Welcome!
Since you don't have the fairing/cowling off - it is possible that the PO may have resorted to 'alternate' methods to secure that cowling to the rest of the fairing that you cannot see from outside. But, the tabs are rather sketchy anyway, so to be safe, I would:
1. Remove both left &right black plastic inside fairing covers - they attach with a screw to the main fairing and then slip/wiggle them backward so they pop off from the upper fork tubes. They just slide over the tubes with a 'friction fit' with some foam inside them to stop vibration and increase friction. You may find that the foam has dried up and falls apart insto dust as soon as you breathe on it. I have found that using some foam weather stripping from the HW store in a suitable width/thickness works well as a replacement.
2. You will see that the red (or silver) main fairing piece is held in place with and upper and lower bolt on each side. Loosen (but do not remove) the lower bolt (may have to loosen clamp bolt on turnsignal stalks also, can't recall) and remove the upper bolts. You can now also see into the fairing and underneath the black cowling to see if any innovative methods (such as Velcro and JB Weld )
have been employed to improve the retention of the black cowling piece.
3. Remove the retaining ring from the ignition switch. The rubber rings from around the instruments may need to be "coaxed" to relieve their grip on the black plastic cowling - you'll have to lift the black cowling upward and somewhat to the back. I find that having the main fairing part loose enables me to pivot it downward/forward a bit, which helps get the front of the black cowling part to release. You may have to carefully get one side, then the other, to let go in the front, then work the cowling upward and back off over the instruments.
Hope this helps. After you do it a few times you'll get the hang of it!
Topic: New to Forum: Best way to remove cowl cover on LS? (Read 1791 times)