Topic: Anti-cafe conversion? fairings?

[sammermpc]

Swimming upstream, here, but I'm actually thinking of kitting out my K1 CB500 w/ a fairing.

I found a set of Shoei hardbags that work great and I like the look of (some) fairings. I've tried a clip-on windshield, which works OK. Beyond functionality, with the hardbags, luggage rack, and king-and-queen, I think I can put together a vaguely correct "period" tourer! 

Any ideas on what the most appropriate fairing for this would be? Can I keep the stock bars? I'm leaning towards an early Windjammer—the ones w/o the integrated blinkers.

Here's how it currently looks w/ the bags mounted. There's a pretty sweet sissy bar behind that backpack too.

[KRONUS0100]

i know it   not a 500 or 550, buts its a windjammer 3 with krauser hard bags

[sammermpc]

Yeah! That's the look. I think I actually have some photos of your bake saved somewhere. I'm just learning this — but Vetter fairings come in multiple pieces? Can you find them all together, or just uppers and lowers?

[CBGhia]

I rode with a big fairing one time on my 550.  It was awful.  Even going up a slight grade with a headwind would knock me down to 65 and the speed limit was 75.  That was wide open on the gas.  These little bikes don't like pushing that wall of air.

Added a pic

[sammermpc]

Hmm, I hear you and that's a bit of a concern. I've been wanting a bigger bike for awhile (been poking around at early Goldwings), because my 500 has never felt super-confident on the larger roads.

I like the idea of making a mini-tourer though. Maybe not great for hanging on I-80 (which it never is, honestly), but fun and comfortable for zipping down state & co highways and the like. Even better if I can get a tape deck in there

[dusterdude]

Go with the wing

[MoMo]

Hmm, I hear you and that's a bit of a concern. I've been wanting a bigger bike for awhile (been poking around at early Goldwings), because my 500 has never felt super-confident on the larger roads.

I like the idea of making a mini-tourer though. Maybe not great for hanging on I-80 (which it never is, honestly), but fun and comfortable for zipping down state & co highways and the like. Even better if I can get a tape deck in there

8 track for sure

[sammermpc]

Any word from other 500 owners w fairings? I thought that this was a fairly common mod back in the day, but maybe only for 750s?

[mystic_1]

I think results are going to vary a lot depending on the style and mounting method of the fairing.  Frame-mounted fairings seem to be better.  More angular ones are less like bricks in terms of aerodynamics. 

So far we've had two fairings posted here, one is bar-mounted and more upright, the other is frame mounted and more angular in addition to having lowers. I'm sure they had different results.  Bar mounted anything can introduce a lot of unwanted steering input, the frame mounted ones less so.

You can, of course, take this all the way to it's logical extreme:



mystic_1

[CBGhia]

You can, of course, take this all the way to it's logical extreme:



mystic_1

Burt!  Now, that is a fairing! 

I agree about the shape making a difference. I am sure that the Vetter Fairing would work better, but I still think the 500 is too small for a full size fairing.  The 650, 750 or even better, an early Wing would be better. 

The bags look good though!

[Stev-o]

I would never put a fairing on a 500...or any other bike

[MoMo]

I would never put a fairing on a 500...or any other bike

Move to a cold climate Stev-o and you just might change your mind

[Stev-o]

I would never put a fairing on a 500...or any other bike

Move to a cold climate Stev-o....

Not happening.  Looking forward to a ride tomorrow as its forecast to be in the 70's...

[MoMo]

I would never put a fairing on a 500...or any other bike

I won't be riding the PC or any other bike until a couple feet of snow melts



Move to a cold climate Stev-o....

Not happening.  Looking forward to a ride tomorrow as its forecast to be in the 70's...

[MD]

I have a cb550f that I know has had a fairing on it since the 80's.  Before parking it for 20+ years I could run down a freeway at speed.  75+ to keep up with traffic.  I am looking for a replacement since the one I have is cracked but I would like to find one in the same style.

-MD

[Stev-o]

I threw this one away last year....

[seanbarney41]

Sammermpc, try pming member MJStone.  He will not ride his 500 without his Vetter.  He will tell ya all about why.  I have ridden 1000's of miles with MJ and the 500 goes just fine with that Vetter and bags fully loaded.  Here is his bike, you can just barely see his hat sticking up behind the bike.
DSCN0777 by Sean Barney, on Flickr

Vetter fairings work very well and weigh way less than you think.   I would not use any handlebar/front fork mounted fairing...unsafe, ugly useless junk imo.

[sammermpc]

That's good to hear, Sean — I'll shoot him a note. Yep, I think something like that is just what I'm after. It'd be good to learn more.

[754]

Windjammer for 100 bux in the 4 sale section.

[Don R]

 If you lived close I'd donate an early jammer. a lot of guys don't like them. I do on some bikes, My old goldwing yep, my K0 no. It's all about what you like. The lowers are separate, I have a set of those for an early jammer too. They don't fit my gl's windjammer ss.

[70CB750]

If you can find it, get Don Vesco

[jeffg]

I have one, it came with mine, but I took it off as soon as I got home.
I will probably put it back on when I am 70-80 years old, like the guy I bought it from.

[strynboen]

windjammer  specily the erly is fine..and fits fine a 550..it have power to run a set rear bags and a fairling easy..no problem as a touring bike....i use mine for short runs ..only at summer..and at that time it vas my only bike...thats vhy i took it off....now i got 4 running bikes ..i like to build a vindjammer/hard bag
 touring machine somday

[sammermpc]

Thanks for all the thoughts. I think I'm probably looking for a Windjammer 1-3, so if anyone's got leads in the NY area, let me know. I'll posted over in wanted, too.

Someday, people'll be kicking themselves about ditching their Vetters, just like they do now about switching out 4-4s to 4-1s back in the day! 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I threw this one away last year....

Nice skulls!  No, I did NOT mean that.