Who's riding naked?

**Nutter34** · 26th May 2010, 19:04

So, how many of you guys run without fairings?

Recently bought a Trademe special, not too sure about the model but kinda like the a115...

Anyway, noticed the fairings are really restrictive when it comes to turning circle etc.

**mohawk** · 26th May 2010, 20:01

You dont need hardly any steering, just position the brake levers so they dont rub too much and try it.

**Ray LeCheminant** · 26th May 2010, 20:20

Lean it mate, don't steer it

We run fairings on all of out bikes

**spookytooth** · 26th May 2010, 20:32

Real bikes don't have fairyings

**grantman** · 26th May 2010, 21:07

I dont think I go fast enough to really use the effect of a fairing.
But they do look cool.
Took mine off as it was easier to work on and didnt get around to putting it back on.

**Gadgit** · 26th May 2010, 21:32

I run them on my euro but not on the daytona mod.

**imdying** · 26th May 2010, 21:35

Yes, we like to use them because we're all GP fans. However, one of our mates never does, as he crashes a lot and doesn't see the point. Our little Chch race series will include 1 free point per race if you have a GP (or WSB, which is a nod to Charles' gorgeous little 916 replica Blata 2.5) replica of some sort, even if it's the factory plastics paint job, as we want to encourage the field to look like a little GP race.

I have found that front fairing catches on the handle bars when I have them spread far enough for me to operate the bike comfortably (I'm 180cm ish). To combat that, we have remounted the fairing about 50mm or so forward.

The other reason is, on the Daytona reps like you undoubtedly have (everyone else does), when the side fairing mounts hit the ground enough they break off. That's not so bad, you can weld them back on or replace them, but when they break off, they take a hunk of the inner frame rail with them, which is kinda bad.

My advice would be to get your bars where you like them, then remount the fairing to suit. You'll to make a replacement front bracket and the two side pieces. That will let you angle grind off (do the side stand if it's still there, it just drags on the ground) the two side brackets before they get a chance to crack the frame.

The stupid chrome plastic frame bits need to go, then you can use the rear mount (of the 4 rivnuts in the frame rail that they bolt to) to bolt your new side mount to.

We've made all three brackets from about 3mm alloy bar about 50mm wide. The front one is made from a couple of parts, a bracket for the headstock, the stay, and the fairing mount. Those parts are all welded together with Durafix rod, which you can get off trademe, and requires either an oxy/gas plant, or even just a MAPP torch (Bunnings, Weldwell?). The side ones are just strageically bent in a vice and drilled.

This will make the bike considerably more crash resistant. One other thing we have tried on one bike is to fill the top fairing with medium weight chopped strand mat (fibreglass) and vinylester resin (resistant to chemical attack, ala petrol). This increased the weight of the fairing a bit, but you can now stand on it... or more importantly for taller guys, sit on the tail as a new seat. This pretty much makes that indestructible. Perhaps it braces the chasis a little, but we haven't put enough miles on it to find out. It's looking effective enough to do to all the bikes, and perhaps the side fairings, although if they're mounted well they actually crash pretty good (the ZPF is another story, the plastic is considerably crappier, worth it for the rest of the bike though).

If Phil comes along, he might have some pics.

**CookMySock** · 26th May 2010, 21:47

Fairings are a pain in the ass. The very first thing we did was take all the fairings off and make a big pile of plastic.

Steve

**Nutter34** · 26th May 2010, 22:06

Hahaha.

Thanks for the different answers.

Yeah, a whole bunch of us bought them together. Some guys are running naked, others with fairings. Mines without, simply because we've been tinkering a bit to get them running. Main jets keep clogging, fuel filter going in. Exhaust brackets braking, new one went on, etc. It's just been easier without the fairings. Maybe when it runs more reliably, I'll refit them. Then again, I was actually considering doing a 'bikini fairing'... Just to be different...

Thanks again.

**CookMySock** · 27th May 2010, 09:49

Originally Posted by Nutter34

Mines without, simply because we've been tinkering a bit to get them running. Main jets keep clogging, fuel filter going in. Exhaust brackets braking, new one went on, etc. It's just been easier without the fairings. Maybe when it runs more reliably, I'll refit them.

Chinese pocketbike "run more reliably" ? How do you mean?

Steve

**Nutter34** · 27th May 2010, 12:33

You funny guy...

**888mike** · 27th May 2010, 16:15

The amount of muckin around you do with Daytona's it pays to leave the fearings off plus it's less stuff to pick up when you bin them.lol hope you get as much enjoyment out of them as my family and i get, good luck. Mike

**Nutter34** · 27th May 2010, 18:32

Thanks.

Yip, we've had fun already. With a bunch of us, there have been several different issues...

Brake caliper guide pin coming out.
Brake caliper adjuster bolts loose.
Exhaust brackets breaking.
Exhaust mount bolts falling out.
Starter bolt coming out, causing the spring to come out.
Seriously out of whack wheel-allignment, causing chains to come off.
One rear tyre exploded.
Exhaust silencers pretty much cracked all the way around the welds.

After that, just heaps of clogged jets really. We are debating whether the stock fuel filter is degrading, or whether it's the fuel tap on the carb breaking down.. We'll see. We've got new fuel filters going in. That and new plugs...

All fun and games without costing a fortune...

**Tink** · 27th May 2010, 18:35

I was having a blonde moment when I saw the thread title, and thought who would go naked in this weather... ATTGATTANN!!!

**imdying** · 27th May 2010, 18:37

Originally Posted by Nutter34

Brake caliper guide pin coming out.
Brake caliper adjuster bolts loose.

Some are better than others, try to get the one with the dual adjuster pins.

Originally Posted by Nutter34

Exhaust brackets breaking.
Exhaust mount bolts falling out.

Make a mount the muffler as well as replacing the rear mount.

Originally Posted by Nutter34

Starter bolt coming out, causing the spring to come out.

That's a new one on me!

Originally Posted by Nutter34

Seriously out of whack wheel-allignment, causing chains to come off.

Buy some thick walled steel tubing and make new spacers of the right sizes. Replace the chains with DID or other quality item. Wilson Bros is where we get them.

Originally Posted by Nutter34

One rear tyre exploded.

Yikes, PMT time!

Originally Posted by Nutter34

Exhaust silencers pretty much cracked all the way around the welds.

Lovely aren't they

Originally Posted by Nutter34

We are debating whether the stock fuel filter is degrading

Must be, we don't use them and don't block jets.