Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Fairing for my TBA

I ran a search on past forums and found some stuff on fairings, but nothing really stood out. Maybe I missed the juicy stuff. Anyway I would appreciate suggestions or testimonials on fairings for our bikes. I mean, I just test road a BMW R1200 CL and immediately fell in love with the fairing aspect. I'm getting too old to fight wind, buffeting, rain and cold that a good fairing would take care of (I have a windscreen).

Sooooo, any info regarding this topic would help. Meanwhile I've already started searching the net for a solution. Thanks folks.

Do a search of Bill's posts. He has an interesting fairing.

Darth Fairing

Bill might be the only one to do this so far...at least with this style of fairing.

Rudy (majorruddell) was having a custom one made.

The biggest (and cheapest) major improvement to a windshield (as you already have one) is to stop the airflow underneath the headlight, which rises up over the gas tank, and causes turbulence. I use a standard Memphis Shades Alley Cat, with a 1/4 inch clear plexiglass plate across and underneath the headlight, secured by MS Lowers mounts. This plate rises up and in front of the windshield, so it passes all air up and over the windshield. I have been using it for years. Absolutely no buffeting. A real "cone of silence" with no wind at all" for the rider. Also, since it is clear plexiglass, it almost appears invisible on the bike.

Thanks all for your input. When I ran a search I did run across your Darth project Bill. No offense but Darth doesn't particularly appeal to me although it did look a lot better with the mocked up green and silver colour schemes.

And Tom, what you said about stopping airflow underneath makes a lot of sense. Others have alluded to the same thing by using lowers. It would make sense to try that first before moving onto a fairing and if I like it I just saved a lot of bux.

Shoulda left that Beemer alone but it sure impressed me by the way it shielded me from the elements but I'll tell you what... I do like my TBA a lot better. It's just got so much more character than the Beemer and it's Triumph, what can I say.

Normally, the lowers don't quite do the same thing, since they do not block the airflow off from coming under the headlight. That is the major source of the turbulence. To block it, you must make your own plexiglass plate/air dam. (I mounted mine on the MS Lowers mounting brackets though.) It makes a world of difference, even over using the MS Lowers. Also, I tried many different windshields before discovering this.
--Tom

Yeah, you're right Bill... that Beemer was born ugly and will always remain a homely critter!

Our bikes started out life being pretty so must be careful when choosing things to wear.

I use the Memphis lowers but they still let air in between them and the windshield so I have gone to a Slip Streamer clear fairing. I had one thirty years ago on a Yamaha 650 and loved it. The owner of the company just happens to ride an America. It does require moving the light bar but that's not big deal.

http://www.slipstreamer.com/

That's why I only use the MS Lower mounting brackets, and not their plexiglass lowers themselves. I make my own plexiglass flat plate that extends between the brackets and UNDER the headlight. Actually, my plexiglass flat plate only extends as wide as the lower part of my windshild, so if you don't look closely, it just looks like a long (low slung) windshield. The key to making it work though, is to overlap my plexiglass flat plate, so that it is in front of the lower edge of the windshield, thus forcing all the air upwards in front of and over the top of the windshield. --Tom

tomv...sounds interesting...how about some pictures

+1 on the pics Tom

Thanks Dick for that slipstreamer tip. Haven't had time to look into it but I will. And Thomas... yeah, a pic or two would be appreciated. Sounds like a splendid idea! Jolly good ol' man!

I will have to find a place to post the pics, and link them here. I had posted pics a few years ago, but this site does not allow that anymore. I will get some good pics this weekend. --Tom

Hey there Thomas... making any headway on those pics?

Got the pics. Just need to find out how/where to post them. --Tom

First try at posting (with help from daughter):

Side View of flat lower plate
Front view of flat lower plate
2nd Front view of flat lower plate

These use Memphis Shades mounting kit # MEM9887

This stops all wind & buffeting, except for some wind on my knees. I am 5 ft 10 in tall.

--Tom

Thanks for the pics and the great writeup you did in the new thread.