fairing or windshield

[dpep]

While I do enjoy being "in the wind" from time to time, there's no sense being worn out from hanging on if you are a daily commuter. I have a National Cycle Plexifairing III on Bathsheba which can be removed in less than 5 minutes.

What kind of handlebars do you have? I am wondering how that shield would fit on superbike or european style bars.

[8trackmind]

I can't believe no one coughed up this answer...
buy another bike, then you will have one with a full fairing and one without!

I agree. This is the best (and most obvious) answer.
I have three GS's. One naked, one with a cafe fairing, and one with a Vetter Windjammer.

[Planecrazy]

I rode for years on a GS550L with a handlebar mounted, medium sized windscreen. Now I ride behind a GS1100G with a Vetter (sometimes with lowers, sometimes without) and as Don pointed out already there is no substitute for SOME kind of protection when you're commuting on a regular basis with no control over the weather conditions on any given day.

The frame mounted fairing is MUCH easier in windy conditions than a handlebar mounted windshield will be, especially when we're talking hundreds of miles at a time. As for weight, the truth is that the "BIG" Vetter doesn't significantly change the handling dynamics of a big motorcycle - ask anybody whose ridden "spirited" twisties with me on my fully dressed "G" and they'll tell you I have NEVER had difficulty keeping up with the naked bikes. On the contrary, I have been MUCH more comfortable when conditions went to hell in a handbasket and they were forced to ride naked...

Since you already have a Vetter, the obvious choice would be to do the commute naked a few times and then do it with the fairing. You can always opt to purchase a handlebar mounted windscreen after the fact, but since all it takes to remove the Vetter is four bolts it's certainly not a big job ... Toss the headlight back on the bike and away you go.

Obviously the fairing frame isn't too pretty without a fairing on it, but for occasional "naked" trips it's a small price to pay for all the advantages the Vetter brings to the table. Besides, if you DO buy a windscreen you'll wind up with three different options - fly naked, use the windscreen, or use the Vetter. It's always nice to have the flexibility to dress the bike according to the season and your immediate needs!

Regards,

[dpep]

i wish i still had pics of my 850 with the vetter on it just so you could see how it ruined the lines of the bike (to me anyways)

As far as image, when I see a fairing on a bike my first impression is the owner is a serious motorcyclist, someone who uses his bike for more than a toy and probably has a lot of miles on his record.

I understand about the lines. You did not say if your bike had hard luggage or not. I think if you have a fairing you need at least a box or bags on the back to complete the look. If only half of the bike is setup for utility and serious traveling it doesn't work practically or visually.



If you don't want to go the fairing route initially my suggestion would be the Plexifairing III and soft luggage.

[kilog55]

yeah no luggage just a black leather helmet bag on the luggage rack, i still have my vetter and the stuff to attach it if i want to add it on.

[Planecrazy]

yeah no luggage just a black leather helmet bag on the luggage rack, i still have my vetter and the stuff to attach it if i want to add it on.

Truth is, with an "L" model it's hard for ANY fairing to really work with the lines ... the "L's" were stylistically intended for nothing more than a small windscreen in my opinion. Still, function can often be more important than form, "L" or not. Don's 850G, with its standard lines, works much better with the Vetter than an "L" would.

Regards,

[kilog55]

yeah eventually i will add a screen im sure just not any time soon. only thing that bothers me is the amount of wind coming off a big truck while im passing or vice versa

[Gimpdiggity]

As far as image, when I see a fairing on a bike my first impression is the owner is a serious motorcyclist, someone who uses his bike for more than a toy and probably has a lot of miles on his record.

I understand about the lines. You did not say if your bike had hard luggage or not. I think if you have a fairing you need at least a box or bags on the back to complete the look. If only half of the bike is setup for utility and serious traveling it doesn't work practically or visually.



If you don't want to go the fairing route initially my suggestion would be the Plexifairing III and soft luggage.

Off topic, but I like that yellow.

I have been thinking about doing my GS1KG up in yellow this spring...

[Grandpa]

yeah eventually i will add a screen im sure just not any time soon. only thing that bothers me is the amount of wind coming off a big truck while im passing or vice versa

This is no big deal, I assure you. Wind coming off a big rig, with or without windshield -- no perceptible difference.

[7th day]

This is my '81 GS750E with a Slipstreamer Spirit shield. I've had a number of different shields and the Spirit is the only one with minimal helmet buffeting but it does block too much air when it is hot. I've now removed the shield, replaced the rect. headlight with a round one, replaced the speedo/tach with a Acewell digital unit and installed Daytona handlebars. Haven't ridden it yet so we will see if I want to go back to another shield.

[RobGS850L]

do you have one on the 850? looks like a swept back one if you do.

A small sweptback (by choice) shield. Works great. I used a larger one and it would act like a sail and move me a bit.

[Ogri]

What about this......








It's small and sporty, yet would provide more weather protection than you'd think.

[drhach]

What about this......








It's small and sporty, yet would provide more weather protection than you'd think.

Is that what I've heard called a "rifle fairing"? It looks really Zoomy. Who makes it?

[kilog55]

Rifle is a brand name of fairings you may be thinking Bullet

[dpep]

Off topic, but I like that yellow.

I have been thinking about doing my GS1KG up in yellow this spring...

I had it done 9 years ago now. The guy at the paint shop called it Corvette yellow. I don't have an actual number and doubt I could find the original receipt. I used to have a little vial of touch up paint that might have that info on it. I'll look.