Fairing or not to fairing...

[Disco Dan]

As some of you may have heard... my last bin saw some rather nasty road rash on the side of my GSX600f. (pic one)

This afternoon I opened the box of spare fairing panels that the previous owner gave me and unwraped all the panels for the first time. Well they are in fact freshly painted and in perfect condition! (pic two)

There is a couple of small items which I dont not know where they go - see picture three

Should I put the panels on? (and risk binning it) Or keep them until I sell the bike, so it looks mint for the sale? (just seems silly to ride around with scrapes up the side.. the girlies at uni will think i keep falling off ;) hehe)

I could even swap the panels over and have the originals repaired?

Advice! ! !

Also a couple of spare "suzuki" decals in the box... dunno what to do with them yet...

[aderino4]

I'd say down with resale value. What's the point of owning something if you can't enjoy it :innocent:

I used to have the same dillema with my 18" wheel on the car.. until one day I decided that the reason I bought it is so I can use it.

Funnily enough this is the same reason why I use my NSR to commute. :Punk:

So put on the shinny fairing; and enjoy the shininess.
In the mean time you can fix the other scratched fairing and keep it as spare *lol*

[Disco Dan]

So put on the shinny fairing; and enjoy the shininess.

they are very... *shiny* :yes: :yes:

[vifferman]

It's not a luxury most of us have, as the only fairings are the ones the bike's wearing.
It's your call, Dan.
If you are fairly confident you're not going to mess them up, put them on and enjoy having a smart-looking bike again. It's kinda embarrassing riding a rashed-up bike around. People think you've crashed it or summat...

[Squeak the Rat]

Two questions:

a) how long are you going to keep it for?

and

b) is it likely that you will crash again?


IMHO - no point having something if you're not going to use it. If you're not going to fit them then you might as well put them on, sell the bike then buy a dented bike and use the cash now.

[Babelfish]

STick em on man, if we all went with the "I'll take me fairings off ready for my impending bin" approach we'd all be running around naked....oh, hang on a min...mmmmmm :drool:

Part of owning the bike is being proud of the gleaming mass of intricately tuned technospoof so stoke it hard my man and shine...SHINE! :crazy:

[Kittyhawk]

Why worry about what others think?? as long as the bike goes that's the main thing. I never worried about repairing my fairings after I binned the bike because I knew it'd get dropped again....and I was right. (practising stoppies)

I'd say the ones you have on there are fine...maybe cover the patches with decals??? Save the new fairings for when you sell the bike.

[Disco Dan]

did i mention how shiny they are? :innocent:

[The Pastor]

personally, i'd keep them untill the current ones are so bad they dont actually fit on anymore. No point mucking up 2 sets of fairings. (there worth alot of coin!)

p.s your a freeking basterd gloating you have 2 sets of mint fairings, you know what I'd do for 2 sets of fairins? I would do anything for them, but I won't do that.

[ldnz]

Lucky bastard. Put the shinies on and fix the old ones. Its not that hard fixing them (and I should know, having just fixed after kittysparrows poor treatment, I get the side of my bike torn off when some fuckwits bike falls over, and get to fix it all over again)

[vagrant]

From your mystery parts, the black bit goes between the two lower fairing panels, at the front under the header pipes.
Can't help you with the other bits.

I would not bother putting the new panels on while you are still getting comfortable with the bike, and with winter coming on too.

That said, if you do change them over, you now have a nice ratty spare set for trackdays:yes:

[raster]

I found I became nanna when I put my shiny fairings on, (Shaddup Dave, yes alright I was already a nanna :scooter: )
I'm more carefull now that I might scratch them, I haven't yet decided if it a bad thing.

New fairings AND second gear, I feel like it's a new bike.

Someone scratched mine within 2 weeks of having the fairings on the bike :nono: I am more carefull where I leave it now.

People don't stop beside me and asked if it hurt, "Wazzant me" doesn't always be believed.

[Kittyhawk]

Lucky bastard. Put the shinies on and fix the old ones. Its not that hard fixing them (and I should know, having just fixed after kittysparrows poor treatment, I get the side of my bike torn off when some fuckwits bike falls over, and get to fix it all over again)

It's a sign....make it naked and hot haha!

[zadok]

Put the new ones on and repair the other ones as your budget allows. Get some crash bungs (if you haven't already) to minimise the risk of any further damage.

[Disco Dan]

keep going into garage and looking at it... thinking I may put the new ones on and repair the old ones... ...but I will most likely be to scared to ride the thing with them on - I would never live it down if i binned it!! hehehe

Anyone want a couple of "suzuki" decals btw?

[ManDownUnder]

Honestly... you're a man of big power and limited experience. The chances are higher that you will lay the bike down again...

Here's your chance to not have that cost you any extra (excepting lights and mirrors) and maintain a reasonable sale price. It's not gonig to look too flash but hey.
When you go 6 months without so much as one additional scratch - THEN consider putting them on.

Tough call I know but hey - be honest with yourself. That's my perspective on it. Get good... get safe... THEN look good.

[Kittyhawk]

keep going into garage and looking at it... thinking I may put the new ones on and repair the old ones... ...but I will most likely be to scared to ride the thing with them on - I would never live it down if i binned it!! hehehe

Anyone want a couple of "suzuki" decals btw?

Chuck them this way....I now have a suzuki hehehe

[Kittyhawk]

keep going into garage and looking at it... thinking I may put the new ones on and repair the old ones... ...but I will most likely be to scared to ride the thing with them on - I would never live it down if i binned it!! hehehe

Anyone want a couple of "suzuki" decals btw?

Have you decided what you are going to do? Does it really matter what the chicks at uni think? sounds like a bunch of primary school students rather than adults if they laugh at your victory scars on your bike. Real friends and bikers wouldnt do such a thing.

[Pumba]

Real friends and bikers wouldnt do such a thing.

I feel a tui add comming, YEA RIGHT

[ManDownUnder]

Real friends and bikers wouldnt do such a thing.

Agreed - and... to put it another way - those that knock you will simply have more ammo if/when it happens again.

[Disco Dan]

Honestly... you're a man of big power and limited experience. The chances are higher that you will lay the bike down again...

Here's your chance to not have that cost you any extra (excepting lights and mirrors) and maintain a reasonable sale price. It's not gonig to look too flash but hey.
When you go 6 months without so much as one additional scratch - THEN consider putting them on.

Tough call I know but hey - be honest with yourself. That's my perspective on it. Get good... get safe... THEN look good.

Cheers MDU, wise words as usual !

...I have put them on, I fugure if I do bin it.. so what? With two sets, I can repair one while using the other set and vise-verser...

yeah I can hardly ride a 250, but the 600 is just heaven and I would never go back! I ride within my limits on it which I think is the most important thing - so much so that 250 bikes can and do take me out at lights! I just dont give it that much throttle...

the 2 was too close to the 'finish line' for me, now im on the 6 im at the start.. and I can see how much more I have to learn and the potential for getting in and out of trouble.

Im not going to ride around with people thinking 'he cant ride for shit - look at all the scrapes' - rather 'wow thats a nice bike' :yes:

...oh the shinyness!!! It's blinding!!

And I just luv the 'extra' decals it has... pictures to come.... ;)

Kitty - if you want the decals - there yours, come over and pick em up! ;)

[ManDownUnder]

the 2 was too close to the 'finish line' for me, now im on the 6 im at the start.. and I can see how much more I have to learn and the potential for getting in and out of trouble.

All good mate - find your limits and stick to them. Stretch them sure, but leaping over them's a bad way to go.

[Disco Dan]

All good mate - find your limits and stick to them. Stretch them sure, but leaping over them's a bad way to go.

Yes... my first ever lesson on my first bike (FZX250 zeal) was "ok... the red line is not my 'limit'..." :innocent: :innocent: Great bike though.. only one ive seen with a fricking glove box! very handy!

[Disco Dan]

Ohh the shineyness!

I would go for a ride on it... but its very windy... and Ive just finshed a woodstock... :innocent:

Heres a couple of pics...

Curious... appears my bike has "SACS" :shutup: hehe mwahahaha... whatever that is...

So whos taking bets on how long till I crash this time... geesh...

Bike looks brand spanking new now... so happy!!!!!

...just got to get that dam exhust pipe fixed... top end power is suffering!

[crashe]

Tis looking good.

What will it cost you to get the other fairing fixed and to look like these new fairings?


Ride safe out there on the roads.

[Disco Dan]

What will it cost you to get the other fairing fixed and to look like these new fairings?


Flob knows... prob end up doing them myself again... we all know how that ended up last time :innocent:

Black is a hard colour to work with though.. so red would be a little better and the finish would hopefully come up better.

[Kittyhawk]

Thanks Disco. Much appreciated.

As for riding....Im going to buy a 250 again....I dont feel bad about using it as a road bike and Im still keeping the 600.

I want to use the 250 at track days to develop track riding skills. To downgrade doesnt mean you are a bad rider. At least if it's old and looks bad, its less likely to be a target for theifs, and if its dropped practising stunts (damn stoppies) I wont feel bad about it either.

Cosmetics on a bike doesnt mean it improves how it runs. Look at the old Kawa I had, it was a mess, I didnt care about it but saw it as a learning bike. It got dropped, sunts were attempted on it, had a bin on it. Still it went and I rode it.

At least that taught me how to handle bikes properly now with the new bike, I know how to look after it and ride it.

Blah this sounds like a lecutre....sorry!! Im not one to judge fairings is all!!:Punk:

[crashe]

Flob knows... prob end up doing them myself again... we all know how that ended up last time :innocent:

Black is a hard colour to work with though.. so red would be a little better and the finish would hopefully come up better.


Good luck then.....

Take your time and be patient working on them and they will look just the new ones....

Have a chat to DEATH_INC repainting them....... he repainted my front guard for me. And Im sure he will give some great tips.....

Or there is crazyfox down in Wellington who paints bikes as well.

[Disco Dan]

As for riding....Im going to buy a 250 again....I dont feel bad about using it as a road bike and Im still keeping the 600..

So you need someone to take your 6 for a ride every now and again then? ;)


Cosmetics on a bike doesnt mean it improves how it runs.

Improves the opinion of others... and to some that can be important...

Especially people who have 'low self esteem' ie me.

[xxblackbirdxx]

Drop by sometime disco dan and i'll take care of it, and put the damn new fairings on...................

[Disco Dan]

Drop by sometime disco dan and i'll take care of it, and put the damn new fairings on...................

New fairings on :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:


I wont "drop" by.. will come over though ;) hehe

[Kittyhawk]

So you need someone to take your 6 for a ride every now and again then? ;)



Improves the opinion of others... and to some that can be important...

Especially people who have 'low self esteem' ie me.

Tis ok I can take care of the 6 myself...it is just a bike for pleasure after all.
Low self esteem...well do it if it makes you feel better. Just do one thing for me.....smile!! :Punk:

[Squeak the Rat]

Nice SACs you have their Dan..... :shutup:

[Edbear]

Nice SACs you have their Dan..... :shutup:



Let's see how long it takes him to twig....?:yes:

[Pumba]

Looks good Dan. You should have given the other painted areas a good cut and polish tho just to make them shine like the new parts

[Squiggles]

pfft, your scraped ones arent bad... i had a real scrape on my rgv's ones (huge white scrape on dark blue bike = bloody obvious)

[MacD]

Ooooh, shiny new fairings come with an excess supply of gravitons so double check the side stand for the next week or so! ;)

[Disco Dan]

Noticed that the new set are plastic and rather 'felxible', but the old one were thicker and made of carbon fibre. Which is better???

Is it better that it's flexi and 'bounces' (criky) or hard and sturdy?

I want to find some crash bungs to fit it now!!!!!! (may have to cut hole in fairings though?)

[Kittyhawk]

Crash bungs....Im looking into getting some for my bike...there are two types you can get. Ones which you can mount onto the bike by cutting straight through the fairings, or crash bungs which come with mounting brackets which means you don't need to cut into any fairings.

Me personally Im going to get the ones which dont mount onto brackets. They are a alot cheaper and I dont really trust brackets. Could possibly do more damage than good if mounted incorrectly and ya bin it.

Colemans Suzuki on Barrys point road quoted me a couple of hundred for non-bracket crash bungs and anything between two and four hundred for the bracket kits including bungs.

[Disco Dan]

Colemans Suzuki on Barrys point road quoted me a couple of hundred for non-bracket crash bungs and anything between two and four hundred for the bracket kits including bungs.

:gob: :gob:

Criky...

May go find my old skateboard... take the wheels off... :innocent:

[Pumba]

I want to find some crash bungs to fit it now!!!!!! (may have to cut hole in fairings though?)

If your after crash bungs check out F1 Engineering, good product and locally made as well.

Heres the website http://www.rapidartnz.com/

[Maha]

Colemans Suzuki on Barrys point road .


What the hell are Colemans doing on Barrys Point Rd?...they must next to Holeshot!!....:mellow:

[Disco Dan]

If your after crash bungs check out F1 Engineering, good product and locally made as well.

Heres the website http://www.rapidartnz.com/

nought for a GSX, heaps for GSXR's though! hehe

...wheres my skateboard gone....

[Kittyhawk]

What the hell are Colemans doing on Barrys Point Rd?...they must next to Holeshot!!....:mellow:

Yes. Correct...*mind blank* it is a suzuki shop.

[Pumba]

nought for a GSX, heaps for GSXR's though! hehe

...wheres my skateboard gone....

Oh well worth a try, mightbe worth Kitty taking a look tho

[Kittyhawk]

Oh well worth a try, mightbe worth Kitty taking a look tho

That could be dangerous if Im wearing my biker skirt!! and have my leathers on underneath...

[Shadows]

Put them on, I reckon. You only live once.
If you bin again and damage them, well, that would be a bummer... but at least you got to ride around with a nice new looking bike for a while.
Somebody mentioned crach bungs... may not be a bad idea.
If you wait until you sell it, it'll only bum you out when you look at it with its nice shiny plastic on and all of a sudden find that you really don't want to part with it.

[vagrant]

Hey Dan,
Did you find out what the other bit of fairing was for?

[Disco Dan]

Indeed, it was a small bracket and connector section... fitted together perfectly! The ones I took off had been reinforced with glass fiber and are one piece.