Topic: So... how do you mount a fairing?

[grumpy]

I’ve been considering a ¼ fairing for my 750.
It’s been in the 30’s when I leave for work in the morning and it takes all day for my nards to thaw.
AirTech makes a cool Rickman shorty and Glass From The Past makes an uber cool Ducati fairing but I’d have to fab my own mounting hardware.  
Those of you with fairings: How did you mount yours? What did you use for mounting brackets? Where did you attach them to the bike? I know some just mount to the headlight bracket but that doesn't seem like it would be too stable. Any tips?
Thanks

[andy750]

Good question...Id like to know as well. I am also looking at the half-Rickman fairing from Airtech and would like to NOT mount it on the handlebars.

cheers
Andy

[UnCrash]

I have a half Rickman which came with a mounting bracket that attaches to the steering stem.

Quarter fairings typically attach to the handlebars and turn with them, an advantage to driving with a headlight as it's always pointing in the right direction...

Half and more fairings usually mount to the frame.

I can take some pictures of my bracket for you if you're interested.

[andy750]

Very interested Ben! Thanks!

cheers
Andy

[UnCrash]

Sure thing Andy.

[MCRider]

I’ve been considering a ¼ fairing for my 750.
It’s been in the 30’s when I leave for work in the morning and it takes all day for my nards to thaw.
AirTech makes a cool Rickman shorty and Glass From The Past makes an uber cool Ducati fairing but I’d have to fab my own mounting hardware.  
Those of you with fairings: How did you mount yours? What did you use for mounting brackets? Where did you attach them to the bike? I know some just mount to the headlight bracket but that doesn't seem like it would be too stable. Any tips?
Thanks

I understand the look you are going for. And that's cool. But you mention your incentive to mount a fairing is weather related.

As an owner and user of many motorcycles with a variety of shields and fairings, I think you will be sorely disappointed with the Rickman (and the Duc, if its similar to the Rickman) as far as keeping you out of the weather. Unless you ride tucked in all the time.

JMO, YMMV

[grumpy]

Protection from cold is the excuse I give to the wife 

So, you don't think it'll help?
It must help some...

[MCRider]

Protection from cold is the excuse I give to the wife 

So, you don't think it'll help?
It must help some...

Well, sure it will help some. So let's try to quantify it. No shield at all=0. My (wife's) Burgman has better coverage than my FJR1300, so let's give it a 10. The Rickman would be a 2, maybe a 3, My Hawk GT with the fork mounted F-16 http://www.nationalcycle.com/catalogue/FSeries.shtml with hand deflectors is a 5, my FJR is a 9, and the Burgman is a 10.

The Rickman just wasn't designed to protect the rider. Its to make the whole package slick, with a skinny tank and the rider tucked in.

But it is sexy. JMO

To answer the original question, AirTech has a universal bracket kit for about $200. Essentially you're looking for frame points. The downtubes in front of the tank below the steering head. And the steering head itself using hose clamps is what I've seen. You'll need something to suspend/support the headlight in the fairing, the fairing itself is not designed to hold the light, unlike a frame mounted touring fairing.  So the $200 universal bracket begins to look like its worth it.

[grumpy]

OK - found a bracket kit...

Is this the one you're talking about?

[fishhead]

Heres a Rickman fairing mount "blade". This is for a Honda NT 650 and it may have a more bolt on application to that particular bike.
 My Rickman mount for the Kawasaki 900 looks simular but has a U clamp (like a muffler clamp) that wraps around the steering head and bolts to the "blade" holding it in place.
 I replicated the Rickman mount for this bike (2nd picture), but I welded 4 "tangs" to the steering head (2 for the top mount, 2 for the bottom mount). The mount was still bolted on, but the 4 tangs were permenant.
  On frames that can't use the U clamp for installation, you'll have to make up rear mounts to hold the blade in place. The 3rd picture shows a fabricated blade that has the rear mounts (for the blade) over the tank rubber mounting pins (metal dowels that the rubbers mount on) and are held in place with with a bolt on the front coil mount. I had to add the rear bolt on the coils as it tended to pull off the tank rubber mounting pins with out it (it would pull off when the blade mount was tightened down).
 Crappy pictures.

[MCRider]

OK - found a bracket kit...

Is this the one you're talking about?

That could work. The universal one I saw is this... http://www.airtech-streamlining.com/miscpages/brackets.html#price

Scroll up to the "UB-1"

[UnCrash]

The one I have is exactly like the one on the left.

[grumpy]

Cripes! It appears all the mounting hardware will cost more than the fairing!!
Damn.

[MCRider]

Cripes! It appears all the mounting hardware will cost more than the fairing!!
Damn.

I was noticing that as well. AS far as battling the cold is concerned, I think the best dollar value is heated clothing, like an electric vest or jacket liner. For less than $100 you can wrap your torso in electric blanket like warmth, and if your core torso is warm the rest will follow.  Mine will easily get too warm to bear on the coldest of days. It is adjustable.

You may be able to find some bracketry on eBay.

[grumpy]

RE: electric clothing.
Alas, I doubt my 750K could handle the load...

[MCRider]

RE: electric clothing.
Alas, I doubt my 750K could handle the load...

Sure can. I've always used my vest on my CB750, 2 of them with my wife. I use it on my HawkGT650 and on my CB77 305cc. And my wife's Burgman 400 scooter. They can all handle a vest. More than that, like gloves, grips, leggings, highway lights, you'd have to check capacities.

The newer vests (I notice are up to $135+ now) are more efficient and put more heat to the rider per draw than my oldtimer (1985 Widder) vest does, so you wouldn't have to turn it up as much.

Plus the battery pigtail for the vest gives a convenient place to plug in a trickle charger for winter time.  Chargers come with compatible connections.

[grumpy]

Really?
No recharging problems / drained batteries?

I'm guessing the load from your clothes must be pretty low, then.

[MCRider]

Really?
No recharging problems / drained batteries?

I'm guessing the load from your clothes must be pretty low, then.

Absolutley no problem. The average draw is about 18watts. Max probably 35-40 watts. Here is a discussion from Widder. A 40watt draw is like less than another low beam.
http://www.widder.com/html/Electrical/index.htm
I don't recommend him now as he is closing shop (Mr. Widder) after many years of supplying an excellent handmade product. Actually, if you can do without a warranty the 35% discount is enticing. I've had 2 of his vests for 23 years no problems.

Gerbing and Aerostitch are the surviving big suppliers.
The Gerbing Vest draws 54Watts max giving a surface temp of 135 degrees at 32 degrees ambient. Weel that will scald you post haste, so your actual draw will be quite a bit less, especially if you have a nice coat over top.
http://gerbing.com/Products/Liners/heatedVestLiner.html