Who like's a front fairing?

[81ZUKI75]

Did someone ask about fairings....

Did someone ask about fairings....

I prefer a small fairing. I used a Plexifairing (ll?) back in the 80's but found this NOS Shoei FM5 a few years ago on eBay. I appreciate it any time we're going over about 50 mph...



I use this little feller in the winter to aid in my daily commute. A little boomy but keeps the cold air off the chest...



And well, the Bandit is an S model so I came with a frame mounted unit. Sucky headlight but it protects pretty well in a downpour. Believe me, I've tested it...

 

[Griffin]

I prefer a small fairing. I used a Plexifairing (ll?) back in the 80's but found this NOS Shoei FM5 a few years ago on eBay. I appreciate it any time we're going over about 50 mph...

That would look really good on my GS650E. I need to find one of those for it. I wonder if they were made for round headlights too, or if I'd have to rig up a square headlight arrangement on the 650?

It wouldn't be too difficult to put a square headlight on it, the KZ700A headlight ears and light would fit just fine on the front, and they are readily available on ebay. I'd rather keep the original round headlight on it if possible.


Thanks, now I have a new obsession - to find an FM5 fairing....

 

[81ZUKI75]

That would look really good on my GS650E. I need to find one of those for it. I wonder if they were made for round headlights too, or if I'd have to rig up a square headlight arrangement on the 650?

It wouldn't be too difficult to put a square headlight on it, the KZ700A headlight ears and light would fit just fine on the front, and they are readily available on ebay. I'd rather keep the original round headlight on it if possible.


Thanks, now I have a new obsession - to find an FM5 fairing....

The FM-5 was available with either a round or rectangular headlight insert.

 

[Weasel]

I like the Cooley style fairings. X2 on no love for the Windjammers.

Griffin that is an excellent looking "touring" GS. I have plans to pick up another GS and do a touring project like that. Where did you get the Suzuki saddle bags? Very cool!

 

[Griffin]

I like the Cooley style fairings. X2 on no love for the Windjammers.

Griffin that is an excellent looking "touring" GS. I have plans to pick up another GS and do a touring project like that. Where did you get the Suzuki saddle bags? Very cool!

My mom gave them to me as a graduation present in 1986.

By the way, I have an '82 1100G that I'm getting into road ready shape. It should be good to go this spring. If you're serious about wanting a big shaftie touring rig, I'll let you know when it's done.

 

[Weasel]

My mom gave them to me as a graduation present in 1986.

By the way, I have an '82 1100G that I'm getting into road ready shape. It should be good to go this spring. If you're serious about wanting a big shaftie touring rig, I'll let you know when it's done.

I appreciate the offer but I'm sure when you get it road ready it'll be too nice & expensive for my cheap ass. What's the non-road ready price? LOL

 

[Griffin]

I appreciate the offer but I'm sure when you get it road ready it'll be too nice & expensive for my cheap ass. What's the non-road ready price? LOL

Let me get back to you on that.

 

[tkent02]

I prefer a small fairing. I used a Plexifairing (ll?) back in the 80's but found this NOS Shoei FM5 a few years ago on eBay. I appreciate it any time we're going over about 50 mph...

Just curious how this one is aerodynamically? I bought a GS 750, fly and ride a long time ago, had a cheapo copy of this style. It was terrible. Tried a bunch of different positions on the way home, nothing worked worth a damm. Took it off and tossed it out in the desert somewhere in Arizona.

 

[Griffin]

Just curious how this one is aerodynamically? I bought a GS 750, fly and ride a long time ago, had a cheapo copy of this style. It was terrible. Tried a bunch of different positions on the way home, nothing worked worth a damm. Took it off and tossed it out in the desert somewhere in Arizona.

The angle of the windshield has the most effect on where the air turbulence hits the rider. Even a few degrees difference can make the fairing highly effective, have a negligible effect, or make wind disturbance worse than nothing. A fairing that works great for a 5'8" rider may make matters worse for a 6'3" rider.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

A cheapo copy… whadayaspect?

 

[tkent02]

Free copy, I aspected to at least get home before I threw it away.

 

[81ZUKI75]

Just curious how this one is aerodynamically? I bought a GS 750, fly and ride a long time ago, had a cheapo copy of this style. It was terrible. Tried a bunch of different positions on the way home, nothing worked worth a damm. Took it off and tossed it out in the desert somewhere in Arizona.

Aerodynamic??!! All fairings are a compromise. I like the FM-5. It makes NO difference below 50 MPH or so....above that however, for me, the reduced blast on the chest is worth any lack of aerodynamics. I'm short, but long waisted and THIS fairing on THIS bike works for me.

OTOH, the National Cycle Deflector on my T model is a real compromise. It is much noisier, for ME, on THAT bike...so I take it off in the summer unless I'm taking a long trip (which I have done).

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Nobodies posted or mentioned having a Rifle Fairing. They look high quality to me;

 

[SVSooke]

A cheapo copy? whadayaspect?

I've used both Shoei and the Emgo knock off's,there's little to no difference in function IMHO.Shoei hardware is slightly better.Do I wish I'd kept some:disturbed:

 

[OleDirtyDoc]

Nobodies posted or mentioned having a Rifle Fairing. They look high quality to me;

here's one on a vn750. They are high quality and block wind well

 

[Gorminrider]

The angle of the windshield has the most effect on where the air turbulence hits the rider. Even a few degrees difference can make the fairing highly effective, have a negligible effect, or make wind disturbance worse than nothing. A fairing that works great for a 5'8" rider may make matters worse for a 6'3" rider.

+1 I give my shorter friend any little "Spitfires that come to me. He Loves them, but they just bat my head around no matter where I put em. For me, the monster Vetter is the fairing that does the whole job. Holds the front wheel down too I think. But it's engine noisy clatter latter behind it and there's all that dirty plastic in the field of view. They need windshield wipers and bug spray. On the + side, Comfey, no hypothermia, but it keeps me busy taking it off and on when I go back to naked bike ,which is more fun and natural feeling.
Lately I'm giving smaller Vetter a try:View attachment 44086. I don't think it's so ugly. The void space behind it is smaller and it's more sensitive staying in just the right spot. I have a taller windscreen on it now to move the buffet zone higher, but now I wonder if it isn't a bit too much -it needs more speed test in a crosswind before I would be happy going far with it versus without a fairing .
Suprising that it actually helps against glove freeze, but again, not like a Windjammer

 

[mikerophone]

Don't think I've ever seen that small Vetter model, doesn't look too bad. And those Rifles aren't all that bad either.

I have a couple of old Windjammers that came with a few of my bikes, a Nightstalker (think that's what it is called) and an ugly Pacifico fairing that came with my last 850, complete with a working cassette deck and weathered paper cone speakers!

When in late fall and early spring, I do appreciate the scratched and slightly yellowed plexi windshield although aesthetically, a naked bike is better looking IMO.

 

[Gorminrider]

mikeophone...it's a Vetter "Quicksilver" per the badge on it but I think possibly it's a Nightstalker too which is merely a slightly fancier with gold trim (which this has) but I could be mixed up eh.It's First I've ever seen too.Came with the bike.

When in late fall and early spring, I do appreciate the scratched and slightly yellowed plexi windshield

If I get you right, you have a point there! When the sun is low, the road is wet, I guess I have ducked down to look through it like a tinted screen!

PS if you happen to find one to try, it might go on your Windjammer mount ok given the distance you have between headset and fairing and tank is ok per width...the Bolt holes are just about exactly the same. On the other hand, a Quicksilver mount won't take a Windjammer. not mine anyways. It's not beefy enough.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

My 1100G came with a Windjammer, I only rode it the 15 miles home, but that was in the rain and it did a very good job keeping even my face shield dry.
I like sport performance and any big fairing is out of the question.
Anybody see one of these, not bad more sport touring:

 

[81ZUKI75]

So you you guys are getting off into major fairing-speak now....




I really like this Don Vesco Rabid Transit unit but I could never get the ergonomics sorted out. For a bike used primarily for touring or sport touring it's awesome....commuting, not so much.