Topic: Rickman Predator fairing fitting

[Tim2005]

Hi all, has anyone here ever fitted a Rickman Predator fairing? I picked up one a while back for a 400F, but the fitting process is a bit of a mystery.

The fairing and most of the mounting brackets are pictured below. There are also a pair of L-shaped brackets that go to the rear engine mount area, I think that'll be fairly straightforward. I've worked out some of the rest of it, but any experience would be very useful.

Trials so far suggest it is very big and rather heavy - I'm not certain this is a good idea on 400F...

[BenelliSEI]

That’s a big fairing, on a CB750. Might be more than a 400F needs?

[Tim2005]

That’s a big fairing, on a CB750. Might be more than a 400F needs?

Well it might be nice on those cold winter rides to work, I would also plan to remove it in the spring as it's not the prettiest of things either. However I'm not so sure I will actually be able to get my knees behind it. If I ever work out how to fit it... 

[bryanj]

Its 40 yrs since i fitted one of those, hondastyle were made by Rickman.

I think you have to remove the headlamp bucket to start and move everything away from headstock to get frame up close and tight with jubilee clips.
After that brackets tend to be fairly obvious as to fitting points.
There should be several bits of wiring "extensions" with the kit

[Tim2005]

Thanks Bryan. On this one it seems that the fairing frame clamps around the bike frame's front downtube between the exhaust headers, but there's no obvious point along that tube that it goes. The headlight bracket is in the way of the upper part of it though, I think that has to come off.

The 2 L-shaped brackets pictured must bolt onto it's main frame and go either side of the bike frame- they may hook over the tank mounts, bolt onto the horn mounts, or fit elsewhere onto the bike frame. These brackets are handed too, but I don't know which is left/right.  As for the 2 smallest brackets that are rounded at one end - no idea! I'll have to make those wiring extensions too...

Seems like this might be a quite lengthy job.

[bryanj]

The L brackets go on the front tank rubber mouting points before the rubbers(you need to thin them a bit), that should position the main frame on the downtube for tightening.
Dont remeber having to remove headlamp brackets(fork ears)  just turn them inwards(i think)

[Tim2005]

Many thanks Bryan, that's extremely useful, as I now have a confirmed mounting point to work from.

As for the headlight mount, it's a 400f, so the indicators are mounted on the headlight frame and their stems are in the way of the fairing.

Thanks again and Merry Christmas

Tim

[bryanj]

Forgot that, and that bent wire mounting comes out easy, dont loose it they are chromed rocking horse sheite. If your 400 has the big frying pan indicators you may have to source some earlier ones, or vice versa depending on the size of the mounts on fairing frame

[Tim2005]

Some progress today- it didn't take too long actually. I've done the basic fitting of it, though haven't added the headlight & indicators (UK type here) yet.  However, I have found that my standard-type mirrors hit the screen well before full lock, maybe they supplied different ones originally? 

Also the whole fairing is pretty huge and the screen is rather high, so it means I will be looking through it as I ride, which doesn't strike me as ideal for visibility, especially at night.

[andy750]

Hey Tim lets see a pic of the fairing mounted on the bike. Curious to see how it looks. I still have to find the model of Gerbing gloves for you...will do that this morning!

All the best,
Andy

[Tim2005]

Hey Andy, here's a bit of a limited pic of it fitted, I got a bit too much of a front view to see it all, see below. Also here's a better photo of one, the bike with the wire wheels, it's not mine I found it online somewhere. It's a pretty big fairing.

Anyway, no further photos of it fitted as it's removed now. I got it all on ok and took it for a test ride but it doesn't fit me very well at all, it was tricky getting my knees behind it and getting them out when I stopped.  Also I've got lower bars fitted and they run too close to it, plus a couple of other issues. That said, at a fast motorway speed it was very impressive and it worked really really well at keeping all the wind off, If someone a bit shorter wanted to do a lot of high speed cruising it would be perfect for them. It was a worthwhile experiment in any event.

[Don R]

 Thanks for sharing that info. It looked good on there.

[bryanj]

There were originaly two different screens for that fairing, looks like this one has the taller tipped up one

[andy750]

Thanks for the photos Tim and sorry it didnt work out for you. Good to try it out though which is usually the only way. If its no good for you it would be the same for me. Too bad as its a good looking option.

Anything else to try? I like your wheels on the 400 very nice.

cheers
Andy

[Tim2005]

Bryan, yes it is tipped/flip-up type screen. Quite high but I can see over it fairly well- the rear wheels of the car in front are visible above the screen. I'm 6' tall though.

Andy, thanks, they are A.R.E. wheels, really nice. I think the fairing would work on a 750, or a 550, the 400 chassis is too compact for it & my height. I'm on the trail of another Rickman/Hondastyle fairing currently- there's a "sports" model which might work better on the 400. Or might not!!