 1980 gs1100e. I'm the second owner of an un-abused great machine and have spent the winter months pollishing, waxing and drooling.

Due to the immaculate condition and my love of the styling, I'm having difficulty in deciding what to use for windprotection. A vetter full fairing is out of the question. From my understanding it's the shape not the size that matters (regarding windshields that is ).

I'm 5'9 185 and will be using the bike to commute from Cleveland Ohio to Washington D.C. I have come across the maier universal fairng and numerous other windshield from national cycle etc,etc. I'm leaning towards the fairing as after painted it will look as close to stock as possible. I'm curious if anyone has any experience with this fairing or has any advice. My model has the square headlight which has been a slight issue as again my options are limited. I'm leaning toward the saying
"form follows function" so if anyone has any ideas how to keep the wind from blowing me around at 80mph+ while keeping that muscle bike stylestill looking good I'd really appreciate it.

Regards

[Fishman]

Suggestion, ride it for a while and then decide if you want a fairing or windshield. You say it's your first motorcycle, so you really don't have a preference yet. It's also the inexpensive approach . . . spend nothing and figure out later if you need to spend something.

Just a thought.

[Mysuzyq]

If you plan on racking up some serious highway mileage, you will be happy to have a shield or fairing of some kind. Not sure which universal fairing you had in mind, but if it is the rounded 'Wes Cooley' styled item, it probably won't flow well visually, with the angular lines of the 1980E....I don't think they are offered with a rectangular headlight opening too. I went with a National Cycle Deflector for my '82. Decent protection for the chest etc.....at your height, it might work very well with only the top of your helmet in the wind, adjusted at the shields max. height. Cosmetically speaking, it's probably one of the best for the 1100's, IMHO, and comes off in a few seconds if you wish to ride without it around town. Check my profile album for some pics of it on the bike.....don't want to bore everyone by posting the same pics.

Tony.

[nisom512]

Greetings,

I recently purchased my first motorcycle, a 1980 gs1100e. I'm the second owner of an un-abused great machine and have spent the winter months pollishing, waxing and drooling.

Due to the immaculate condition and my love of the styling, I'm having difficulty in deciding what to use for windprotection. A vetter full fairing is out of the question. From my understanding it's the shape not the size that matters (regarding windshields that is ).

I'm 5'9 185 and will be using the bike to commute from Cleveland Ohio to Washington D.C. I have come across the maier universal fairng and numerous other windshield from national cycle etc,etc. I'm leaning towards the fairing as after painted it will look as close to stock as possible. I'm curious if anyone has any experience with this fairing or has any advice. My model has the square headlight which has been a slight issue as again my options are limited. I'm leaning toward the saying
"form follows function" so if anyone has any ideas how to keep the wind from blowing me around at 80mph+ while keeping that muscle bike stylestill looking good I'd really appreciate it.

Regards

Fairing with a bigger windshield.

[don_gibb6512]

I have that bike and bought the Maier fairing. Useless for wind protection and because of the fork mounted front turn signals, I haven't figured out a way to attach the lower fairing mounts yet. The cut out is meant for turn signals mounted to the headlight ears. It's a nice fairing but it's not worth the $160 Maier charges and they don't make any taller shields for it. I know because I called them. I can get you some pics of my bike with that fairing on it if you want. IMHO, it would be better to spend the money to buy a round headlight that will most likey produce more light anyway and that way you'll have a lot more options for fairings.

Don - "always learning the hard way"

[drhach]

Windshields are for cars. I've done a fair amount of touring on my bikes and I've always hated sitting behind fairings. For me, motorcycling is a bare bones experience, if you want the comforts of an RV, you should buy one of those. Thats' just me though. Some people love having those giant fairings. Personally I don't like them. I have used one of the smaller Maier type fairings and it does offer a little wind protection without making me feel like I'm piloting a barge. It seems like a pretty good happy medium. Actually, if you can get some superbike bars, one of those fairings puts enough wind on your chest to take the weight of your body off of the handlebars and you end up with a pretty good neutral riding position. I've several 500+ mile days like that and I was no worse for the wear than my brother who was riding a fully decked touring bike.

[argonsagas]

The suggestion of riding without and seeing what it feels like is a good one....and just as cheap as mentioned.

Tony (Mysuzyq) has told me of his experiences riding with and without, and he, too, has a gorgeous 1100E. I have not been on his bike with the new windshield, but he is very pleased with its performance and it looks very good.


If you intend to do distance riding you will shortly come to appreciate a windshield, and as you progress through their styles and experience the differences, you will appreciate them even more.

You can ride anywhere, at any time, on any motorcycle, but windshields and fairings provide a level of comfort for the long-distance rider that is impossible otherwise.

The comfort is a very positive safety factor, as well, as it keeps you from being too cold or too tired. Cold affects you more when you are tired, and having to fight against the wind, which you do on EVERY non-faired bike, is tiring.


Even when temperatures are at nice, comfortable, levels, you are guaranteed to encounter rain and wind, perhaps an occasional dump of hail. The fairing provides protection and comfort to your body in those times, and adds a large measure of safety as your vision is not restricted and your riding corrections are easier, so you can concentrate on what you are doing.

The fairing has a nice bonus on top of those, which is that you can comfortably ride (depending on your location) a month earlier than other riders in Spring and at least a month later in Fall.


Many have spoken against the style of the Vetter but the same folks seldom mention that in the category of fairings it still ranks in the excellent level.

I have a Vetter IV on my 1100G and found it to be superior to the stock Suzuki 1100GK in hand protection and, without lowers mounted on either bike, found the Vetter has better air flow at high speeds. (120mph) and feels more stable than the GK, which tends to lift a bit at that speed, but is very stable at lower speeds. (lowers might help, in both cases, but I have not done it.)

A frame-mounted fairing or windshield will always be superior to a bar-mount. There will be some wind effect noted at lower speeds and when passing trucks, especially with bar-mounted units, but they do not have a strong effect and you adjust to them quickly. After spending some time behind them, you will undoubtedly agree that the benefits far outweigh the minor inconveniences.

The greatest negative most folks can put forward is that they are tough when the temperature gets high. Personal experience of riding behind a shield at 115F says they exaggerate, and seeing bugs eliminated by the many thousands, instead of wearing them on your goggles or face shield, is something you will love every day, and love even more at night.

[LarryA_Texas]

I mostly ride in town so it's not a big issue, but I have noticed a few things about the fairings on the bikes I have.

First, on the 2007 Boulevard, with bar mounted windshield. Crosswinds cause a noticeable affect, and you're almost constantly fighting it in a strong wind. I would think after several hours (granted, Ohio ain't Texas but still...) it would wear you out.

Second, on my V-Strom there is a very small frame-mounted windshield with a vent under the front of the screen. You might go to a dealer to see one up close.

A significant amount of air blows in under the screen and it is amazing how much this helps. From an aerodynamic point of view it makes sense. Instead of trying to block all the wind and causing a huge vacuum directly behind the screen you vent some air under there and smooth out the air flow over the top. By doing that, a small screen is very effective in keeping wind off you at high speeds.

Even though your head is completely above the windshield on the V-Strom, you feel a lot less wind than you do on the Boulevard.

Don't know if Vetter does that, but take a look at the technology and air flow design in any fairing you buy. I'm convinced that a smaller fairing with a good aerodynamic design will serve much better that a massive bug catcher.

[Zooks]

Argonsagas, we get it already.

No need to keep repeating yourself.

[Grandpa]

Windshields are for cars.

For me, motorcycling is a bare bones experience, if you want the comforts of an RV, you should buy one of those.

Bull$hit. I'm tired of you macho types bragging about how tough you are. Back in the 70's I was young and stupid like you, and bragged about the same thing. No more. I'm a candyass now. Give me a full-boat fairing anytime.

I'm with Argonsagas. A Vetter is a terrific product. Long-distance riding behind one of those, or their equivalent, is a good way to go.

Wimpy Grandpa

[kilog55]

i have a vetter i took off of my 82 GS8650 looks like the front of a SR-71 Blackhawk to me you can add speakers and a radio and has storage compartments and a rectangular headlight. didnt look good on my bike at all to me so

[emjay]

When I got my 82 850 GL it had a full Vetter fairing on it. I found it top heavy and too hot in the summer, though I admit that in cold weather it was great. Anyway, I replaced it with a removable windshield from National Cycle, the Plexifairing 3. It's kind of big, but does a great job when you need it and can be installed/removed in 15 minutes or less.

[kilog55]

i kinda like mine with no windscreen or fairing i like the taste of june bugs

[dpep]

Greetings,

I'm 5'9 185 and will be using the bike to commute from Cleveland Ohio to Washington D.C.

This is THE relavent factor in your decision. Commuting means there is limited control over when the rides are taken. You need to be able to get from point A to point B regardless of weather conditions. In your case point A and point B are 375 miles apart. You will be able to complete your commute with less stress and over a wider range of weather conditions if you have a fairing or at the least a large windshield. It is a professional consideration as much or more than it is a personal one.

I agree with the sentiments expressed above that if you want the best possible setup for long haul go with the Winjammer. It was designed over thirty years ago, but Craig Vetter just flat got it right. The least protection I would attempt in your situation is the Plexifairing. I would advise against small windscreens. I have found them in many cases to be worse than no windscreens at all as far as wind buffeting. Do it right or don't bother. Don't worry about what it looks like. You can't see yourself while you are riding anyway.

[drhach]

Bull$hit. I'm tired of you macho types bragging about how tough you are. Back in the 70's I was young and stupid like you, and bragged about the same thing. No more. I'm a candyass now. Give me a full-boat fairing anytime.

I'm with Argonsagas. A Vetter is a terrific product. Long-distance riding behind one of those, or their equivalent, is a good way to go.

Wimpy Grandpa

Who peed in your cornflakes? All I did was express an opinion (one that was asked for by the way). No bragging, no expression of machismo, simply a preference. I think maybe your meds have worn off. Check the bottle and see when your due for your next dose. Maybe think about doubling it or whatever it is you need to do to calm the hell down because your response was a little over the top.