Hi everyone! I just got myself a GS500F, and I am just wondering how strong is the fairing on them?

From what I read here, it seem to me that they are pretty tough and survive most drops with only scratch.

From you experience, how well did they do in:
- a 90 degree stationary drop (i.e. you walk away without putting down the sidestand)
- a < 90 degress stationary drop (i.e. you lost balance and tried to save the bike but failed)
- a low speed lowside
- a high speed lowside
- other drops that your fairing did or didn't survive

Thanks!

I dropped mine once when I was first trying to figure out the whole riding thing.  It was slow-mo and I very gently laid it down and didn't leave so much as a scratch.  I guess this goes in the <90 column, but I dunno if it really counts cause I laid it down so gently

They're plastic, so the best-case scenario is a scratch, the worst-case is they shatter into small bits.

first two scenarios for the most part I think that you would have a scrath.  The low speed lowside really depends.  High speed lowside you'll be lucky if all you have to fix is the fairing.  Like above they are plastic and they can shatter to bits. 

Here is what my bike has been through:

two drops by me - minor scuffs on both sides, dropped on diff sides each time. 
one drop due to someone else - bent stock handlebars minorly.
Two blow overs due to not so prime parking + cover + wind.  The first one resulted in no damage, the second a cracked right fairing, probably because i had installed sportier handlebars (modified clubmans) and they didn't stick out far enough to take the brunt of the force leaving my poor fairing cracked. 

So far no lowsides, but one close call with a herd of deer.

i layed mine down at 45-50 mph...scratched up, no cracks...i bent the mounts back to normal and painted them...

My bike has been down a time or two I'll admit.. Never at any speeds though (dropped learning, and moving slowly, and then knocked over in parking lot mysteriously)

There has only been a few marks but they buffed out within minutes. I used to think they weren't great but compared to some other bike stories I've heard I guess ours is decent... that being said it is plastic so don't test these thories lol.

I've layed mine over on the grass, very slowly.

No damage at all!


Phew! 

Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDX on April 19, 2006, 01:13:08 PM
They're plastic, so the best-case scenario is a scratch, the worst-case is they shatter into small bits.

Are factory fairings really plasticy shattery plastic?  That blows.  I have an aftermarket Airtech fairing which is made of fiberglass, and it looked like it had been down several times before I bought it, and I put it down twice on my watch, and the worst it has is a small crack on one side which I Bondo'd up.  I've wanted an F fariing because of the better fit and style, but maybe I'm happy with my tough-as-a-truck-but-slightly-less-pretty fiberglass one.

Quote from: Chuck on April 20, 2006, 08:01:49 AM

Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDX on April 19, 2006, 01:13:08 PM
They're plastic, so the best-case scenario is a scratch, the worst-case is they shatter into small bits.

Are factory fairings really plasticy shattery plastic?  That blows.  I have an aftermarket Airtech fairing which is made of fiberglass, and it looked like it had been down several times before I bought it, and I put it down twice on my watch, and the worst it has is a small crack on one side which I Bondo'd up.  I've wanted an F fariing because of the better fit and style, but maybe I'm happy with my tough-as-a-truck-but-slightly-less-pretty fiberglass one.

I'm not positive, but aren't Airtech fairings made for the track? If so, they've gotta be made to higher standards than the plastic ones from the factory. This is an entry-level bike, not a race ready sportbike.

And, fiberglass is stronger than plastic.

Plus, aftermarket shaZam! is generally higher quality than factory parts. If this weren't true, there'd be no demand for aftermarket parts.

Right? No? Yes? I'm Dave Cummings?

Dave

Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDX on April 20, 2006, 08:12:32 AM
I'm not positive, but aren't Airtech fairings made for the track? If so, they've gotta be made to higher standards than the plastic ones from the factory. This is an entry-level bike, not a race ready sportbike.

And, fiberglass is stronger than plastic.

Well, then.  Maybe I feel better about the $400 I spent on a banged up used fairing! 

prolly the reason mine didn't break is because it went down from like 1 foot off the ground in a hard lean...

Quote from: Chuck on April 20, 2006, 08:30:10 AM

Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDX on April 20, 2006, 08:12:32 AM
I'm not positive, but aren't Airtech fairings made for the track? If so, they've gotta be made to higher standards than the plastic ones from the factory. This is an entry-level bike, not a race ready sportbike.

And, fiberglass is stronger than plastic.

Well, then.  Maybe I feel better about the $400 I spent on a banged up used fairing! 

$400 as in a set? wow, i pieced my fairings together for about 1/2 of that off ebay. Still searching for a headlight.

Quote from: average on April 20, 2006, 08:36:47 AM
$400 as in a set? wow, i pieced my fairings together for about 1/2 of that off ebay. Still searching for a headlight.

Yeah, I didn't piece anything together, it came as a complete set with all the brackets, the teardrop signals/markers, and a spare headlight.  It was fine by me.

Quote from: Chuck on April 20, 2006, 08:01:49 AM
Are factory fairings really plasticy shattery plastic?

Well, from what I read they are indeed "plastic", but not your average ABS plastic. It's sort of a mix of plastic and fibre glass:

http://www2.basf.de/basf2/html/plastics/englisch/pages/presse/04_412.htm

Sorry, but I've never had my baby on the ground.

Quote from: bbq on April 20, 2006, 06:15:33 PM

Quote from: Chuck on April 20, 2006, 08:01:49 AM
Are factory fairings really plasticy shattery plastic?

Well, from what I read they are indeed "plastic", but not your average ABS plastic. It's sort of a mix of plastic and fibre glass:

http://www2.basf.de/basf2/html/plastics/englisch/pages/presse/04_412.htm

I hate to break it to you, but Fiberglass is a plastic.

Quote from: TragicImage on April 20, 2006, 09:00:46 PM

Quote from: bbq on April 20, 2006, 06:15:33 PM

Quote from: Chuck on April 20, 2006, 08:01:49 AM
Are factory fairings really plasticy shattery plastic?

Well, from what I read they are indeed "plastic", but not your average ABS plastic. It's sort of a mix of plastic and fibre glass:

http://www2.basf.de/basf2/html/plastics/englisch/pages/presse/04_412.htm

I hate to break it to you, but Fiberglass is a plastic.

Stronger than the factory plastics though.

Quote from: TragicImage on April 20, 2006, 09:00:46 PM

Quote from: bbq on April 20, 2006, 06:15:33 PM
Well, from what I read they are indeed "plastic", but not your average ABS plastic. It's sort of a mix of plastic and fibre glass:

I hate to break it to you, but Fiberglass is a plastic.

Hence why I said they are indeed plastic.....