Faired VS Unfaired Bikes

[AndyT]

Hello All this is my first post so pleae go easy on me!!!!
I am currnelty going through the lessons and stuff for my big bike test and am looking at waht bike to aim for - i am kinda torn between a fully faired bike like a CBR 600 (surprise eh!!) and a Naked Bandit (oh another shocking choice!). The thing that is worrying me is that when i have passed i really want to do some longer journeys and stuff and people have said that the naked bandit gives you loads of buffetting even in light wind at anything over 80mph - is this the case or not?? For info i am about 5ft 8 and medium build? Any opinions or suggestions welcome!!
Cheers
Andy

[chrisw]

Woo and Yay for first posts!

Anyway...

I've been puzzling over the same question myself. I'm not at the same stage as you (still not even ridden a bike), but I guess what bike to get is a big a decision as any other.

I was originally set on getting one of the un/part faired common three, Hornet, Bandit or Fazer. But now I'm unsure. Partly because of rider comfort (i.e wind buffeting) but also because of bike longevity.

I plan on ditching 4 wheels completely so the bike I eventually decide upon needs to be able to cope with winter and more importantly the muck and bullets associated with year round riding. And its this that has started to put me off the idea of a naked machine as, by many accounts, they just don't cope with winter very well.

So from the naked three, I've also started looking at VFRs and CBRs as possible alternatives, even a Deauville has been considered.

Not sure if that helps or hinder, but I'll be reading the replies with interest

[element]

my first big bike is gonna be a unfaired gs500 or something along those lines. Chances are I might drop it in the first few months of getting used to the weight etc and Id rather not have to pay out for a respray.. Think about it if you drop it at 5mph on an unfaired bike you'd prob just do damage to the lever, pegs, bars etc nothing major... Imagine the scratches you would have on a sports bike! You could however ride with it bikini style or buy crash bung things if you did get a fully faired bike.
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[Bendy]

When I had a naked bike, most of the buffeting that I moaned about was actually down to a poorly fitting helmet.

Unless you're motorway bashing day in and day out, I wouldn't see any reason to choose faired over unfaired. You can always stick a flyscreen on your unfaired bike for a little bit of extra protection if need be. But for the most part, you'd just get used to it.

[gemma1675]

Hey there.

I can certainly tell the difference between the naked ER5 I have been learning on and my own GPZ500 which has some fairing. The GPZ is far more comfortable at speed.

My husband has a CB500 and gets a lot of buffeting. He added a fly screen but all that did was direct the wind directly to his head - making it even more uncomfortable. So that soon came off again.

Guess you need to test ride some then you can weigh up the additional comfort for yourself at the speeds you are likely to ride regularly, compared to the financial risk if you drop a faired bike....

Gemma x
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[damnas]

My intructor says that his bandit (600) can comfortably do 90 on the motorway, and that it's just a case of getting used to it, like everything else.
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[krebsy]

The biggest diference I have found is in my clothing. I started off riding with a bulky fabric jacket, rucksack and 2nd hand helmet that wasn't tight enough. Going up and down the motorways to work on my Naked XJ600n was a struggle against the wind and buffeting.

Now I have a rear box to keep the rucksack in, a new snug KBC helmet and a Frank thomas armoured (and rather more rigid) fabric jacket. Now I can quite happily get the bike 20-25mph quicker before feeling the wind shake me around. I had to carry a load of shopping the other day so the box was full and the rucksack was tightly fastened on my back. It felt like I was riding with a drag shute open.

I do 50 miles a day on the bike, wind (bar the occasional gusty cross-wind) is not a problem...

K.
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[AndyT]

Cheers all - comments greatly appreciated!

[Villers]

I actually own a CBR600 at the moment and last year I had an unfaired hornet for a few months as a hire bike.

The fairing on the CBR (with a double bubble screen fitted) does a good job of keeping the wind off you, but on the CBR I often find myself sitting fairly upright unless Im caning it. Ive seen many a silly speed and was glad to have the protection, its also handy for the rain sometimes too.

The hornet gave a different feeling of speed but because of my tendancy to not think about the wind factor (due to the CBR) I caught myself out a few times and could feel me pushing very hard against the wind. At a three figure speed (on a track/autobahn etc) this wind was a right pain in the arse compared to indicated speeds of three figures ending in '60' (on an autobahn/track again officer) the buffeting behind a screen was minimal.

I would much rather have something to hide behind than nothing, especially when you consider wind against time riding, bug splatter, rain etc etc.


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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[DAF]

I got myself a Fazer last year after doing the DAS. Most of my daily journey into work is motorway and dual carriageways and that's why I went for the faired version, which offers good protection against buffeting and the elements, even into 3 figures on the way home up the M11.

The only time I feel some buffeting is if I've got the tank bank fully extended and I'm travelling over an exposed flyover at speed, otherwise it's fine.
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2005 Yam Fazer (FZ6-S)

[Flip]

I need fairings because I'm a pussy.

[nakedgsx]

i passed my test a year ago now and i live in the highlands where on a good day its a strong breeze at least. my first bike was a 1992 GSX750F i didnt seek it out for any reason it was just a sale near by and i knew it was quick. full faring front to back and i can tell you that with gusty side winds it wasnt much fun at all. i eventually drifted it on a hair pin bend about 2/3s accross the road. becasue i had rode into an open area and i was over a good bit, the bike just went to go to the ground but by some miracle i managed to keep it up. after that i couldnt get comfortable on it in windy weather. sold within about 4 weeks. i traded it in for a suzi GSX 750 w a completely naked bike, which is a dream after the tea pot. you probably do get a bit more buffeting on it but when it comes to side winds trying to push you off the road it barely feels it, a fly screen helps a good bit too. the rain is a bugger on the naked bike but not much more than on the fared bike. the gsx has power right though the gears and is much easier to ride and you dont have to wrestle with it when your countersteering. i'd reccomend a ER500 or simlar bike as your first until you get used to how you relate to other road users, overtaking, road position and stuff like that. (even for a couple of months till you get your cbr) and remember most bloody car drivers wont see you, take it easy stay safe

[m0l0t0v]

Get a naked bike (Hornet over Blandit anytime!) and man up. Build some neck muscles.

BTW, I'm 6 "2 and slim build. Correct helmet size helps too...

First big bike was a Hornet 600, and I've pretty much fallen in love with it, second big bike was a NC30 (VFR400) and it's a faired little sportsbike. Good fun, better against the wind yes, but I'll always take the Hornet hands down
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'99 Hornet 600 , VFR 400 NC30 '92 , Kasawamasaki GT 550 , '98 Hornet 600
**\Tarmacsurfer/** said: It's that immaculately manly coiffure of yours isn't it. One glimpse of your virile locks and the punters can't wait to buy whatever it is you suggest, as it might let them be just a little bit like the Adonis that is our very own Molly Doovydoo said: Its not my fault I can't get it up properly, I just wasn't blessed

[Ste]

A four year old thread... nice.

[m0l0t0v]

At least it wasn't me...
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'99 Hornet 600 , VFR 400 NC30 '92 , Kasawamasaki GT 550 , '98 Hornet 600
**\Tarmacsurfer/** said: It's that immaculately manly coiffure of yours isn't it. One glimpse of your virile locks and the punters can't wait to buy whatever it is you suggest, as it might let them be just a little bit like the Adonis that is our very own Molly Doovydoo said: Its not my fault I can't get it up properly, I just wasn't blessed

[metalangel]

[ClaireBear]

[el_oso]

i remember that when i was on my old 125 the wind could really throw you about on the motorway and open a-roads and that was only at 60-65mph on a level bit of road.
however it was so light that it could be picked up with one arm. a heavier bike like a 600 is much less easily blown off course although i do have a bit more fairing on the 600.
i regularly travel for Loughborough to romford (east london) 128miles and don't have any complaints from a half faired bike.
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[That_Hornet]

I did a trip to Valencia on my naked hornet.

No bother really. 2 days there, 2 days back. 600 miles on one day, 450 on the other. Then same on the way back. 2200 miles in 6 days.

Could have been better, But

To be honest, naked bikes are awesome!

[-Savage-]

https://achievements.schrankmonster.de/Achievement.aspx?text=Necropost
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My Bikes - - - Royal Enfield 500 with sidecar, VFR800, CBR600FX,
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[kawashima]

Handle bar mounted fairing on naked bike
->Usually protect small area from wind (usually below your neck to stomach, your shoulders aren't covered)
->Wind affect handling
Full faired bike
->When you change oil, you must remove lower fairing.
Frame mounted half faired bike
->Usually covers your shoulders, by attaching longer screen on it, your head will be covered. Your legs aren't covered but it's not so big problem compared to upper body.
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owned: 2012 YB125SP, 2008 TDM900, 2005 W650, 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50 / Trip to UK(2009), Hokkaido touring(2013)