Fairing / windshield experiences with a Cb550.
The small bikini fairings are primarily for looks, I think. Which is what initially drew me toward it. With a stock bar height riding position, it may take some wind off your chest. But, it deflects most of it to your head/helmet. Windshear. If your in a head down crouch its okay. But, not for hours. Imagine someone pushing only on your forhead for four hours. Not much side wind loading effect. These are usually bar mount. I didn't ride with this very long as it just wasn't what I was looking for comfortwise. I no longer have one of these.
77 CB550F - a National Cycle bar mount windshield. This works quite well. Keeps fatiguing wind pressure off chest and helmet. But, there is some buffet about the helmet increasing noise somewhat. Pretty light, very little crosswind effects even though bar mounted. Definitely reduces fatigue over longer distances. No mods to bike and it can be removed easily.
74 CB550 with Vetter Windjammer 5 and lowers. This was my all weather commute/travel bike for lots of years. It's a frame mount and large. Not much steering difficulty, but does catch side winds due to size. I'd take the lowers off in the summer to cool my lowers. I have a first gear MC jacket with scoops in the sleeves to pull in air that blows up the arms and fills the jacket with fresh air and vents in the back. The fairing is wonderful in cold weather. The lowers deflect cold air away from legs and draw the warm air off the motor onto them. A bike with HEATER. It was strange getting used to this when I first put it on as it doesn't turn with the bars and I had run with no fairing for several years before it's installation. This set up would have to be the best cross country option. It's easy to understand how these were so popular with the touring crowd. Select a windshield height just below eye level. It does add weight and load the front end, so canyon carving and peg scraping is not it's forte. But, if you spend 4-5 hours on the bike so equipped, you can still party afterwards instead of napping.
Must remove headlight, turn signals, and fork ears for most installations. So, while restoration is possible, it's not quick.
76 Cb550F with Vetter QuickSilver. Frame mount but much smaller and lighter than the Windjammer. Very good wind protection for little long distance fatigue. Shoulders still get some cooling air flow. No additional crosswind steering issues that I have noticed probably due to the small profile. It's surprisingly effective for a small frame mount fairing. I bet this would work well on a Cb400 for long distances, too. Finding mounts could be a challenge, though.
Cheers,
