Topic: fairing / windshield. ... functionality

[DJ_AX]

So as part of my plan to extend my riding season.. I'm going to get a fairing / windshield.

I do a lot of freeway riding .. usually just 70-80mph

I'm looking for whatever is most functional!
I'm thinking the Plexistar...


Does anyone here have experience with windshields ..
thoughts, comments, recommendations?

Or better yet.. have one you want to get rid of for cheap!

I got a 75 750 K5 ... and I can fabricate special brackets or adapters if I need to.

PEACE

[dagersh]

DJ,

I just bought a Givi Airstar A750 for my '76 750K.  I need to widen the slot that slides between the headlight Ear/Bucket to fit the retaining bolt, but it should be a very easy fix.  Mocked up, the fairing looks great (IMHO), and supposedly it will help nicely with some wind protection.  You can get a choice of colors including a matt black.  They also have extended versions.  Look under Universal Airstars here:

http://www.giviusa.com/caschi_borse_bauli_accessori.asp?cat=362&lang=en

Good luck,

Gersh

[Bodi]

Looking at the Givi I think the pic shows a windshield way too high. There's no wiper, so I want to be able to see over the shield - this is vital IMO. In moderate rain the drops are deflected a few inches above the shield by the wind blast so you have a clean area to see through, in heavier rain you can at least wipe your faceshield with your hand if it gets too nasty, I use Rain-X on it and the water just blows off without affecting visibility. That works a bit on a windshield too but water always gets on the inside where there's no wind to blow the drops away even with Rain-X.
You will be way more comfortable in cold or wet weather with a fairing/windshield, no question.
You don't need a windshield that high for just wind, the air will flow quite high over it at speed and leave your head in a bubble of strangely turbulent (ie gentle side-to-side and even forward pressure) but no big wind in your face.
The bike gets much more squirrely in winds, and gas mileage/top speed suffers with a big windshield.

[DJ_AX]

Thanks for the replies
that one looks pretty cool but I didn't see a price.
I'd bet it's not cheap though.

[dagersh]

I paid $150 plus shipping.  I cannot remember who I ordered from, but they were out of Georgia.  I got them off doing a Google search with "Givi Airstar 750".

Let us know how you make out.

Gersh

[DJ_AX]

Sweet!    I won a Plexistar like in the picture above on Ebay.

Phsyced to get it and put it on the 750.

Now I just need to get some chains for the tires. 

[andy750]

Just a note - if you are tall (Im 6`4) you may find the windshield a bit uncomfortable at speed. I bought my stock K4 in Washington DC, flew dow from Boston to ride it back and it had a windshield - tied to the handlebars. Great I thought (as Id never had one before) this will make the 10 hour ride pass easily. As soon as I was on the highway and cruising at 70mph my helmet (which was just above the fairing) was buffeted by wind so much that I got a headache - I couldnt ride like that for 10 hours!! So I ditched it at the next service station - allen key bolts release so was easy. Never again for me. However it may just be that Im tall, or I wasnt used to it etc etc...anyway thought Id share.

good luck and let us know how you get on,
cheers
Andy

[hopterfixer]

My '74 750 had one when I bought it.  I took it off the day I got it home.  I put it back on this fall as part of the CB750 Cold Weather Kit.  The buffeting drive me nuts so I started cutting.  By the third cut I had it right.  I am 6'4" and the wind is now deflected around me and off of my chest.  I wear a full face so wind up there is no problem.  My 75 mile ride to and from work yesterday started at 24 degrees F and I was fine at the end of it.  There is a photo in my gallery of the modified windscreen.   

[andy750]

hopterfixer, thats a nice looking bike you have there - love the paint job! I saw in your gallery before/after pics - do you still have the same handlebars on the bike? The "before" bars look wider? Anyway good idea on the fairing - if Id thought of it on my trip back and had cutting tools handy I would have tried that. My fairing was exactly the same as yours!

Cheers
Andy

[DJ_AX]

My '74 750 had one when I bought it.  I took it off the day I got it home.  I put it back on this fall as part of the CB750 Cold Weather Kit.  The buffeting drive me nuts so I started cutting.  By the third cut I had it right.  I am 6'4" and the wind is now deflected around me and off of my chest.  I wear a full face so wind up there is no problem.  My 75 mile ride to and from work yesterday started at 24 degrees F and I was fine at the end of it.  There is a photo in my gallery of the modified windscreen.   

Very interesting indeed...

[hopterfixer]

hopterfixer, thats a nice looking bike you have there - love the paint job! I saw in your gallery before/after pics - do you still have the same handlebars on the bike? The "before" bars look wider? Anyway good idea on the fairing - if Id thought of it on my trip back and had cutting tools handy I would have tried that. My fairing was exactly the same as yours!

Cheers
Andy

Thank you for your kind words.   
I put a pair of lower bars on it after a "sudden stoppage event"  earlier in the year, I like them better.  I have almost 7000 miles on her since the "After" photo was taken, and the fairing has helped a great deal with the 24 degree mornings.   

[RatBikeRandy]

My dad just bought a used Suzuki Intruder with a Plexistar windshield.  The best wind protection that I have ever felt from a windshield.  No buffeting at all and it covers your hands.  Different style of bike, but I think that you will be pleased.

[hopterfixer]

My dad just bought a used Suzuki Intruder with a Plexistar windshield.  The best wind protection that I have ever felt from a windshield.  No buffeting at all and it covers your hands.  Different style of bike, but I think that you will be pleased.

"No buffeting at all" is a function of the height of the rider combined with the type motorcycle and the distance of ones head behind the windscreen.  Just something to keep in mind.  I did a lot of adjusting and modifying of the one I have to get it the way it is.  Not only did I end up taking a foot off of the top, but I took the curve out of the top edge, and used some 1" aluminum angle as airflow defelectors to minimize buffeting.  Just my $0.02.   

[DJ_AX]

Got my windshield 
First ride over 70mph I could feel that wind buffeting you speak of... it concerned me a bit... but after 50 or so miles I got used to it and now I hardly notice it at all.
I can really appreciate being able to easily turn my head to check traffic on the freeway, without it messing up my aerodynamics pulling my head sideways.

It really helps beat the cold temps! I put away my snowmobile suit and super fat gloves.

Conclusion: Yeah ... I've extended my riding season!