JC whitney sport fairings

I was trying to imagine these on my 650 seca, because the things feels like its going to blow me off past 60 mph. Do you think something even this small would help that?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/sport-style-fa ... 1982o120j1

http://www.jcwhitney.com/sport-fairings ... 1982o200j1

 

those are sport fairings. small really not worth a crap. they'll keep the bugs from pounding your stomach but that's it.

national cycle sells a SLIPSTREAMER windshield. if's full size, it's cheapest. and it's pretty good sized.

i always go for the biggest i can get. anything smaller is just wasting money. the bigger you can get. the nicer the ride at 75mph. get it big enough and it'll be like there's no wind at all. not to mention an increase in gas mileage as your cutting down the wind resistance.

 

I went to their site, I don't see something called a Slipstreamer, any chance you could post the link to this?

Thanks,

BTC

 

Its a seca so I don't want to go too big. I want to keep the sporty look that its got going...

but I guess thats how it works then... the bigger the better?

 

I guess...

Keep in mind if you have the original headlight on your XJ650R that it is an 8" unit while all the other Yammies (and most round-light Jap bikes) have a 7" headlight. The JCW fairings you linked to wouldn't fit without modifications.

(I'm not a "fairing" kinda guy, myself. I set my bikes up to provide the correct riding position without one.)

 

i photoshopped one on my seca and it looks like it would make quite a difference, just have to decide if you like it or not
that's a 7 inch light

 

that looks like it may actually help a good bit.

Nice job on the photoshop btw. I'll have to think about it.

Another quick question since Fitz brought it up.

My SECA is a bit of a frankenstein (thanks to that stupid PO)... so I've found that I don't have the black headlight bucket that most seca's had. Mine is chrome (probably off of a maxim) so I think I have a 7 inch headlight on it.

Having just realized this... I wonder, would the different size headlight bulb affect the wiring of the bike at all? I shouldn't have to change headlight relay (having trouble with that) or the diode block, correct?

 

and also since its probably a 7-inch, then most fairings would work?

 

I'm going to disagree, it is entirely up to the tasts of the rider. You don't like something, fine, offer an opinion but please do not dismiss something out of hand. I love my "mini" fairing, it is perfect for wind deflection off of the chest. The down side is that I catch every bug in the visor.

I agree that a good fairing that flows the air around the projecting and perpendicular parts of the bike would be in the best interest of reducing drag. Most bikes would not notice the improvement in carving the air. Buying either fairing is an excersize in comfort, not fuel economy.

That said, I like Polock's photoshop but I absolutely dislike the color. I've had two Seca's with that color and I cannot figure out why as it is not a stock color. Was there a racing team with this color at one time?

 

the small fairing does nothing but deflects the bugs of his stomach. it won't do anything for wind resistance which is what he wants. he's still going to have that 75 mph gust blowing him off the bike.

small fairings are also perfect for blowing even more air in the head direction. at 75 mph. at that wind is going TO BURN HIS NOSE UP.

i've had small fairings. and they aren't worth a crap. that's all there is too it.

big fairings are perfect in that you don't feel any wind at all. other then the swooshing around of air. and it DOES increase your gas mileage. my honda magna got 5 miles better. my suzuki i have now is getting 4 miles better. becuase i'm not being blown off the bike anymore at 75mph.

mini fairings offer no wind deflection whatsoever. they just blow more air up your nose.

if i thought mini fairings were so good. i would have rode my ninja i had last year of heck of a lot more then what i rode. which wasn't much. couldn't stand my nostrils burning up.

here is what the slipstreamer windshield looks like. they are the biggest and widest available. only problem is. the looks don't go with todays designs. the one i had was 24 inches high. it stood 28 inches off the headlight and went over my head. but i'm 6 ft. tall. it was also 36 inches wide. notice it covers the hand grips.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/plexifairing-g ... ?TID=100DF

i could do 100 mph on my magna and not feel a thing. it also worked beautiful in the colder weather. keeping the cold wind off

 

I ran a Vetter Mark V on the 650 Maxim many years back. Yes, they do block the wind. Downside, they increase the profile to lateral wind (which is usually the type we are trying to avoid). I did not gain any fuel economy with the larger fairing, it added 50 lbs (including mount) to the sprung weight on the front of the bike. It would get right squirrely going over the grade on HWY 8 headed out of Imperial County.
I cannot speak to the improvements you experienced on your Honda or Suzuki. My experience is with Yamahas (the bike the gentleman is riding).
I will still reiterate that a fairing selection is entirely subjective. Small works great for around town but I'd step up to something larger for longer distances. I LOVED my Interceptor but it had one flaw, it was a sail to ride on. Side gusts were a pain. Fairings can be both a help and a hinderence.
As for wind blowing up your nose, I haven't experienced that. I ride with a full face and, if it is chilly, a helmet curtain. It may well be a height thing. My head should be in a similar location as yourself (I'm about 72 1/2 inches myself). I'd be curious to find out your positioning on the bike and if your seat is stock. Inseam is another cosideration in the equation. I'm 32 in.
I'm also envious of your riding range, I love the Weber Canyon area in Ogden. You are very fortunate to have some wonderful areas local. Have you run out to the Tetons yet?

 

Looks like Robert and I are tracking each other right down the posts...but I won't be as long winded (sorry Robert, could not resist!!!)

I have to agree with previous writers. Look at the Yamaha sport fairing on my XJ750. Looks good. I thought it helped/ I thought my helmet was cheap and noisy.

Wrong! The fairing is allowing buffeting wind 2 feet back and my helmet noise is killing my ears (even with plugs). I took the fairing off...all is good.

Personally: put up with the bugs or put a Gold Wing sized fairing on your XJ.

 

say what yall want. and i don't wanna hear one bitch. but i don't ride with a helmet. i have always loved the free spirited feeling of being with the wind on the highway. although 75 mph is a bit too much now. the 55 mph thing was perfect.

all my bikes had stock seats. the one i have now has a corbin seat and sits a little lower. i'll say this. the seat is on the hard side. but my arse has yet to complain. the windshield on it now. isn't quite as big as the magna i had. it goes almost to the top of my head. so there's a little bit of wind in the hair. but it's better then being without. it was the biggest i could find. apparently 18 inches is about as high as they go anymore. 24 inches off the headlight.

i think if the speed was still 55. a lot of us wouldn't really care for anything. but at 75. that's just wayyyyy too much wind.

i don't think i've ever had a windshield that weighed more then 10 pounds with the hardware. the plastic only weighs about 5 pounds. i can practically lift it up with 2 fingers. and the hardware defenitly don't weigh that much.

this year is my first year riding with any groups. but this group i ride with mostly. goes out every saturday. and i think we've seen just about every inch of the upper state about now. they are talking about a week long trip next year. with possible tetons in the mix. they wanna ride the commiefornia highway up to vancouver. tetons and mt. rushmore.

 

actually i saw a toyota fj that color and liked it, never thought about bike colors
notice the size of just the wind screen on the bmw in the back, it doesn't block the wind but it breaks it up, there is a lower part to that wind screen but it makes it too hot to ride in the summer
doesn't a big screen that's not frame mounted do funny things to the handling passing trucks ?
gregu, look up "laminar lip"

 

Polock, searched laminar lip but only picked up this post.
I suspect some comments forthcoming about laminar flow and not going fast enough to create turbulence etc etc...but shoot me a post or site address. (believe me, I tried to go fast as WOT would allow!!)

 

i should have said google it, sorry
here's what's on mine
http://www.laminarlip.com/k100rs.php

 

Ah yes, thank you for the site address. Could be a solution to my fairing.

Side Note: Interesting...I was actually looking to buy a K-100RS pictured for the laminar lip but decided against...my knees almost hit the fairing.

 

Check Rifle fairings:

http://www.rifle.com/stores/showprod.cf ... %20Fairing

They have several offerings and different windsheild height options if I'm not mistaken. They are pricey. I don't own one but it looks like quality stuff. They also offer flexibility wrt headlight size.

I had one of those cheap cafe fairings on my 550 Seca. I only noticed a slight improvement in reducing windblast. I wasn't getting bugs up my nose btw.

The fairing I have on my Seca now is an older unit made by Greer I picked up off eBay. It's really not that tall; My entire face is above the windshield. It does a great job at reducing windblast. I could do 75 all day. It does not direct wind or bugs in my face, period. In fact there is an air dead zone right in front of my face. I ride with my helmet faceshield up (with prescription glasses) as a matter of fact.

Personally, I prefer looking over a windshield than through one.