Fairings fitment between XJ models

I have an XJ650LH and have been looking for a fairing and possibly some hard sided storage. I have found a number of fairings designed for the XJ1100's and XS1100s, and my question is simple: What is the interchangeability of fairings and luggage / mounting hardware bike to bike?

Can I use a fairing designed for a different XJ than I have (550, 750, 1100 for example)?

IF I am able to use fairings / luggage from another bike, what fitting issues will I have? Will the mounting hardware fit, or could I mount the luggage/fairing on a mount designed for the XJ650? Finally, am I just out of luck unless I find a fairing and luggage for a 650?

 

If the fairing you're looking at is a Vetter Windjammer, then it'll fit on almost any bike. With the only difference being the mounting bracket.
You'll need a Vetter bracket made specifically for your bike (check ebay or find local bike salvage...mine was NOS at a bike store going out of business) or I'm told it's not too difficult to fab up a different Vetter bracket. BTW, all of the Windjammer series are interchangeable II, III, IV, & SS with only minor differences.
Do search for Metal_Bob...he's got a very in-depth write-up on installing a Vetter fairing and saddlebags.

 

yamaha also had several different fairings available....

the tour pack - was a fairing, lowers, removeable saddlebags, guards. This was available for the xj and the xv series of bikes. The mounting brackets were rather bike specific BUT with some creative thinking and homemade brackets, they can be made to work on just about anything. I had a set from an 81 virago on my 83 maxim 650, and made a couple mounting brackets and it looked like factory stuff.

the x1- I think it was the biggest fairing that yamaha had at the time. It had a profile kind of like a fighter jet nose and looked very futuristic at the time. The saddlebags and guards were the same as the tour pack mentioned above.

the xj750r seca - had a fairing similar to the x1, but smaller, more angular, with more flat-sided areas and surfaces.

Then there's all the different fairings for the : 650 seca, 650 turbo, 550 seca, XZ550 Vision, viragos w/ all their different variations,, etc....

Windjammer - also an option, and was available as the SS, II, III, IV. the Windjammer 5 was different, and another company then bought out Craig Vetter and started making the Bantam, Rooster, Vindicator, etc.... Mounts were pretty bike-specific.

Pacifico had a fairing with lowers that was similar in size to the Vetter, and it's unique feature was the long swooping line from one side and around then up and over the headlight, and down the other side on back to the edge closest to the driver.

What it REALLY boils down to is: You need to stumble, etc...., across a fairing that you really like. Get it, and then find the appropriate bracket for your bike. If the bracket does not exist (which is probably the case) then block it into place and start doing all your measurements to MAKE it work. That's the hard part, but also the fun part. Especially when you get it done and people say, "Wow, what the heck is that!?!?!?!" and you tell them its a "___________" and you made the custom mounts yourself.

Good luck with your search!

Dave Fox

 

Thanks a million, guys!

I DO ride year-round, and do longer trips with intentions to do some touring this summer and in the next few years with my bike. I VERY much value a fairings' ability to reduce some of the strain on my body and reduce some drag on the bike during these trips, and I also look forward to finding a set with some locking luggage and HARD luggage to secure some of my more valuable and important personal gear.

I like the idea of a fairing with lowers for winter riding - I think this would be well worth the investment. I've been slowly upgrading and swapping out parts to make my bike more touring-ready (most recent upgrade being gran turismo grips), so the search is on!

PS: If anyone has a complete set of front fairings including lowers they are interested in parting with, I would VERY much be interested. Brackets for a 650 are an added plus, but I know my way around a shop and am sure I can fab up something to do the job if yours don't match.

Another note, something with some front fairing storage and a power port for things such as my cell phone and GPS, insurance and registration cards, and maybe a pair of gloves, etc. would be a HUGE plus.

Any suggestions of what you know of that would work with my bike would be a major plus!