Is naked sexier?

[Turd Ferguson]

Yeah, that's what I can't get past. I REALLY don't like fairings. Yeah, sometimes I'd like to have one in the cold wind, when I'm losiing feeling in parts of my anatomy I value. I understand they're practical- but motorcycling for me is not about "practical".  To me they look like what they are... cheap plastic decorated with cheaper decals.  Toys-R-Us.  Mattel Motorcycles.

Solid colored fairings that aren't too obviously designed just for show aren't too bad... but the "industrial design" of the commrecial ones is just SO obviously mostly about looking "swoopy", and secondarily, if at all, about function.

You notice that almost EVERY thread on fairings is just about how they look? 

I'm a "form follows function" guy, I like honest machines, stuff that looks like what it is. I hate fake gas tanks that hold airboxes and electronics, I hate fake air filter housings that have little toolkits inside, I hate fake air scoops, and I HATE bikes that are trying to look (and sound) like other bikes they're not (electronically programmed "potato-potato-potato"). And I hate decals. Colorful swishes designed to grab your eye but completely without meaning or function, as though I would buy a motorcycle the way a kid grabs a box of breakfast cereal in a store.

Besides looking cheap, garish and toy-like, they seem to me to be a step back from real (call it "hard-core" if you like) motorcycling. It's about being out there, there's really no other reason to be on a motorcycle instead of in a car... now we want to hedge our bets, and be just partly enclosed, partly protected, partly nestled and cocooned inside plastic, just like the plastic they put all over our cars now... do we really want to partly retreat toward being in a cage again?

It strikes me as sort of like driving a Winnebago to a campsite to sit in the air conditioning and watch color TV. 

Yeah, it's more comfortable.. it's also really missing the point.

So following this logic, why even put the tail plastics on?  Why is the tank/frame sculpted the way it is?  Hell, why even paint the bike?

To a certain point, aesthetics are important to everyone.

-Turd.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

[b

[Turd Ferguson]

I agree with a large majority of what you said.  Good post as always!

I'm not sure about the "boom in naked bikes" part.  As far as the US market goes...it is near impossible to find a naked sport bike.  We've got the SV650, Honda 599/919, and the Kawasaki Z1000.  That's pretty much it.  Everything else even has an upper fairing on it.

Hopefully the US buyer will get over the obsession with plastic.  Hands down, no question...I would be setting money aside to buy a Suzuki GSR600 if it were possible here in the states.

-Turd.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

[h

[pantablo]

well, if you're poor just leave well enough alone and spend your meager savings on gas and ride the snot out of the bike...

I would probably make out pretty well by selling my fairings. Even after buying a new headlight, I think I'd end up with a bit of money for some goodies.

-Turd.

hadnt thought of that. good point.

[12thmonkey]

Since we are on the topic of ugly plastic add-ons, let's talk about the Speed Four (a simple google image search revealed this guy who apparently loves the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles plastic):







It just makes me sad. 

[RVertigo]

Naked is better...

I was thinking about removing the rear plastic...   

[Alphamazing]

I was thinking about removing the rear plastic...   

To give you an idea:


And yes I know it got beat up. Still... doesn't look too good, IMO.

[RVertigo]

I dunno...  I kinda like it. 

Now, just take the seat off and duct tape a shop rag in its place. SWEEEEET!! 

[12thmonkey]

i like the grass on the can...i've been thinking about doing that.

[RVertigo]

i like the grass on the can...i've been thinking about doing that.

TOTALLY!!!  That's prolly the coolest mod I've seen yet...

[CasiUSA]

Good:


Better:

[12thmonkey]

Uh-oh...looks like the nudists have it. Turd's gonna strip his bike naked! 

For a minute there, i thought the pickles were gonna take over...

[RVertigo]

That Daytona looks like an overweight Rottweiler sleeping on the sidewalk. 

And the Triple looks like a jungle cat that about to eat you. 

[Wrecent_Wryder]

5r

[Turd Ferguson]

"FOR SALE:  2005 GS500F fairings--complete set!  Perfect condition!  Waxed regularly!  You too can have a little girls bike with these useless peices of plastic!"

She looks amazing.

[Alphamazing]

Did you get to ride it around yet? How do you like the transition?

Gorgeous bike

[Kasumi]

Looks like someone hasn't been leaning too much, without the plastics you can feel safe getting some proper lean on and eroding those strips of unused rubber 
Looks stunning by the way, you got headlight and mirrors on the way?

[12thmonkey]

Very sexy. Congrats.

Those fairings look so much better in the grass! 

[RVertigo]

Those fairings look so much better in the grass!

++

You shouldn't sell 'em...  Put them on a bicycle!