How much difference does a fairing make on a bike?

[McJim]

I'd be interested to know how much it would cost to make a full fairing for a 2003 VTR250 - all the traders seem to make fairings for already faired bikes (presumably to replace the ones that get broken).

I might go and buy some black perspex and try cutting it then bending it with a heat gun...a few little metal clips clamped round parts of the frame and a fixed headlight bought from a bike wreckers....how hard can it really be?

Alternatively I could sell the 2003 VTR and for the same money buy a 300 year old CBR250 with about 5,000,000km on the clock.....

(edit) Can anyone tell me why no-one makes aftermarket full fairings?

[pritch]

That's one aspect of a naked bike that is good - you tend to notice the speed you're travelling at,

My last bike was a K100RS (faired) and I regularly surprised myself at the velocities attained inadvertantly (It's true officer I swear...).
Which is the main reason I went for a fly screen this time around, I don't really like surprises.

One thing I don't think has been mentioned is that biggish handlebar mounted screens are effected by the wind and can cause problems with steering. This was given as the reason the Police changed from Yamahas to fully faired BMWs following a series of accidents to Police bikes way back whenever. In a recent road test of a Harley (?) I have seen mention that the bike is limited to 70mph simply because of the screen.

[Dai]

...Can anyone tell me why no-one makes aftermarket full fairings?

If it can be proven that there was a viable market for such an item then I feel sure that someone would.

Like any item being produced, the manufacturer would like to recover their costs plus make a respectable profit. Otherwise they would soon go out of business.

Hence the high cost of "one offs" of any sort.

[XP@]

(edit) Can anyone tell me why no-one makes aftermarket full fairings?

Where would you attach the fairing to?

Also have you ever noticed how silly a faired bike without a fairing looks?

[Dazza]

Fairings smearings, phfft. Yes they do make a difference, don't buy into this "I bought a naked bike to keep my speed down " bullshit, I kidded myself with that one when I went to a naked bike, your just alittle more aware of your speed & get a little fatigued @ prolonged periods of above losing your licence speed, so I'm lead to believe

[McJim]

Where would you attach the fairing to?

Also have you ever noticed how silly a faired bike without a fairing looks?

Was going to attach it to the frame.

Yep - the GT250 Comet does look a bit daft now you mention it...

[ManDownUnder]

lots........

Bloody hell mate - no need to go overboard. They only wanted an answer, not a dissertation or your life story...

It's hard to shut him up sometimes...

[MSTRS:Me]

The downside of fairings is the cost to repair after a bin. And they are not too much fun esp. on the smaller bikes in a heavy crosswind (think sail)

[ceebie13]

For what it's worth the only bikes I've owned with a fairing have been a trio of ZX9s which I fell in love with after years of nakedness! These sportsbikes account for pretty much 13 years of my riding life. Initially I was nervous about riding a faired bike because of not being able to see where the front wheel was going!!! I soon rid myself of that phobia though. When I mentioned to a fellow riding mate that I wanted something more suitable for an old fart
and his Mrs to tour on (but with scope for personalising) he tried his damnest to convince me that a Blackbird was the way to go. Instead I stood by my convictions that I wanted to return to a torquey naked musclebike (albeit with a ponsey...in his view...fly screen to deflect a little of the blowy stuff that New Zealand seems to have a lot of). BloodyMadWoman is right about engine damage protection and I'd also have to say that cleaning (yes, yes I know Im reknowned on here for this) is a darn sight easier on a sportsbike. But I am delighted with my decision to return to zero aerodynamic coefficients with the CB13. It's just as much fun. I miss the ZX9...but then again, I don't.