Who like's a front fairing?

[Buffalo Bill]

Just wondering who has some kind of frontal fairing from any brand name, including the Cooley fairing.
How do you like them?
I'm considering a Cooley fairing from Airtech, but for the last 8 years have been happy with a small windshield on my 1100G.

 

[fred smailes]

my 850 g is covered in vetter stuff.
i have tinnitis bad and wind bugs it.
just about gave up riding my Suzuki
till i found the fairing

 

[Big Rich]

Bad link, Bill.

I'm not a big fan of the Cooley fairing on anything other than a 1000S though. When I had my GS450S, the stock 1/4 fairing was pretty much worthless (although it did have a good look to it IMO). I ended up getting a 1/4 fairing for the 83 Katana from Airtech, and made the actual windscreen from a grinding shield face mask. Only used it towards the shoulder seasons and longer rides in summer to take some wind blast off my chest.

 

[Tim Tom]

I really liked riding with the Maier Sport fairing on there, the smallest size. For me it worked really well to move the wind blast over my shoulders but left my helmet in clean air so there was zero buffeting. I also liked riding behind the full fairing on my old ZX6. The windshield wasn't very tall, but enough to move the wind off my chest while keeping my helmet in clear air. Currently I'm riding behind a DART Flyscreen and it does a good job of, you guessed it, moving wind blast off my chest while keeping my helmet in clean air.


The dart is the most minimalist fairing I've used, but it works very well, and is more effective the faster you go. So while I don't feel it around town, at highway speeds it's nice.

 

[rudeman]

After years of riding my GS1000ST and then riding my GS1000EN, I really appreciate having the fork-mounted fairing on the S. It's not just the riding position because I have the EN set up with the same bars used on the S and with rearsets for a similar riding position. I'm not going to add an S fairing but instead I'll get a Nat Cycle F16. I like the looks of the EN and adding an S fairing would change its looks to something completely different. I figure the clear fairing would preserve much of the look of the EN and still offer a more comfortable ride.

 

[Guest]

I use a Shoei FM2 on the 1000G in the summer months and a full Vetter in the colder months. On the 78' 1000 I use one of those universal Cafe fairings.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Bad link, Bill.

DOH!!! OK Fixed it> Cooley-Airtech

 

[posplayr]

even a quarter fairing helps deflect the wind quite a bit that would otherwise be bobbing your head around.

 

[dorkburger]

Im a fan of my ES fairing with its +2" taller screen.

 

[Griffin]

I like having a small sport fairing on a bike, but I despise Windjammers. I have tried many different fairings over the years. I have a Cooley fairing on my 1000G, and it is extremely efficient in deflecting the wind around one to prevent the head buffeting. Also, on long interstate trips, I can put my feet on the rear footpegs, rest my chest on the tank bag, and my head is tucked beneath all wind flow. Being you're such a tall strapping feller, I don't know how comfortable you'd be in that position, but I find it very restful when I'm chugging along on an interstate through Illinois or Iowa with hundreds of miles ahead of(or behind) me.

I also have the small Meier mini sport on my newly acquired KZ700. Having very limited miles on it (< 100 miles), I can say that it does provide some protection, but nothing like the Cooley.

Here is the bike as I picked it up a month ago (picture is from the ad):

The half fairings on my GS700ES and GPZ750 are about the perfect compromise between wind protection and sportiness, with the GS fairing getting a slight nod in protection. If I could figure out a way to mount either of them on my 650E without welding or cutting, I would. As it is, I'll probably put the Meier sporty on it.

 

[Blower]

I made a small alloy fairing for my project bike. The fairing is more cosmetical than functional.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Brett, your 1000G Cooley fairing is exactly what I visualized for my bike, black with gold pin stripes!
Kawi fairings belong on Kawis, and they look damb good.

 

[John Kat]

I have a GS 1000 ST with the original fairing.
While it looks quite nice it adds momentum to the front fork and this momentum reduces the feel you get from the road.
In short I far prefer to ride without the fairing if I want to go fast.
The good idea would be to fix the fairing to the frame and NOT to the fork...

 

[Griffin]

Here's a better picture of the front fairing on my G (and the ATK fork brace). Notice I've got a freight train headlight on it from a GS1150E:

As you can see, that big headlight attracts a LOT of bugs....

 

[Guest]

I made a small alloy fairing for my project bike. The fairing is more cosmetical than functional.

Don't want to sidetrack this thread but again what great looking work you're doing there, real art.

 

[Guest]

I'm obviously a fan of the Cooley fairing. I've always liked 1/4 fairings. Check with Gustaffson Plastics as they carry the Airtech fairing and shield as well. Search for the "Air Tech Wes Cooley" on this site below.

http://bikescreen.com/

 

[trevor]

Mine is just a cheap EMGO fairing...around $69us...I quite like it...have had it on for about 18 months...great in the cold..but think \I will take it off this summer

 

[Guest]

Just wondering who has some kind of frontal fairing from any brand name, including the Cooley fairing.
How do you like them?

Let's just say that I refuse to ride any bike any farther than around the block unless it has SOME form of wind protection. I have had just about everything except the smallest "flyscreen" mounted, obviously some worked better than others.

- Vetter has about the best wind protection, but is butt-ugly. Darn near "fugly".
- I have ridden several factory touring models, the difference in their coverage/protection is amazing/amusing. Some were as good as the
Vetter, others were not much better than a naked bike.
- Handlebar-mounted shields/fairings actually work quite well. I am thinking here of the National Cycle Plexifairing or the larger Slipstreamer. Protections is virtually the same as a Vetter, above the knees. Below the knee, the Vetter is better.
- Smaller units like the Cooley, Maier and others might look ok, but offer minimal protection. Most notable at higher speeds, but I don't often ride at the speeds necessary to ''enjoy" that protection.

It pretty much boils down to what you want. Are you after looks or protection? For looks, it's purely up to you, and you can find something for less than $100. If you are looking for protection, plan on a larger unit that will cost closer to $200.

 

[Chris]

I ride a naked 1200 Bandit here in Germany and the lack of fairing really makes a difference on the autobahn. At cruising speeds of 80-90 mph the wind buffet tires you out pretty quick. I rode to visit a friend in Denmark last year and the ride was a lot more tiring than the hours in the saddle would have suggested. Anything that bucks the wind for you, even a bikini fairing like the Cooley "S" model helps.

 

[robertbarr]

Let's just say that I refuse to ride any bike any farther than around the block unless it has SOME form of wind protection.

Me too, but no sense getting carried away. I mean, I just need a little something to keep the insects under control.


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