Fairing

[natemoen]

Plus the V is about as ugly as you can get when it comes to fairing.....

[cywelchjr]

You know, I hadn't thought about that. The bottom shape is different on the V then all the others, and is the first one not actually designed by Craig Vetter (the Yamaha model was a Craig Vetter design with mods for the XS lights) and it's the only one that uses different lowers than all the others, having the straight bottom rather than the curved bottom like all the others.

[Crusty Snippets]

Fairing

I will have a look later at my Vetter for a model number, but either way the Vetter is comming off for something smaller.
Still no comments from users of other types of wind protection devices.
Maybe I should have used a different title.

Unkle Crusty

[Dragon Tamer]

The model # will be found on the left inside of the fairing, right above the wiring plug.

Sorry I don't have any more knowledge of smaller devices. I have never used one and as of this point do not know of anyone that does.

[crazy steve]

...Still no comments from users of other types of wind protection devices...

Well, I'm not a fairing user, preferring windshields. But for me it's more a looks thing as I just don't like the way they look. But if you're looking for better wind protection and less buffeting, that's not the choice to make. You'll get less protection and more buffeting compared to a fairing. Just my .02...

[planedick]

Like mine

I have a Vetter fairing and love it, but I've never ridden behind a Pacifico. I cut the windshield so I just look over the top when sitting straight up and only need a slight slump to be behind it in case of rain. Rain and highway speeds are easy I found last week when I was caught in a real "gullywasher".

[nikonyamaha]

I have a Windjammer 4 on my XS1100G with a 14" high windshield so I can look over it as well. Buffeting is a problem but I wear earplugs and have rode so long this way that I don't even notice it. But it is a barndoor and on an isolated road somewhere in TX, I could only manage 105mph!
But you have to give Craig Vetter credit. After removing lowers, it is four bolts and a wire harness disconnect and it is off; light enough for one man to do. Try doing that with todays bikes with acres of plastic, countless screws, tabs, catches, mystery locations, etc.

One more thing, it will survive a spill. Many years ago the bike went on its side at 45mph after hitting a large oil spill and the fairing and Krauser bags took the brunt of the damage. The fairing trim was ruined so I took it off and re-filed the damaged area but no cracks or shatters and the mounting frame was not bent; only the Krauser brackets were slightly bent wich was easily straightened. Something to be said about thick ABS plastic.

[MaximPhil]

Never been an issue on my Venturer. Bike tracks straight and VERY planted, even when tach has seen upwards of 7400rpm in fifth.......good thing this scoot will only run 85mph.........Reality being not be too quick to condem the fairing......just sayin'.....

I am with you motoman. I too have never had a problem of this nature with my Venturer. Took her up to (160kph) 100 MPH with no buffeting and went where i pointed her. If I recall correctly about 7400 rpm
Phil

[Crusty Snippets]

Model

[QUOTE=Dragon Tamer;317813]The model # will be found on the left inside of the fairing, right above the wiring plug.

Thanks for that.
It is a Windjammer IV, and has a crack as mentioned by another owner.
I think I will remove the lowers first, then later remove the big Vetter box and install my smaller roundish GIVI.
I will report on progress.
I was sure somone, or many, would be riding with wind shields and have some input.

Unkle Crusty

[jwhughes3]

Harley Riot Shield

Unkle Crusty,
I have ridden with the Riot Shield on a Fat Bob before - my buddy has a quick detach model and one time when I rented a Fat Bob to ride in the mountains with him I used it -

It does make a difference (in fact that is the trip that sold me on windshields period) and I had the thing well over 90mph (I'm being conservative but it WAS a rental) in the straightaways on the ride to Julian without any noticeable unpleasantness or shear.

I was able to hang on much easier with the shield - without it I felt I was fighting the road and the wind to stay on...


I just put a very small windshield on Great Ranger and while it cuts the resistance to my chest some on freeway at 80, it doesn't cut down buffeting to my helmet unless I duck down like a foolish youngster.

I am looking at a slightly bigger fairing (bar mount) as opposed to a bigger riot shield - I want to paint it to integrate with the bike and figure the fairing would be easier to do than the shield.

John

[DiverRay]

I ride both fairing and shield. The MNS has a SMALL shield to keep the wind down on the freeway, and it works well for that. My '79 Standards have fairings on them, with a rear box. I've had problems with handling once, and when I went through the front end, the problem went away. Seems the steering stem bearings were dry!
I would look long and hard at other factors on the bike. The fairing, or shield, will only ACCENT ANY problem. Just my $0.02 .
And yes, the plexifairing is a good shield, but even it will show up as "bad" if there is a problem with the bike.

[cywelchjr]

[QUOTE=Crusty Snippets;318123]

The model # will be found on the left inside of the fairing, right above the wiring plug.

Thanks for that.
It is a Windjammer IV, and has a crack as mentioned by another owner.
I think I will remove the lowers first, then later remove the big Vetter box and install my smaller roundish GIVI.
I will report on progress.
I was sure somone, or many, would be riding with wind shields and have some input.

Unkle Crusty

I've ridding mine both with and without the Vetter box. And with the Vetter box on the top and dragging behind . And didn't feel any difference in the ride at all. But a crack in the fairing, IMHO would be almost guaranteed to cause handling problems, cause you would be getting air into places it wasn't designed to get into. Where is the crack? That could have bearing on your issue. The Windjammers are indeed bar doors, they weren't built as speed machines but rather to keep the wind off you, but they WERE built to make the bike stable, and if that's not happening SOMETHING is wrong.

I've had three different Windjammers on two different machines, and the only one I had trouble with, was one that was not mounted correctly, which meant it was pushing the bike sideways. Don't know if it's a flaw in the fairing or just in how it was mounted, cause I took it off and put the IV that's on now onto the same mount and it works fine. I know that Vetter and crew spent a LOT of time making sure these things worked well if properly mounted, so if your getting buffeting, something is wrong with it, and if there is a crack that MIGHT be it depending on where it is, and if it is, fixing the crack could make it a totally different machine (there are several ways, using one of the glues made for the material used, or doing plastic welding, either of which work quite well.

[planedick]

Repairs

Repairs are easy. Just some ABS cement and some fibreglass cloth cut into small strips. Put cracks together like they are supposed to be then apply the glass cloth and cement with a brush on the inside and let set. Several layers work best.

[natemoen]

Repairs are easy. Just some ABS cement and some fibreglass cloth cut into small strips. Put cracks together like they are supposed to be then apply the glass cloth and cement with a brush on the inside and let set. Several layers work best.

or you could get a plastic welder.

[Crusty Snippets]

[QUOTE=cywelchjr;318149][QUOTE=Crusty Snippets;318123]

But a crack in the fairing, IMHO would be almost guaranteed to cause handling problems, cause you would be getting air into places it wasn't designed to get into. Where is the crack?

The crack is on the inside black part and not letting any air in.
This is the first big heavy bike I have ever put a lot of miles on.
What I call buffeting others may call normal.
Maybe I am just used to bikes that go where you point them, any that did not I sold or refused to ride.
In my racing days I was fanatical about the above. Steering heads and swing arm bushings and balanced wheels, and back wheels that followed the front were high on my list.
Tucked in behind a good road racing fairing at 145mph is a real joy, no wind noise, just a screaming engine under your chest waiting to seize or blow up.
All the while hoping the brakes will work as planned for a tight corner approaching.

The decision is between a riot shield or a bullet shield.

Unkle Crusty