Topic: Identify this fairing/seat/tank

[jimbojangles]

Hey guys,

I'm about to buy this stuff off of Craigslist and can't figure out who made it or if it's worth the money and drive to go pick it up. Any ideas? All I know is that its all fiberglass and the left side of the faring has a small hole from being dropped. There aren't any mounting brackets. Any ideas how hard it would be to find some or make some? Thanks in advance for any tips or info.

[toytuff]

Is this close?

tt

[jimbojangles]

Closer than what I was finding on the seat. I'm not sure I would ever use the seat or tank, especially since the tank is all fiberglass. However, I want to make sure the fairing will actually fit my bike and isn't meant for a BMW or something.

[jimbojangles]

I think I found my fairing.




Are these rare or worth saving.

Looks like I would have to ride with rear sets and clipons. I would also need to find a way to mount it. Thoughts?

[Bluegreen]

I don't think it's the same one as the pic you just posted.

I have the same fairing as the CL post sitting in my shop. I was going to put it on my 500 but it was just a bit too big, went with something smaller.

You'll definitely need rearsets and clip ons. The brackets really aren't that hard to make, look at my build thread and/or paulages's thread. There are a bunch of good photos on how to make your own. It just takes some time. I started with the front and worked my way back.

[Bluegreen]

Hmmmm, maybe not the same, hard to tell.

[jimbojangles]

Dang, I really like the big fairing, but it looks like it's going to take a lot of parts ($$) and fabrication (more $$) to get it to work. The parts are about a 3-hour drive away and I'm torn on whether I really want to drive that far for something I may never use. Then again the parts are only $50. I could probably resell on Ebay if I needed to.

[Rookster]

I think I found my fairing.

That is a Dunstall fairing and actually is 3 pieces.  The sides bolt on to the half fairing.  Either way its not what you have. 

The one Bluegreen posted looks pretty close.  I don't think you will get a huge payday on the stuff if you buy to resell.  I have a NOS red Dunstall fairing like the one in the pic that I have tried to sell several times.  Shipping becomes really expensive on big boxes.  If you are going to use the stuff buy it but it would probably not be worth the extra hassle of trying to resell the stuff on ebay.

Scott

[Rigid]

As to the mounting, aluminum brackets can be bonded to the inside with some fiberglass and resin.  Good prep with grinding and alcohol rinse is essential for a good bond. 

[jimbojangles]

I appreciate the advice. It seems like a reasonable bracket could be built for a lot less than the price offered on the Airtech Website for their universal mount. This may be something that I buy now and slowly collect parts before I install. $50 just seems to good to pass up.

Hey Blue Green - Do you have any more pics of that fairing? I just want to know what the front looks like. Any idea what brand it is?

Thanks everyone

[Bluegreen]

I appreciate the advice. It seems like a reasonable bracket could be built for a lot less than the price offered on the Airtech Website for their universal mount. This may be something that I buy now and slowly collect parts before I install. $50 just seems to good to pass up.

Hey Blue Green - Do you have any more pics of that fairing? I just want to know what the front looks like. Any idea what brand it is?

Thanks everyone

I have no idea what type it is, the HiPo guys weren't sure either. Mine came with a square headlight, I wasn't a fan so I changed it. I don't know if I have any completed pictures. I have an almost done, post mod picture.

I would say go for the fairing!! They're awesome, functional and relatively rare. As for fabricating brackets and cost, I probably spent $20-25 on aluminum and fasteners. Mine is bolted to the brackets. And the brackets in turn bolted to the motor/frame. It was pretty easy, just took some time.



Progress pic of the front bracket. It's cost... $5 ? I put a few more tabs on it and completed the triangle. But getting it to this point was the hard part.

[jimbojangles]

OK. I'm going for it. Making the trip to pick it up this weekend. I'm hoping the owner has some extra cool bits laying around that I can score. He's been into 750s for a long time and sounds like he's clearing things out.

I think the fairing will be awesome since I routinely commute in freezing temps. Although I'm not sure about the tank and seat. Is it safe to use that fiberglass tank? Should I line it with something?

Thanks. 

[lucky]

Better not buy the fairing. It might take some skill or work to put it on.

You want something that you just take out of the bubble wrap and in 15 minutes it is all done?  Right? LOL..lol

[Rookster]

Just a guess but that tank is probably made with poly resin due to its age.  Modern ethanol gas will dissolve the resin and either bubble the tank or seep right through it in places.  You could use it without lining if you have a good source for non ethanol fuel.  If you don't then I would line it.  One thing to take into consideration is upkeep of the liner or better stated; can you recoat if or when it fails?  The Bill Hirsch liner can be recoated without removing the old liner.  That makes it a better solution long term.  I have used KBS (failed) and Hirsch on my poly resin fiberglass tank.  The Hirsch was done twice in successive seasons and I haven't had any problems with it.  I may coat it a third time this summer just for peace of mind.  Once you have had a tank bubble a ruin a new paint job it will always be on your mind.

Scott

[Retro Rocket]

I appreciate the advice. It seems like a reasonable bracket could be built for a lot less than the price offered on the Airtech Website for their universal mount. This may be something that I buy now and slowly collect parts before I install. $50 just seems to good to pass up.

Hey Blue Green - Do you have any more pics of that fairing? I just want to know what the front looks like. Any idea what brand it is?

Thanks everyone

If you are going to fibreglass in brackets into the fairing Don't use polyester resin {normal resin} use epoxy resin  and the brackets will stay there forever, When glassing over older glass you should always use epoxy for much better results, the last thing you would want is for the fairing to come loose on the highway....

[jimbojangles]

Thanks for the tips guys. This is an awesome forum. I think Bluegreen has the only other picture of this fairing on the internet because I can't find another one anywhere. I was trying to show the wife what it would look like. All I can find are RC replicas.

I'm making the drive this weekend. I was a bit apprehensive because I will have to pay someone to do any metalwork necessary since I don't have a welder or much money. In the end it will be worth it. I would rather build a cool bike than buy one (not that I have a choice). I've never seen a full fairing on a 750 in Arkansas other than a vetter and it will sure make winter commuting better.

I will be doing some research on fiberglass repair since there is a small whole in the fairing. I may choose to bolt it on for peace of mind. Thanks for the tip on the epoxy Retro. Maybe I can get good enough to make the headlight round like bluegreen did. I've never liked square headlights.

We'll see about the tank. I live by a lake and can get ethanol free gas anytime I want. I'm still just worried about the safety of a fiberglass tank. I would probably still line it since its so old.

Thanks again for all of the advice and encouragement.

[Bluegreen]

I wouldn't worry too much about the welding. The only thing you really need welded in the beginning is the two plates on to your headstock. The front aluminium bracket was assembled with pop rivets and I did get that welded at a later date. The rest of the brackets are just bent pieces of flat stock attached to the motor and the frame. And again, I would use mechanical fasteners to hold the fairing to the brackets.

Have fun!!

[Retro Rocket]

Thanks for the tip on the epoxy Retro.

No worries mate, i work with epoxy every week, its the best and strongest way to repair fiberglass..

[K5 Keith]

This site helped me identify an old fairing I have:
http://www.stephenbottcher.net/fairing/index.html

I emailed Stephen just to tank him for having such a page on the internet because without out it I would not have known. Took a couple days searching before I came across his page. Hope you find something.

[gschuld]

Jimbojangles,

     So  .....did you buy the fairings/tank/seat? 

George

[jimbojangles]

Hey George,

Long story short - I didn't get it.

I called the guy Friday to tell him I would be a day late because my father had just had a heart attack and was flown to a hospital in the opposite direction. I had previously spoken to the owner earlier that week and everything was a done deal and I was supposed to pick it up Saturday. The guy told me that he suddenly had a few people interested and decided to sell it to someone else. He even had a guy from the East Coast call him and offer him much more money plus shipping to send it out.

I'm not sure how his Craigslist post suddenly got so popular since it was old and poorly titled. In the future I will be keeping my discoveries secret until I have the parts in hand.

On the upside. I found a great motorcycle salvage yard nearby with tons of old CB750 stuff. I got an old oil cooler adapter and a cooler for $50. I'm not telling anyone where it is until I've thoroughly picked it over.