"You break it, you buy" and a new front upper fairing...

[Scoz]

So here's a funny (read embarrassing) story especially for you new riders out there.  It might make you feel better if you do something even remotely as rookie as this.  I bought my GSF (first motorcycle) in November through a local dealer and after deciding I was going to buy it, the sales dude goes inside to get started on the paper work leaving my girlfriend and I to ogle at the bike a bit longer out on the lot.  The bike was on the center stand and me being new, decided to push the bike down off the stand while standing beside the bike. You know where I'm going with this right?  Yep, down goes the bike hard on the right side with me falling on top of it in a doggy style sort of way, not inches from the neighbouring bike and girlfriend giggling away behind me.  This, before money even left my wallet.   Needless to say, my ego shrank just a little that day and have had battle scars on the bike since day 0.  It ended up with what seems to be the ubiquitous turn signal through the fairing break and a scratched mirror.  Not too bad all things considered but man! What a start!

Jump to present day.  I have a shiny new upper fairing waiting for installation (Kept the busted one on for the winter in case the bike went down again). So my question is if you guys have any tips/tricks to make the replacement easier?  Anything out of the ordinary I need to know?

[codajastal]

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Sorry but that was classic

[adidasguy]

Number one thing to do so the turn signal doesn't punch through the fairing again is install R&G crash sliders.
I have them on Suzi. Saved her a couple times (even on illegal gravel!)
The t-rex ones are too far back to protect the turn signals.

Take the sides off first (as per my video). Unplug the head light and turn signals. Remove the mirrors. Then remove the rest of  the bolts and the front will come off.
Put back on in reverse order.

[Scoz]

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Sorry but that was classic

HAHAHA.  No apologies required. 

[Scoz]

Number one thing to do so the turn signal doesn't punch through the fairing again is install R&G crash sliders.
I have them on Suzi. Saved her a couple times (even on illegal gravel!)
The t-rex ones are too far back to protect the turn signals.

Take the sides off first (as per my video). Unplug the head light and turn signals. Remove the mirrors. Then remove the rest of  the bolts and the front will come off.
Put back on in reverse order.

Way ahead of you there Addidas.  R&G sliders already installed.  Thanks for the tips.  Does the windscreen need to come off as well?

[adidasguy]

You can deal with the windscreen and inner plastic when you take the front off. Unplug the headlight and turn signals and the whole front can come off as one piece. Then swap the windshield, headlight and stuff to your new front.

[PatheticPuma]

Don't feel bad. First time riding my first bike (nighthawk 650) around the block a couple times (in shorts, tshirt, helmet, and worn sneakers), went to get off the bike, didnt put the side stand down first, allowing the bike and its painfully hot exhaust to melt the skin on my bare calf.

Now I have a lovely permanent bald spot/scar on my leg as a reminder of my noob idiocy.

[ohgood]

leave the fairing off and put an E headlight on it. ohhh, SELL the fairings, both of them, and pour that money through the gas tank. should be, ohhhhh, 15,000 miles on it then.


dropping bikes happens. a lot. don't sweat it.

[Scoz]

You can deal with the windscreen and inner plastic when you take the front off. Unplug the headlight and turn signals and the whole front can come off as one piece. Then swap the windshield, headlight and stuff to your new front.

Got the new plastic installed today.  It looks great and my bike feels whole again.  It was much easier than I had expected and definitely taking it off the bike to remove the windshield and headlight was simpler.  Sweet!

[Scoz]

Don't feel bad. First time riding my first bike (nighthawk 650) around the block a couple times (in shorts, tshirt, helmet, and worn sneakers), went to get off the bike, didnt put the side stand down first, allowing the bike and its painfully hot exhaust to melt the skin on my bare calf.

Now I have a lovely permanent bald spot/scar on my leg as a reminder of my noob idiocy.

Ouch.  Unplanned cauterization is no fun.  You can lie to people that you dont like and tell them you got in an epic bar fight and booted someone so hard with the back of your leg you got burned by the impact to their teeth. 

[Scoz]

leave the fairing off and put an E headlight on it. ohhh, SELL the fairings, both of them, and pour that money through the gas tank. should be, ohhhhh, 15,000 miles on it then.


dropping bikes happens. a lot. don't sweat it.

I considered it cause i love naked bikes but I kinda dig the fairings too.  But you're right,  it's a good chunk of cash that could of went towards a lot riding. 

[Juan1]

If you are keeping the fairing, try sliders and going flush mounted.  If this is your first bike, the odds say you will drop it again. 

[browncheetah]

ha that weight can catch you off guard sometime.