Keeping Front Fairing Only

pogonotroph · May 24, 2015, 12:05:52 PM

So I recently plasti-dipped my fairings and am playing with the idea of just keeping the front fairing mounted. I think I'm liking the aesthetic so far...what do you all think?

I'm a fan of the naked look but am planning on taking my GS on a cross country roadtrip in 2 months, so I figure having a quarter fairing up front like this will cut down on wind fatigue/rain a bit. Anyone have any experience with riding with this set up?

Iarn · May 24, 2015, 01:21:20 PM

My person opinion; I'm not a fan of it at all. Has an unfinished look about it that I don't dig.

That's just me though. All that matters is that you like it yourself, it's your bike and as long as you love it, that's all that matters. Front fairing only is certainly memorable!

Slack · May 24, 2015, 01:29:02 PM

A few folks have done it. Some go naked but use the stock headlight.
I think the front fairing looks 100 times better if you trim it above the turn signals and either put signals on the fork tubes or preferably get mirrors with signals built in.

pogonotroph · May 24, 2015, 01:30:24 PM

Quote from: Iarn on May 24, 2015, 01:21:20 PM
My person opinion; I'm not a fan of it at all. Has an unfinished look about it that I don't dig.

That's just me though. All that matters is that you like it yourself, it's your bike and as long as you love it, that's all that matters. Front fairing only is certainly memorable!

Yeah I could certainly understand that viewpoint. I suppose I am drawn to the ratbike aesthetic...and this certainly is a little ratty!

Quote from: Slack on May 24, 2015, 01:29:02 PM
A few folks have done it. Some go naked but use the stock headlight.
I think the front fairing looks 100 times better if you trim it above the turn signals and either put signals on the fork tubes or preferably get mirrors with signals built in.

Hey Slack, do you know of any pics showing a trimmed front fairing? Would definitely be interested in seeing this.

bmf · May 24, 2015, 04:27:00 PM

I think it looks funky, in a good way

ShowBizWolf · May 24, 2015, 07:14:17 PM

I am a big fan of the naked bike with a front fairing look!!

Shortly after I bought my E I picked up an '04 gixxer front fairing off eBay for $40 and made my own mounting brackets for it. I have a clear piece of plexi for the windshield and it makes a big difference in keeping the wind off me (I ride any temperature as long as the roads are dry and the GS will start!) Keeping the rain off... well it helps but my knees still get wet

A feature I really like about my fairing is that it turns with the handlebars... also it sits up against the gauges/protects them from the rain... but now that I think about it, the only reason it fits that close is because I still have the stock headlight.

pogonotroph · May 25, 2015, 08:57:15 AM

Quote from: ShowBizWolf on May 24, 2015, 07:14:17 PM
I am a big fan of the naked bike with a front fairing look!!

Shortly after I bought my E I picked up an '04 gixxer front fairing off eBay for $40 and made my own mounting brackets for it. I have a clear piece of plexi for the windshield and it makes a big difference in keeping the wind off me (I ride any temperature as long as the roads are dry and the GS will start!) Keeping the rain off... well it helps but my knees still get wet

A feature I really like about my fairing is that it turns with the handlebars... also it sits up against the gauges/protects them from the rain... but now that I think about it, the only reason it fits that close is because I still have the stock headlight.

Do you have a pic of your bike? I'd be interested in seeing this setup, sounds very cool.

ShowBizWolf · May 25, 2015, 09:17:36 AM

I have more that I want to do with it to make it look more finished but I will certainly take some pictures for you when I get out of work in a few hours !!

Slack · May 25, 2015, 10:28:22 AM

Quote from: pogonotroph on May 24, 2015, 01:30:24 PM
Hey Slack, do you know of any pics showing a trimmed front fairing? Would definitely be interested in seeing this.

Not sure of any pics. Just know it would look much better without the three holes along the bottom edge. By the time you make a good line trimming that off the turn signal will look too close to the edge, so you may as well trim that off too. Just my personal opinion.

ShowBizWolf · May 25, 2015, 10:43:22 AM

There are two holes at the bottom of my fairing too... I want to fill them in when I finish the rest of it and fix a small crack in the one side. If I was to trim the bottom on my gixxer fairing it would trim the signals off too

When I originally mounted the fairing to see if I would even like it, I ended up loving it and I just left it alone since then... haven't had time to take it off and do all I want to it. Winter project I'm thinking!!

I see what you're saying about the GS fairing's holes, it would be kinda close if you trimmed them off. Maybe get a white plug of some kind? That way the rest of the fairings could still be put back on some day. I like the idea of signals in the mirrors!!

ShowBizWolf · May 25, 2015, 01:58:38 PM

Ok so here we go. As I said it isn't finished by any means... I know it's blue so I will probably paint it to match the rest of the bike. I also picked up a set of 4 '04 gixxer signals on eBay and wired them up with quick connect/disconnect plugs (front and back). I covered the wires with black plastic flexible tubing and got the brackets for around the forks at Home Depot believe it or not lol. There are also two screws in the black plastic gauge housing and that's it!

If I ever want to take it off and look like a normal E again it takes about 5 minutes. The brackets around the forks double as the mounts for the stock signals which I have wired up with matching quick connects that plug right in.

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ShowBizWolf · May 25, 2015, 02:00:48 PM

I have explored the idea of getting a gixxer headlight to make it look more sleek in the front but that is a project for another time maybe

I like how the angle of the fairing goes along with the rest of the angles of the bike (tail, decals, etc.) from the side. OH and I should also note that I have superbike bars instead of stock... Idk how it would fit with the slightly higher stock bars.

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Suzuki Stevo · May 25, 2015, 03:59:17 PM

That looks very unique and sporty!

Iarn · May 26, 2015, 05:40:08 AM

I gotta hand it to ya Showbiz, that's pretty snazzy.

ShowBizWolf · May 26, 2015, 08:37:34 AM

Wow thanks you guys!!! That really made my day

Janx101 · May 26, 2015, 11:22:02 AM

Ahhh! Ok... now I zoomed the pic up on phone and realised the round stock light in there....

Does look good! .. how much light trimming does the surrounding extended fairing do?

Looks... star wars ish or possibly transformer ish !

Those alloy brackets.... you fab/modify them yourself or they gix stock?

ShowBizWolf · May 26, 2015, 04:16:24 PM

I don't notice any difference in my headlight power or aim (I was indeed worried about that when I first put the fairing on) !

The brackets that go around the forks and extend out to the fairing are from Home Depot... galvanized with black rubber around the circle part... Idk what they were really for lol!! I cut them to length and bent them into the right shape.

The little metal plates that are holding the signals in place are pieces I cut and shaped out of aluminum... then I drilled the holes I needed for the wires and mounting bolt to go through.

Slack · May 26, 2015, 04:34:43 PM

Sort of looks like someone took a Bandit and gave it attractive lines

ShowBizWolf · May 26, 2015, 05:25:00 PM

Thanks so much you guys!!!

Janx101 · May 26, 2015, 06:05:43 PM

Good job on the shadetree panel/bracket mods!! .. good eye for the possibilities you found!

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Keeping Front Fairing Only