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Help me decide upon a windscreen for my '83 1100E

willie

willie

Forum Mentor
Past Site Supporter
With the cooler temps having arrived, I'm giving serious thought to installing a small windscreen on my 1100E. Its been quite some time since I looked at what's available, especially one that would accommodate a large headlight. So, I thought I'd ask for some help from others who may've dealt with this matter.
Thanks in advance,
Willie
 
I am not a big fan of fairings on sport bikes but I did put on an Emgo one I found on my 1100e....I liked it

mark2_zpsrlwcv0km.jpg

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I'm not a fan of fairings either, so I vote "None." But if you must, follow Trevor's lead. He seems to be incapable of producing a fugly motorcycle.
 
Thanks Trevor. As much as I agree with Rob re: fairings on sport bikes, NO!, I like the idea of providing some comfort JUST for the Winter.
Thanks guys.
Ride safe!
 
My '83 GS750ES came with the small fairing. I still have a Hugon Lexan I used to put over it for Winter riding (many people have tried to buy this off of me). I had no idea how rare and expensive that fairing is. Anyhow, I got the stock half fairing off of EBAY, with thee mounting bracket for something like $100 bucks. I color matched it. I love it. I was surprised I did, because I usually don't like fairings. Last year I picked up a set of rare Lockhart Lowers for my Suzuki, the guy was asking $600 dollars. no one bid. They came back with no Reserve, I got them for $50 bucks. The guy tried to back out of the sale, but I did get them. I have to color match them, will do this Spring. They look like the bike on the pic below. I know this is kind of opposite of what you want, the above bike with the Cafe style, well, does that ever really go out of style? :)

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My Hugon Lexan next post
 
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How about a police style windshield? No fairing, just that big vertical slab of plastic. That shouldn't slow you down...much. :rolleyes:
 
Suzukian said:
My '83 GS750ES came with the small fairing. I still have a Hugon Lexan I used to put over it for Winter riding (many people have tried to buy this off of me). I had no idea how rare and expensive that fairing is. Anyhow, I got the stock half fairing off of EBAY, with thee mounting bracket for something like $100 bucks. I color matched it. I love it. I was surprised I did, because I usually don't like fairings. Last year I picked up a set of rare Lockhart Lowers for my Suzuki, the guy was asking $600 dollars. no one bid. They came back with no Reserve, I got them for $50 bucks. The guy tried to back out of the sale, but I did get them. I have to color match them, will do this Spring. They look like the bike on the pic below. I know this is kind of opposite of what you want, the above bike with the Cafe style, well, does that ever really go out of style? :)



My Hugon Lexan next post
Click to expand...

Brilliant choice and patience tracking them down.
I was dreaming about track riding an 81 1100E, and what fairing I'd like. OEM is the best way for street riding and resale value, but for track I'd choose the Team USA Suzuki XR69 fairing.
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That fairing,heck, that bike, is awesome!! I was working with what I had. Those front discs look almost as large as the rims. Awesome beastly motorcycle.

I just Googled and found that's an Airtech fairing. They make great stuff. They make a fiberglass version of the stock fairing for my bike. I would have to have one like yours to see if It would fit. Not something I'm interested in doing. I was thinking about contacting Airtech, as a lot of people have asked me about the lowers I have, and they are not to be had. I wondered if they would want to reproduce them. The original fairing windscreen is now being reproduced at a very fair price. When last available from Suzuki, that little windshield was over $600 bucks! :)
 
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Rob S. said:
How about a police style windshield? No fairing, just that big vertical slab of plastic. That shouldn't slow you down...much. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I don't know if you are referring to the Hugon fairing, but that fairing is very aerodynamic, and light. The last one I saw on EBAY sold for over $600 bucks, that was around 8 years ago. It was made from the windscreen of a Citroen Windshield, into a mold, that still has a patent on it, but is no longer available. I have thought of using it as a plug for a mold, making most of it out of fiberglass, and the top sections out of Lexan. On certain bikes, it looks very period. The protection if offers is astounding. Not for everybody, but it is an excellent fairing, especially for touring, and keeping the bike light weight. Impossible to find though. I'm the only person I know who has one. :)

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I was most definitely NOT referring to the Hugon fairing. I take it you're not familiar with the style of windshield that is on EVERY police motorcycle in New York. Been that way for a century.
 
Rob S. said:
I was most definitely NOT referring to the Hugon fairing. I take it you're not familiar with the style of windshield that is on EVERY police motorcycle in New York. Been that way for a century.
Click to expand...

Something like this one, Rob? I would put that one on the Sportster for cold weather....
 
That's the one, Bat, but please, not the Sporty. (For those of you who haven't been following, I hate most Harleys, but I WORSHIP most Sportsters. See 1972.)
 
willie said:
With the cooler temps having arrived, I'm giving serious thought to installing a small windscreen on my 1100E. Its been quite some time since I looked at what's available, especially one that would accommodate a large headlight. So, I thought I'd ask for some help from others who may've dealt with this matter.
Thanks in advance,
Willie
Click to expand...

I Haven't really liked any windshield except a Real Vetter ,..... by a long shot. buuut I just put a "Police Style" windshield on my CB450S..slipstreamer..a "deal"- and I was chilly that day so I bit!
It is really big-intended for a different bigger bike entirely (had to mod the mounting-note the empty holes where I made it narrower) . Definitely more shelter than a spitfire-a Spitfire just didn't do enough for me for the eddies and different noise ...these unfaired windshields do tend to create more eddies behind them...If you are a long way back from it (on an "L" or laid-back" seating) I can imagine it being worse than NO windshield, smacked by eddies at highwat speeds...

My New Police style: yes it looks monstrous but it's not really that bad..or is it? :) per eddies I feel the chill more on my sides versus my front without any shield it but it's less and is also MUCH better on my hands because it's so wide...noise: well it's different. It oscillates a bit at the top of my helmet but I think it's less than the helmet noise I had around my ears with no fairing. I'm still deciding on whether to keep it. Noise is less with visor open and It is sheltered (warmer) behind it while I can look easily over the top of it- my electric vest will take care of the side chill... BUT passing a semi on the highway...without much bike mass- well, I'm pretty sure I'm going to feel it and not in a good way.

YOU should note that these police style ones will cover your turn signals and be careful per the mounting method. Slipstreamer has a police-model for ujm bikes ..thing about this monster is that it is thick plastic -it does not wobble due to thinness which even Vetters van do

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Rob S. said:
I was most definitely NOT referring to the Hugon fairing. I take it you're not familiar with the style of windshield that is on EVERY police motorcycle in New York. Been that way for a century.
Click to expand...

My bad. The way your sentence read, well, to me it read as a negative. Yes, I am aware of those huge fairings, and know some police officers who say they are great for around town, and moderate speeds. There are many variations of that style fairing. Some go up and you see through it, some you look over. I guess that is something you would have to decide for yourself. Any bike I have ridden with that style fairing I noticed has produced air eddies and currents that are unfavorable. Even as aerodynamic as the Hugon was, and this is my second one, produced, in high side winds, an effect on the handlebars. It was totally controllable, but noticeable.

If you're going to bop around town, those big square fairings will keep the chill off of you. I commuted for 4 years on my '83 GS750ES 45 miles to Sikorsky, all year long. In the Winter, I mounted my Velorex sidecar, so I wouldn't slip on ice, and with special straps I ordered from Germany, I could easily travel in 8" inches of snow.. The large carrying space allowed me to carry all the gear and tools I could possibly need, even a small tent. The best thing to me is to make sure your hands aren't getting wind. That robs so much heat. I had a set of Vetter "Hippo=Hands" many years ago. It was like an oven in there. I just found them ungainly and gave them away, something I soon came to regret.

When it comes to keeping warm, what works is far more important that how something looks.IMHO :)
 
added thought: You may also have to change your handlebars.... When I add an effective windscreen or fairing, I can feel a more noticeable weight on my handlebars.... It can be "got used to" but the inevitable thought or trial is more rise! on handlebars " and so on.

An extra sweater under a bulky riding jacket coat can save you from all this :)
 
It's amazing how much a thin Windbreaker Jacket can make you so much warmer by sealing you up. They are getting hard to find, they used to be everywhere, but not anymore. I saw some at the Local Harley dealer. I didn't have time to check them out. :)
 
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