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A couple of years back, I sold my 80g standard because I was less interested in crusing as I was sport riding. I got a 79sf and have been riding it since.
I still don't do a lot of crusing on the open road as far as taking long trips. Lately, a 2 hour ride is about the longest I've been doing.
The problem is that I seemed to have forgotten that I live in Southern Utah, where wind days happen more often than anyone that lives here would care to admit. This makes many of my riding days miserable.
When I say miserable, this is what I mean:
I get the bike out on I-15 to take a little half-hour drive to highway 20, then a half-hour drive over 20 to 89. During the process, while wearing my riding gear and helmet, I sit comfortably on the bike and get up to freeway speed.
Then the misery begins as the wind and turbulence seem to smack me right under the chin, which causes the helmet to move around, then neck muscles to strain, etc. Some days here it's so bad I just about turn the bike around. On those days, I'm sure if I let go of the bars I'd be blown right off the bike. It's worse with any type of loose clothing that doesn't perfectly fit. One doesn't even have to get close to freeway speed for So. Utah wind buffeting, either.
Obviously, if I lay forward onto the tank, the problem goes away. But this gives rise to another problem - the problem of looking like a goon who is trying to make his bike go faster. The 79sf doesn't need any help to go fast, but people see you and think you're trying to max out your wimpy old bike when all you're trying to do is get out of the wind.
....
I don't want a cruiser. If I want a cruiser, I'll drive my car. I don't want to turn my bike into a 2-wheel car.
I had a Vetter fairing and sold it long ago because I don't like how they look on the bike. I am aware of winshields and small fairings that may look decent, but do they cut down on any of the wind problems?
My friend, who rides a new BMW K1200 always happily touts how comfortable he rides due to the fairing on that bike.
Would those of you with experience in this area chime in and talk about how useful the sport winshield / fairings are for the XS11 at increasing riding comfort? Pics would be useful as well.
It seems it's either a full fairing/winshield or none at all. I've heard the smaller ones don't do a lot.
Ben
I still don't do a lot of crusing on the open road as far as taking long trips. Lately, a 2 hour ride is about the longest I've been doing.
The problem is that I seemed to have forgotten that I live in Southern Utah, where wind days happen more often than anyone that lives here would care to admit. This makes many of my riding days miserable.
When I say miserable, this is what I mean:
I get the bike out on I-15 to take a little half-hour drive to highway 20, then a half-hour drive over 20 to 89. During the process, while wearing my riding gear and helmet, I sit comfortably on the bike and get up to freeway speed.
Then the misery begins as the wind and turbulence seem to smack me right under the chin, which causes the helmet to move around, then neck muscles to strain, etc. Some days here it's so bad I just about turn the bike around. On those days, I'm sure if I let go of the bars I'd be blown right off the bike. It's worse with any type of loose clothing that doesn't perfectly fit. One doesn't even have to get close to freeway speed for So. Utah wind buffeting, either.
Obviously, if I lay forward onto the tank, the problem goes away. But this gives rise to another problem - the problem of looking like a goon who is trying to make his bike go faster. The 79sf doesn't need any help to go fast, but people see you and think you're trying to max out your wimpy old bike when all you're trying to do is get out of the wind.
....
I don't want a cruiser. If I want a cruiser, I'll drive my car. I don't want to turn my bike into a 2-wheel car.
I had a Vetter fairing and sold it long ago because I don't like how they look on the bike. I am aware of winshields and small fairings that may look decent, but do they cut down on any of the wind problems?
My friend, who rides a new BMW K1200 always happily touts how comfortable he rides due to the fairing on that bike.
Would those of you with experience in this area chime in and talk about how useful the sport winshield / fairings are for the XS11 at increasing riding comfort? Pics would be useful as well.
It seems it's either a full fairing/winshield or none at all. I've heard the smaller ones don't do a lot.
Ben
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