new vs old... fairings vs naked

[brentphx]

So, I have been riding my '00 500e for around a year now.  It came with 14k miles on it- i'm pushing 16k now.  It'd be more, but I live 7 miles from work...

Despite the fact that I'm always finding something new to work on with mine, it's been a blast to ride... always find myself going farther each time I go out for a weekend ride.  On Sunday, I got the chance to ride an 06 500F.  I had always wished that I had at least SOME fairings on mine, thinkin that it'd save me from getting hit with that much wind- I have to say- I like my 2000 better!  The seat is WAAAAAAY more comfortable it feel s like I sit lower, and I'm guessing that I like the overall feel better cuz it was the one I learned on- but I thought the fairings just felt kinda cheap and really didn't deflect that much wind.  I guess I expected them to be a bit more... (having a hard time finding the word)... sturdy? 

Is this a normal observation, or am I being picky?  Do the fairings on the older models deflect more wind? I mean- I'm not expecting it to be like a gold wing where i could have a smoke, eat a bagel, drink my coffee... and still make it to work in one piece lol...

[bassmechanicsz]

I have an '04 with the fairings but have never ridden a naked on.  I have ridden mine without the lower fairing before and could only  tell a slight difference in how much wind was hitting my legs but nothing major.  As for blocking wind on the upper body i can't really comment on what it feels like to ride a naked but i do know that the fairing doesn't block all the wind by any means on the upper body.  I feel the wind hitting me right across the chest area and up.  If you are looking for something to really block the wind their are various aftermarket windscreens that people have and seems that people use them in the colder months to help keep the wind off and then take them off during the warmer months.  Dunno if this helped any or not but overall the fairings only redirect some of the wind not deflect it all away from you.

[tt_four]

So, I have been riding my '00 500e for around a year now.  It came with 14k miles on it- i'm pushing 16k now.  It'd be more, but I live 7 miles from work...

I don't know if I buy that one! I lived 3 miles from my old job, and I put 14k on my ninja 250 in about 15 months, and then about 20k+ on my Triumph in about a year and a half. I think the problem is that just because you live 7 miles away, you assume your commute should also only be 7 miles. You've gotta leave your house in the opposite direction from where you work, loop around the long way, and end up pulling into work from the opposite direction of your house.

As far as windscreens, anything short of a full windscreen is rumored to just focus all that wind on your head and shoulders. I've never ridden a bike with a winshield so I can't really say from experience. The closest I've come was my ex250, but that wasn't a real windshield. I had always thought riding without one felt pretty smooth. The same wind that would've hit your head and shoulders now hits all of you pretty evenly. The only benefits to a windshield on a sportbike is if you're going to tuck behind it. My sister bought a zx6r last summer and I'm looking forward to testing it out someday when she brings it up from DC, I'd like to see what all the fuss is about.

When you say older model, I'm not sure what bike you're talking about. There's only ever been one model of the GS500 that was sold with a fairing.

[BaltimoreGS]

Not really an answer to the question but I highly recommend the National Cycle Plexifairing 2 to anyone looking to add a windshield to a naked GS.

-Jessie

[Gary856]

On a calm day, on my naked '01 GS, I feel I slip through the wind without much wind resistance up to around 75 mph. Faster than that (to maybe 85 mph - 90mph), or add some head wind, then I start wishing for some wind protection if I stayed on the freeway. I got a Givi A603 which I haven't put on. I should be able to put it on in about 2 weeks to test it out.

Fairing does make a noticeable difference. On my YZF-600R, I can either straight-arms and sit really upright to get my helmet above the wind stream to get clean air (quiet), or tuck down a little to get my helmet below the wind stream. In between the wind hits me at the helmet and gets really loud, but still takes the wind pressure off my chest. On that bike it feels like the wind stream hits me about 1 ft above the top of the windscreen. The idea is you can play with your body position, windscreen height/angle (aftermarket screens), to find the optimal wind protection level. For a long cruise on the freeway (let's say over 50 miles), I like having the fairing.  

On a GS500F, it looks to me like the windscreen is pretty low for the upright sitting position. You may need to tuck down a bit more to feel the effect.

[PachmanP]

Yeah on the faired GS the screen just focuses all the air at your face unless you tuck in.  I went from faired to naked and I prefer the naked.  I sometimes miss being able to tuck in on the freeway, though...

[JB848]

To reiterate what Gary856 said: I own both a GS500E and F. I ride both equally and like them for different reasons.

The GS500E rides great in low wind and I like the open feeling while riding. On back roads and curves it is a feeling of freedom like nothing else. In rain and high wind it's not fun and not very stable on the highway for it is a rather light bike and even with the chin fairing I have on mine winds over 15MPH+ throw the bike around with ease.

The GS500F on the other hand is the bike of choice for all weather conditions. The fairing does not totally protect from wind or rain but in those conditions it is far more stable. As a matter of fact the faster you go the more stable it becomes. The fairing actually creates a slip stream around the bike which makes it very stable even though it is so light. Considering that I purchased the bike 2 hours from home and I bought it and road it home for the first time in 30MPH+ winds and HEAVY rain from Long Island NY in the heaviest traffic in the world. It did not keep me from getting wet but because of the fairing and the added down force it stuck to the road even in the heavy rain it road great and gave me the confidence I could ride this bike in any weather minus ice and snow. I have since ridden the GS500F at least 2 days a week through this winter here in NJ. With some decent cold weather gear the fairing makes it tolerable to ride in the worst conditions.

I hope this gives you an all around perspective of the difference between a GS500E and the GS500F. That being said of I had to choose between the two...I just couldn't I love them both equally!

Robert.