Hi all, I've been lurking and riding a '90 gs for a couple years now, I was thinking about switching to a newer gs (I've owned a bunch of bikes, but none newer than 1990!)  I like the looks of a naked bike, but maybe its time for a change. 
  How do the E and F compare?  Specifically, I'm looking at throttle response and fuel delivery in general, and is that fairing just for looks or does it add aerodynamics and wind protection? I like to ride until it snows (Chicagoland) and I need to get some icy breeze off me.  Tell me what you think! Thanks

I like them naked too but put on a small Spitfire shield summers and a big Plexi 2 shield for winters here in NE Ohio.  Change them twice a year, spring and fall.

  Hi Jack, that is what I will be doing if I stay naked (oh yeah!), but I remember reading one of your posts about stronger and smoother mid-range with the 3 jet carbs.  Are they "better"?  Mid range is where I live mostly....

I have an '09 F model, but I have recently been working on her so I've been riding without the side fairings for a few weeks now.  I can definitely say that the fairing is for more than just looks.  There is a lot more wind on me, even with the front fairing and windscreen still there.  I never noticed how much the side fairings covered me until they were gone.  Highway speeds are where I notice the difference the most.

One thing I can say is a big negative for faired bikes is helmet noise.  My windscreen is just the perfect height to blast turbulent air into and under my helmet.  The only way I can get away from it is to tuck in or stand up.  I suppose this is more of a windscreen issue than a fairing issue, but the faired model does limit your screen options.

I would guess that the newer carbs would have been used on both faired and unfaired models alike (unless they stopped making unfaired versions before the switch).  The main difference I can think of is the oil cooler on the F models that I don't believe is present on the E models.

  Thanks dok, I know a winshield on an E will take the wind off my chest, but that doesn't help with my legs, so thats the just the kind of info I was looking for.  Lots of folks use the double bubble or taller screen on the F I know.  I'm 6 foot with a long torso so I assume the wind will get under my helmet as well....

No problem.  I am actually fairly short, so you may be "lucky" in that the standard windscreen will put turbulent air at your chest and not your helmet.  I'm betting they were betting on an average rider who is taller than I am when they designed the bike (I can only get one foot flat on the ground).  At higher speeds (50ish) I can reduce noise by sitting up super straight or by standing up, but neither is an acceptable riding position.  Your head might be in the clean air.

For me I have been considering the prospect of buying a double bubble or sport-touring screen.

Another thing I forgot to mention was that even when I tucked in under the front fairing there was noticeably more wind "pushing up" from under the fairing than there was with the side fairings on.

I have on 07 I converted from an F to an E. Like DoktoroKiu said, the fairings are for much more than just looks.

To me it honestly felt like a completely different bike once the fairings were off, I'm sure a lot of it was mental from just not seeing the front fairing and shield right in front of me. Now it's just gauges and street.