The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: aussie on November 14, 2008, 10:26:48 PM
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Well I finally went down to pick up my fairing after it had been painted. I am a little disappointed in parts, but overall it looks pretty good. I thought it was going to be a straight-forward excercise - but never having attached a fairing before, it took a lot longer than I had expected. Anyhow - see what you think. I am going to decide if I have pinstripes....I had a look at a photo of a Hesketh and the fairings look remarably similar. The pinstriping on that one looked pretty good.....
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And fitted.... 8-)
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Oh yeah....
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Looks real smart!!
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Looks great, Aussie. I'll be interested to see how you settle on your pinstriping scheme. There are a lot of interesting lines on that fairing you could follow, or just go with the stripe that parallels the outer edge.
Have you noticed if the fairing changes the performance, handling, noise or whatever else, besides just lookin' good? 8-)
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Very nice, Aussie!
Well worth the wait.
[smiley=thumbsup.gif]
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I say, rather spiffy! [smiley=thumbsup.gif] Not too large or Harley-ish. Monte
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Very nice, Aussie! I think it makes your bike look really classy.
I too would like to know how it affects handling, etc. Especially how it affects the wind and where it puts it. Over your head? I doubt that. But I'm sure it changes how the wind hits your body.
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Many thanks y'all. It is surprisingly large when it's on and I think it definitely needs some stripes otherwise it is just too 'in your face' (or at least I think so).
As for the handling....after I installed it I took it for a bit of test ride. It was reasonably windy yesterday and I was interested in whether it would effect the handling. Now, I've been having some issues with my tyre valves of late so before I went out, I made sure that there was the pre-requisite amount of air in the appropriate places (including my good self) and off I went. In the past when the tyres have been a tad down, the bike just feels a little as if it is 'yawing'. There were a couple of times yesterday when I was riding that I had this feeling, but it certainly didn't happen all the time, and when it did happen it was over very quickly. I live up in the hills and some of the roads have joins - usually parallel to the centre of the road - where road works have occurred. At the time I happened to be in this 'neck of the woods'. However, I had thought that I was careful to avoid the joins - so I'm not sure if I was just careless or it had something to do with the fairing.
I noticed that it certainly vibrates at the very top of the fairing at about 2 500rpm but below and above that, there are no problems and even with the vibration, this does not cause any handling issues.
Like you, I was really interested in where the air would hit. Prior to the fairing, there was just an overall effect of the air hitting my upper body, but now it is definitely hitting around my chest - I'm 183cm (6'). If there had been a bit of lip on the fairing I think this would have bounced that flow up a lot higher. I didn't notice any additional effect with the fairing when I was in some cross-winds - I was just blown a little off my line - as normally happens. I want to take it out and go on the freeway just to see how it handles at speed, but unfortuantely I don't see that happening this weekend. :( When I finally get out, I'll let you know how it went.
PS - I took it out tonight. The guy who painted it, put matt black on the rear side - but even with this, the reflection from the headlight is a pain. I think I need some type of boot between the headlight and the fairing - possibly taking a leaf from trolle and using an inner tube....Hey larst - did you have this problem?
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Nice one Aussie. Yes, pinstripes would be even better.
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Use tape for the stripes. 3-M has excellent striping tape and once you get a scheme you like you can either leave the tape on or take it off and had it painted on...
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I'm surprised that you've got a reflection problem with the headlight. [smiley=huh.gif] It looks like the fit around the light is pretty tight.
Were there any problems with the installation? I'd assume since it is a BMW part, it would fit exactly and attach without a hitch.
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Nice little fairing. For some reason I never seriously considered it before, for my bike.
Now that I have a well scuffed-up leading edge of my instrument cover, that could cover up the damage, easy!
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Nice! +1 on the pinstipes.
TTFN,
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Okey dokey. Took the bike out today for a bit of speed test to see how the fairing would handle. After going up the back way through the hills I hit the freeway and went along to a place called Hahndorf (where the first German settlers set up shop towards the end of the 1800's). I have to say they were a tough crowd....apparently the women used to walk down to the market in town each month, stay overnight and then walk back. How they managed to carry anything - well your guess is as good as mine - but the trip is all down hill on the way into town - some 26kms and then of course do it all over again on their return!
Anyhow - back to the thread...I'm pleased to note that there were not any problems what-so-ever. No vagueness; no buffetting; no being pushed all over the road. I was sitting on 110kph and it was a little windy...ducked down behind the fairing and it suddenly gave me another 10-15kph! Most impressed.
I've included a few photos of the town. :)
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and another...
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and another...
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Lucky last - on my way home.
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Lovely pictures, Aussie. Nice looking town.
Of course the shot of your bike (Classic BMW) was the highlight.
Glad to hear the fairing performed so well. I'm sure that a few of us will start thinking in that direction as well.
Enjoy,
Ed
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The pinstripes will complete the grand look! Rob has a good idea to cover up the dings on his bike too. Your town does look very nice. So does the BBQ pig!! Love that cracklin'