Fairing fit from standard to special

[XS1100 Newbie]

I would like to know whether anyone knows if a fairing off of a 1981 standard will fit the 1980 special. I would think the fit is the same, but i don't know for sure. I have found a great buy on a nice fairing and would like to find out before it goes to someone else.
Thanks

[Incubus]

The fairing almost certainly will. I'm not positive about the mount.

Patrick

[Jerry]

The concensus is that the mount, if original and unmodified, will fit either bike. There was one thread where a poster said his did not swap between the 2, and another where the angle of the fairing was not the same, but it is believed those 2 cases were the result of non-stock (ie modified or bent) mounts. This is true of either the Vetter or Pacifico fairings. If it is another brand I suspect the same sould be true; the XS frames didn't change much during the production run except for the XJ, which has extra 'webbing' welded in the steering head area to reduce frame flex. It did not affect the faring mounts. Minor differences in frames generally have to do with the rear footpeg mounting points (rear sets) rather than the up-front down tubes and engine cradle.

One thing that may be different is the horn mounts. On my XJ I had to relocate them from their stock location. The horns are slightly different between bikes. Generally this isn't much of a problem but is an issue to be addressed.

If you are looking at a fairing, try to get the wiring 'pigtail' that connects any fairing lights to the bike's wiring harness. These tend to be generic and can be built or purchased new for a price, better to get a good one with the fairing if you can.

[XS1100 Newbie]

Thanks folks, i appreciate the quick responses. I think i'll take a close look again and decide. It has a pair of chrome special handlbars with it. The guy said that these had to be used with it to fit, so it sounds like it may have been a standard with special mounts. I don't know, but for $100.00 it may be worth the gamble. The thing looks almost new.

[Crazcnuk]

I have one of the ones that didn't quite fit right.

I bought the entire Venture set, with mounts. It has rectangular lights, so it came off of a standard, yet on my bike (80G) the fairing sits too high in the front to adjust the headlight down to where it needs to be.

I had to use 1/4" spacers (nuts) behind the top of the mount to 'tip' the front of the fairing down enough to give me proper headlight aiming range.

The mount is not bent.

BTW the mounts usually have provision for the horn(s) if they would be in the way.

[fredintoon]

Thanks folks, i appreciate the quick responses. I think i'll take a close look again and decide. - - - for $100.00 it may be worth the gamble. The thing looks almost new.

Hi Newbie,
quit hesitating and buy the thing! If it don't fit after all and it's as nice as you say you can always sell it on and not lose money.

[Schming]

Lights....

Standards= Rectangular ; Specials= Round

[cywelchjr]

I have one of the ones that didn't quite fit right.

I bought the entire Venture set, with mounts. It has rectangular lights, so it came off of a standard, yet on my bike (80G) the fairing sits too high in the front to adjust the headlight down to where it needs to be.

I had to use 1/4" spacers (nuts) behind the top of the mount to 'tip' the front of the fairing down enough to give me proper headlight aiming range.

The mount is not bent.

BTW the mounts usually have provision for the horn(s) if they would be in the way.

That is interesting as my 80G has the fairing on it and even though everything seems fine, I can't quite get the headlight as low as I would like. I might try putting spacers on the back mounting to see if that works for me. This problem applies to both my Windjammer 4 and 3, both have the same problem. I'll have to look carefully (I have not so far) at the angle of the windshield as compares to the forks, Craig Vetter recomments that the windshield angle match the fork angle.

[Crazcnuk]

That was my problem. I could not lower the headlight to properly aim it. Ran out of adjustment.

Like I said, I shimmed out the top of the bracket, above the 2 main mount bolts, about 1/4".

Now the headlight is pretty much in the middle of it's adjustment arc.

I thought maybe it's because my HID has no upper and lower beam, so maybe the lens was different.

[cywelchjr]

That was my problem. I could not lower the headlight to properly aim it. Ran out of adjustment.

Like I said, I shimmed out the top of the bracket, above the 2 main mount bolts, about 1/4".

Now the headlight is pretty much in the middle of it's adjustment arc.

I thought maybe it's because my HID has no upper and lower beam, so maybe the lens was different.

So, did you shim the fairing onto the mount or the mount onto the bike? It sounds like you said you shimmed the mount itself? I was thinking of shimming the fairing at the back mounting bolts, and maybe even using rubber to do it for vibration reduction.

[CatatonicBug]

and maybe even using rubber to do it for vibration reduction.

I don't know that rubber mounts would help vibration. It may even cause MORE vibration. The Bunkees on the trunk mount allow the tunk to wiggle quite a bit, and I know that if the whole fairing wiggled that much, I would not be able to stand it. Maybe a small rubber washer would help, but IMHO, the fairing should probably be held as securely as possible to the frame.

[Crazcnuk]

I have rubber gaskets between the lower mount and the fairing, and between the upper clamp and the fairing. Reduces vibration and noise quite a bit. The original Vetter and Pacifico mounts come with 1/8" thick rubber gaskets for this purpose.

I made some for the 80G because they were missing.

I shimmed the mount, not the fairing because I want even pressure along the full length of the fairing so as not to cause stress fractures in the fairing itself. The only way I could think to fo that, while shimming the fairing, would be to make a wedge shaped spacer the length of the mount.

[CatatonicBug]

I have rubber gaskets between the lower mount and the fairing, and between the upper clamp and the fairing. Reduces vibration and noise quite a bit. The original Vetter and Pacifico mounts come with 1/8" thick rubber gaskets for this purpose.

I made some for the 80G because they were missing.

I shimmed the mount, not the fairing because I want even pressure along the full length of the fairing so as not to cause stress fractures in the fairing itself. The only way I could think to fo that, while shimming the fairing, would be to make a wedge shaped spacer the length of the mount.

Good point! I like the idea of a full-length rubber gasket between the bracket and the fairing itself. Much better support than just small rubber washers.