To fairing or not to fairing that is the question

[psycoreefer]

For the wiring you would have to make up splitters then if you were to leave it in place but it would be doable as long as you could fit it somewhere to keep it out of the way when the fairing is not on. And you could totally leave the bracket in place (might look a little funny), but its only 2 bolts holding it to the frame so it would not be hard to remove and out it on.

In reality once you figure out how the fairing goes on and off the first time it really will not take you all that long to do the whole process the second time around, easily under 2 hours.

I agree, its really not hard to put the fairing on and off. I've got a Vetter and I can put it on in less than an hour, and that includes removing the seat and tank because my custom mount won't let the fairing go on with the larger Venture tank I've got now.

you've got to remove the headlight and headlight houseing, fold the ears in, connect the wires. Two bolts and four hose clamps for the mounting bracket. Four bolts to hold the fairing to the mount. Really easy.

I leave mine off in the summer, but run a small sport shield to help break the wind and then put the fairing on in the winter to help make cold weather riding more enjoyable.

Winter:


Summer:

[STEPPENWOLF]

Without the fairing or headlight.

[DGXSER]

Bill, are we allowed to post those kind of pics on here? Thats as naked as I have ever seen your bike!!!

Years ago I had a CB750C that came with a bolt on windshield. I used it for long trips and it was handy for rain and such. But it mostly took up space in the garage. Next CB750 came with a fairing, I rode it that way but always wanted to get rid of it.

Now I ride nakid and love it. (But the neighbors complain sometimes, over 40 yo and all) As to wind, well to each their own as stated, I love the feel of the wind, it is part for the draw to riding for me. I look at riding with a fairing like I may as well be in a convertible cage.

[SFerinTEXAS]

face it . Only you can make the final choice no matter what opinions however insightful you get here. You have everything you need for the fairing. Put one on and give yourself the experience then decide. Myself I have a fairing on my XJ I call an X-1, apparently a later Yamaha option on XJ and Virago. My 79 has none.I can enjoy either way depending on the weather and season and the type of trip. If I only had 1 ride I would keep the option to put on and take off at any time. Mostly on in the winter and mostly off in the summer.

Being a lover of options I also have a vetter I can put on the 79 and the headlight components to make the XJ naked.

[figman]

I do quite a bit of cold weather riding and I really like my Vetter with lowers on my 1978 Standard. For warm weather I just remove it, put on my stock light and install my kerker and I am ready to have some fun but sometimes I get lazy and leave it on through the summer and that gives me an excuse to ride my 1983 GS 1100E

Life is good!

[TECHLINETOM]

I put a Vetter Windjammer 2 on my Xj1100 and it is wonderful.
I have a Shoei 1/4 fairing that I used to use but it didn't offer enough weather protection in the cold/rain.

I have ridden nekkid a few times and it is unpleasent for me above 50 MPH.

You will have to decide for yourself.

[dpotter58]

I like the fairing for long distance trips/cold rides and the nekid bike for shorter warmer rides. Nothin better than feeling the breeze unless its on an all day 80 mph road trip.

[snakedriver]

Very helpful advice. Thanks to everyone who posted. I'm going throught this dilemma right now with my '79 standard.

[skids]

I agree with DPOTTER. As you can see the real fix here is to have two versions of bikes...one dressed and one nakid! Well, OK, maybe more than one of each!

[GLoweVA]

And with the Vetter fairings you can leave the mount on without the fairing, but it does look a little goofy.

+1 on that. I have taken the old fairing off my G once and left the bracket on.
I just pulled the fairing harness off, put my turn signals & headlight bucket back in/on and unplugged the fairing harness and plugged the headlight and turn signals back in and rode.
It did look a little funny looking down and seeing that bracket there, but I had my oil cooler also attached to the same mounting points and didn't feel like it was worth the trouble of taking the bracket off seeing as I was going to put a new fairing back on the bike as soon as I found one to buy.
Rode that way for a few weeks.
That was my first time without a fairing and it was an eye opener!
Like others have said, the wind on your chest and into my open half helmet was tough to get used to.
I've gone a few months now on my SG without and while the twisties were fun at XSEast with out it, my daily commute at 65+MPH for 30 miles each way on the slab warrant me to put it back on SOON!

[Jerry]

As much as I llike riding without a fairing I have run fairings now since 2000. Reasons for and against:
Against:
Vetter will cut your fuel economy by 2 - 4 mpg.
Forward / downward vision is reduced a bit.
Adds weight to top of bike. You get used to it very quickly.
Getting old and may require rewiring and / or pigtail. Hassle factor.
Lowers, if you fit them, may interfere with highway pegs.
For:
Greater comfort on longer trips due to less wind buffeting.
Pockets to put things like Tkat's california fuel filler clip and a sidestand foot.
Airflow options like Vetter's portholes.
More protection from rain and bugs.
Extends riding season later into the fall and earlier in spring if you live in central or nothern locations.
Lockable storage (later Vetters) for small items.

I upgraded my XJ's fork springs to Progressive units after I added the Vetter IV fairing and went to a tall windshield. Part of "adapting" to a full fairing is getting the correct-for-you windshield height which will include some trial and error.

The XJ headlight bucket stays in place with the Vetter IV and I've been told it will fit with headlight bucket on with other XS models, making it easier to put on and take off as desired.

Since most of my riding is either super-slab at aroung 75 mph (round trip to work is about 114 miles) or longer trips to rallies the fairing makes sense for me. When I was back in WI and did mostly local (Rustic Roads) trips I enjoyed riding behind a small windshield. If you try a fairing and don't care for it you won't have any trouble moving it on to a new owner so you really don't have much to loose except the time it takes to mount or unmount the unit.

Full disclosure: I also mounted saddlebags which I use just about every trip I take and would be severly impacted without them. Left saddlebags carries first aid kit, oil, bulbs, fuses, tool kit, shop towels, other "stuff" for on-the-road emergencies. Right side carries gloves, water, hat, binoculars, other stuff that one might need or want during the course of a ride. Again, more for longer distances than knocking around for a few hours, so YMMV.