Fairings or not?

[vtech]

Comments? For a newbie would it be better to get a faired bike or naked? Whats the wind resistance like on a naked bike at high speeds (80+) compared to one with fairings etc etc. Some difference would be noticeable yes, but would it drastically effect vibrations of the handlebars and overall frame? (Im talking gsf250's here) May sound stupid to ask, but your only stupid if you never ask in the first place i guess.....:2guns:

[AllanB]

A fairing will make f-all performance difference to your 250. It will offer wind/chill/rain protection.

Me I like my rides naked.

[portokiwi]

Me I am like allen, I like the naked bikes.
:crazy: Yes my bike has full kit. But it came with it.
I loved my FZX750 Looked good felt great.;) and I could touch the ground lol.

[Strang0r]

faired bikes just don't look the same after the first time you drop them... I was told as a newbie naked bikes would be a better option... But I went against the advice and got a faired bike anyway.... love that sporty look :Punk:

[FROSTY]

I feel a bit like a scratched record but here goes.
At the speeds a novice rider is soposed to ride at fairings do not a lot in anything but a horrible wind.
What they do is cost you a shit load WHEN you fall off.
I know I sound cynical here but most novice riders have silly little offs.--In the driveway at 2km/h or in the parking lot.
First bike buy one with no fairings -second bike do what ya want.

[BadCompany]

A fairing will make f-all performance difference to your 250. It will offer wind/chill/rain protection.

Me I like my rides naked.

Full fairings make a huge difference at high speed, with wind resistance n' all.

[sleeqe2000]

At 80kph + my CBF250 (naked) doesn't feel too stable especially around Wellington. If you are going to be doing alot of motorway travel then I'd think about getting a bike with fairings. Wish I'd test riden one on the motorway.....

[johan]

When I was on a naked bike and changed helmet to an aerodynamic Shoei, the difference was huge. With my old helmet, a HJC $200 helmet, my head was really heavy to support in the wind. With the new helmet, my head was kind of holding itself up thanks to the design of the airflow this helmet gives.

So it's not only about the fairings. Sometimes the design of the windscreen can make the wind buffer right at your head, making it very uncomfortable.

[vtech]

Thing is im looking at bandits, and yes it will be used for commuting but we also travel regularly down to the coromandel (so that means well up to 110kph :laugh:) as well so i would ideally like something that doesn't vibrate the shite out of me at those speeds

[MaxB]

I guess the question to ask yourself is: " How many times do I think I will be falling off in the first few years of learning how to ride my bike?"

If it is "heaps" then naked is the way to go. Unless you have heaps of $$ for the fixes and insurance premiums.

[Drum]

Naked is how god intended them to be:niceone:

[erik]

In my experience, sportsbike fairings don't stop the wind much at all unless you're crouched behind the screen. My sv650 even has an upswept givi screen and I think it only succeeds in deflecting the wind into my head and shoulders more. Maybe it's because I'm 6'4".
You can get better wind protection wearing a waterproof overjacket thing, like what dririder makes. My cordura jacket has the waterproof breathable lining, but it also means the wind goes through it, it's amazing how much warmer it is with the dririder jacket over the top.

[Swoop]

I guess the question to ask yourself is: " How many times do I think I will be falling off in the first few years of learning how to ride my bike?"

If it is "heaps" then naked is the way to go. Unless you have heaps of $$ for the fixes and insurance premiums.
Why not think positively and go for "I'm not going to fall off!".

[BadCompany]

Why not think positively and go for "I'm not going to fall off!".

Because it will happen.

[Gwinch]

Because it will happen.

I had my Hornet 250 for the duration of my restricted license when I subscribed to that theory. Guess what though? I didn't fall off.

To the OP: Don't listen to naysayers, you're not guaranteed to take a tumble.

[BadCompany]

I had my Hornet 250 for the duration of my restricted license when I subscribed to that theory. Guess what though? I didn't fall off.

To the OP: Don't listen to naysayers, you're not guaranteed to take a tumble.

He may not be guaranteed, but he has bloody high chances.

[motorbyclist]

For a newbie would it be better to get a faired bike or naked?

you are very likely to drop it. usually this doesn't matter as most students can't afford to repair a slight scuff and don't bother with it

if you crash, well fairings get ruined very easily. if you've got insurance though, who cares? without fairings, damage goes straight to the engine and writes it off that way instead, plus you can't ride it home

so go for whatever feels good


Whats the wind resistance like on a naked bike at high speeds (80+) compared to one with fairings etc etc. Some difference would be noticeable yes, but would it drastically effect vibrations of the handlebars and overall frame?

virbrations etc, no. that's more to do with the type of engine - single cylinders and V twins vibrate alot, inline 4 or 2 cylinder is nice and smooth - so that bandit is going to be better than an FXR for trips to coromandel.... infact, an FXR is a commuter, not a "lets go to cape-reinga" bike. on the motorway, the seat gets uncomfortable and bars vibrate so much you get sore hands. in the city/suburbs its a very good little bike, great for learners who aren't mean to hit 70kph.

my fxr right hand mirror vibrates so bad on the motorway it's just a blur, and the fairings are just for looks - they do NOTHING


comparing my faired bikes to VTRs and hornets, at motorway speeds it does make a difference, but alot of that on the hornet was that you're sitting so upright you're acting like a parachute, while the vtr had a bit more of a leaning forwards stance so you didn't eel like you were getting torn off the bike

plus if it's raining while at high speed you can tuck in behind the fairings and stay reasonably dry;)

[megageoff76]

I feel a bit like a scratched record but here goes.
At the speeds a novice rider is soposed to ride at fairings do not a lot in anything but a horrible wind.
What they do is cost you a shit load WHEN you fall off.
I know I sound cynical here but most novice riders have silly little offs.--In the driveway at 2km/h or in the parking lot.
First bike buy one with no fairings -second bike do what ya want.

Totally agree with you, as all my first bikes were all crappy unfaired jobbies and yes, they took the occaisonal trip to the ground.

Having said that, if i could have had a nice faired sports bike at 15, I would have had one hands down.

[AllanB]

Full fairings make a huge difference at high speed, with wind resistance n' all.

Yeah but hes talking at 80-100kms on his 250 - that's not high speed - at that speed a small fly screen will take the breeze off his chest if desired and can easily be added to a naked bike.

Also you get used to it - I went from naked to a big fairing (GS1200SS) to naked again (Hornet 900) initially a big difference over 120 ks but I now do not notice the wind resistance until the speeds get sillier, imagine something like 150 plus :Police:

[Maha]

I know I sound cynical here but most novice riders have silly little offs.--In the driveway at 2km/h or in the parking lot.


Yeeeessssss! I have done that!!.....:headbang:
Not at 2kph though....it was more like......0kph.....:Oops:
In town as well, and i am sure the people in the shop across the road would have come to my aid, once the picked themselves up off the floor...:lol:

[motorbyclist]

be sure to keep shoelaces under control

twice on my learners i dropped my bike outside my gate where i went to put my foot out and a lace had looped on a lever.

went down like a tree both times

fxr fairings were ok, but the wing mirrors were more glue than plastic by the time i was done with that bike :D

[Dakara]

I have only ridden 2 naked bikes on 2 occasions...

GN125 for my BHS, and a GN250 owned by a dude I worked with on the Motorway as he had to drive a truck. To be honest, being used to faired bikes, even at 90km (the GN's top speed.. well his ones anyway) the wind resistance was vastly more noticeable.

But, for your first bike, yes fairings can be hassle when you drop it, so do what I did. Buy a single color bike with little graphics (in my case was a '94 ZZR250) then head off to Repco and match the paint ;) After a drop, give it a quick wet sand, throw on some paint and good as new(ish) :rockon:

[Dakara]

Yeeeessssss! I have done that!!.....:headbang:
Not at 2kph though....it was more like......0kph.....:Oops:
In town as well, and i am sure the people in the shop across the road would have come to my aid, once the picked themselves up off the floor...:lol:

Reminds me of my first stationary drop....

Was at a T intersection, I had to sillstart but was making a right turn downhill.... stalled, bike leaned downhill, got my foot out a tad too late so couldn't get the bike upright as my leg was under it, had to gently let it down, step across and pick it back up again.... with a que of cars behind me I had just lane split :Oops:

[Devil]

Sports bike fairings do shit all, unless as previously mentioned when you're crouched right behind the thing at speed.

I prefer the uninterupted airflow of a naked bike. It's often a screen which disturbs the air and makes noise/buffeting.

[Swoop]

Because it will happen.

Well bugger me! I will now have to go out and fall off.
It hasn't happened over the 30 years that I've had a licence. I wish someone had told me this sooner.

[Dakara]

Well bugger me! I will now have to go out and fall off.
It hasn't happened over the 30 years that I've had a licence. I wish someone had told me this sooner.

Quick! Find some wood :clap:

[mc4aregreat]

Ya know, i went through this when i decided to get a my first road bike.
I wanted a naked bike, but ended up with a older bike that has what i think is called a 3/4 fairing.

I am now a fan of fairings.

I,m not worried about wind, cause that is why we ride bikes, but boy do they make the bike feel rock solid stable when windy, and i still get the unreal feel of having my helmet being rocked from side to side.
I,m not sure if I imagine it or not, but i,m sure i get the feeling of the bike lifting at around 100k and making my bike feel lighter.

[BadCompany]

Yeah but hes talking at 80-100kms on his 250 - that's not high speed - at that speed a small fly screen will take the breeze off his chest if desired and can easily be added to a naked bike.


On a 250 its high speed. And a small fly screen, well, there just shit. The one on my GPX does bugger all unless your chin is on the tank. But your sort missing what I'm saying. Its not the wind resistance against you, more against the bike. Ideally he would want to take both types of bikes for a ride and decide for himself. But thats a bit hard to do seeing as he's a learner.


Well bugger me! I will now have to go out and fall off.
It hasn't happened over the 30 years that I've had a licence. I wish someone had told me this sooner.

You best find some wood then :P And I think my post was mainly taking the piss out of the previous poster.

EDIT: Bugger beaten to it

Quick! Find some wood :clap:
Still a bit shagged from last night that I missed that one, I guess.

[marioc]

Well I can tell you at anything over 80k's I get blown to all shit on my Bandit.
Interesting to hear people dont think a full fairing makes any difference.
I went for a ride on a CBR250,like chalk and cheese,was much more pleasent at motorway speeds.
As much as I love my nakeds its a faired bike for me next.

[nodrog]

buy whatever turns you on. personally i think this "learners should get nakeds" is a crock of shit, i dont think i have ever seen a car going down the road with all its body panels removed and an L plate on the windscreen.

[YAMASAKI]

I wouldn't worry about the fairings, if you like the look go for it. For the amount of money your probably going to spend it's highly unlikely that you're gonna be riding around on a totally mint bike anyway. I dropped my ZXR while backing up into my parking spot beside the house, put my foot off the side of the path(onto wet sloping grass) and before i new it i had the bike on top of me, scratched up the fairings a bit.... . personally a couple of fairing scratches on a $3000 bike doesn't worry me (it doesn't affect the ride at all)

If you have a major oops go the street fighter route....

my 2C

[motorbyclist]

Well I can tell you at anything over 80k's I get blown to all shit on my Bandit.
Interesting to hear people dont think a full fairing makes any difference.
I went for a ride on a CBR250,like chalk and cheese,was much more pleasent at motorway speeds.
As much as I love my nakeds its a faired bike for me next.
+1

buy whatever turns you on. personally i think this "learners should get nakeds" is a crock of shit, i dont think i have ever seen a car going down the road with all its body panels removed and an L plate on the windscreen.
+1

I wouldn't worry about the fairings, if you like the look go for it. For the amount of money your probably going to spend it's highly unlikely that you're gonna be riding around on a totally mint bike anyway. I dropped my ZXR while backing up into my parking spot beside the house, put my foot off the side of the path(onto wet sloping grass) and before i new it i had the bike on top of me, scratched up the fairings a bit.... . personally a couple of fairing scratches on a $3000 bike doesn't worry me (it doesn't affect the ride at all)

If you have a major oops go the street fighter route....

my 2C

+1


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