fairings / wind buffetting?

[FLV]

Hello again....

So fairings, whilst I am sure they make some difference, do they actually offer a lot of wind protection?

I'm thinking on the scale of a 3 or 4 hour motorway stint at 80+ mph.
On a naked bike, would it be a case of getting legs and head buffetted around like mad?
On a faired bike, all nice and smooth (relatively)? probably varies from bike to bike though right?

Ta muchly

[panrider_uk]

You can ride at whatever speed you want without having to cling on to the handlebars - makes longer distances less tiring.

You're also protected from rain too of course.

Downside is that you're more affected by crosswinds.

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[Crazy Assed Goose]

Makes a huge difference, when I rode my bike with the fairings off when fixing them it hurt my neck after a long ride at speed.

Also with fairings you can tuck close to the edge of your screen with your visor to blow the rain off it.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Depends on the fairing.

Big protective one then yes it will keep the wind off you. Small sports bike fairing might well make the buffeting worse than you experience on a naked bike

All the best

Keith
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[robbieguy2003]

[c_dug]

I definitely find it noisier with my fairing than on a naked bike, I think despite the double bubble screen the wind is still hitting my head.

Luckily for longer journeys I put my elbows on my knees to take the weight off my back and then my head is brought below the level of the screen, might look a twat but it works perfectly and I'm pretty bendy so I can stay like that for hours and get no aches or pains.
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[FLV]

looks like quite a variety then, probably best to ensure i try a bike out at speed i'd say before parting with the hard earned.
cheers all

[Paxovasa]

On the bandit the fly screen helps deflect the wind off my chest.
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[DrDonnyBrago]

On my CBR with a double bubble they make a big difference, I can sit bolt upright at 100mph and not feel much wind. All speeds feel the same If I tuck in a bit.

[deltron]

I did'nt think the fairings on my nsr 125 made a huge amount of difference until I rode a cbf500 on my das last week,even just doing 60-70 with a headwind and a bit of rain your upper body really gets buffeted and I kept trying to tuck in out of habit. I guess the sit up and beg style of the bike did'nt help so I guess a sportier naked with clip ons might not be quite so bad but I'm pretty sure I'll be going for a faired bike when i go for a bigger bike.

[MarJay]

[Shaane]

I do regular motorway mileage on my ninja and in all fairness only get a little amount of buffeting, I rode my dads girlfriends nufaired bandit back when she first got it and i got hit quite badly and didn't like it at all.

Think alot of it is down to personal opinion though tbh.
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[kawakid]

Yeahh fairings really help.

Saying that so do screens. I fitted a screen to both my last 2 nakeds. At high speeds and long distances the wind pressure on your chest is constant and not nice.
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[robbieguy2003]

[Whosthedaddy]

[Pete.]

Since you don't feel the wind against your midriff area or legs much, but you feel it a lot on your chest and head (and the resulting load on your arms), this is the area you should concentrate on deflecting the wind from. A small screen with a top-edge that turns upwards (aka a 'flip' screen) will do wonders for your comfort on a naked bike at speed.
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132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Skudd]

I fitted a taller screen to my Varadero which helped with the wind buffeting, because I'm 6'2" it still caught the top of my lid, fitted bar risers and all buffeting has gone due to the slightly different riding position.
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[kawashima]

I had CB400SF and W650 with large screen, and now I have TDM900 with +135mm genuine tall screen.
TDM wind protection has become nearly perfect.
This was my first "half faired" bike and the difference between half faired and naked+screen was fairly large. And the wind pressure doesn't affect handling at all.
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own:2020 Serow 250
owned: 2012 YB125SP, 2008 TDM900, 2005 W650, 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50 / Trip to UK(2009), Hokkaido touring(2013)

[pug]

I found it's not having a fairing 'per-se' that makes a difference,but the shape it is.

I ride a naked Vmax which has a speedo clock as it's only wind defence,and an FJ which is faired. Suprisingly,due to the way the Vmax is shaped,it's only my head that really feels the buffeting-but as has been said,you either grow steel neck muscles,or sort a screen that does the job for you & keeps your visor clear.

I was lucky,in having a mate who works at a plastics factory,who made a screen for me that curls forward at the top and 'flows' to the sides.
Rather like a flip screen,but with a centre-parting.

I thought it was a joke when I first saw it,but once fitted,it was amazing. It's actually better than the FJ's fairing,as rain is blown off the sides and around me,so my visor stays clear.

I have no idea how he did it-but why he's not making a fortune selling custom screens defeats me.

So for me,full fairings aren't wildly important-a decently shaped screen can be just as good at deflecting rain/wind/general shit.
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