Full fairings

[mattcfish]

I like this Yamaha TZ350 fairing on this R45/R80.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MIJ9F00B08
It looks very natural on the airhead.
I looked at Airtech for one but couldn't find one exactly like it although the one for a TZ250 is similar as well as some other Jap models. I wonder if it would fit a /6 as well? Hard to tell without measurements.

Anyone else ever research putting a race style full fairing on an Airhead? Which ones will work.

[Deleted User 62]

Matt, if you haven't yet, check out Vanzens website. Many fairings shown in the classic glass sections: http://www.rockerboxer.com/glass_1.html I think the Knoschers are available without headlight hole, but they are a bit pricey. Lots of room for dropped bars, no?

[Garnet]

The TZ fairing looks nice and slimming on that bike. I put a TZ one like that on my Yamaha XS500 in 1976 and it boosted it's top speed by about 15 mph.

It might look a little light on your bike with the Wixom bags. I'd look for something a bit bigger and go for a more sport touring look like the Knoscher or Habermann http://www.boxercafe.com/HMANNfairings.htm

[vanzen]

Fairings not specifically designed to fit an airhead
will invariably require some degree of fabrication, trimming, and cutting.
In any event, fabrication of mounting brackets or modification of existing ones (as the RS)
will be a required adventure.
I will suspect this to be true of the TZ faired BMW pictured.

Fairings as those sold by Airtech will have the advantage of being light-weight and strong –
i.e. easy to trim and hang.

Important considerations when choosing a full-fairing for the BMW airhead chassis:
1.) Overall width of the cylinder and head assemblies, the routing of exhaust,
and the need for adequate air-flow / air-cooling, must be carefully considered.
Non-BMW-specific lower panels will likely require dramatic transformation.
2.) Some full race fairings are 1-piece, others are 2-piece with one upper section and one lower section.
In either scenario, fitting will be problematic if the lower section is expected to "wrap around" the heads.
3-piece fairings with 2-piece lowers might better suit this design objective.
3.) Due to steering head height and stock rake angle, airheads require a rather "tall" fairing shell
and a generous amount of side-opening room to allow full movement of the H-bars.
The difference in height of the H-bar when at center vs. it's height at steering-lock, is considerable.
Either the side openings will need to be quite large to accommodate this difference
or the "path" of the H-bars must be plotted, and the sides of the fairing trimmed to fit.
The profile of the shell must also be "tall enough" to preclude interference.
4.) Non-BMW-specific fairings will also likely require attention to that area
where the forks pass through the fairing.

Years ago, before the recent proliferation of after-market BMW specific halbschale fairings,
I modified an Airtech Duc 900SS replica to fit an airhead,
and currently on the table is a highly modified Airtech Duc 750-F1 upper for use on the CRo project.
The former required a considerable amount of personal involvement to "look at home",
the latter promises much the same.
Of course the return on one's investment might be a machine
that will stand out in a crowd of "cookie-cutter-cafes".

Note: The Habermann Spitfire and Avon Lynx top my short list
of favorite BMW-specific full-fairings.

[mattcfish]

I'm expecting to do quite a bit of trimming and bracket fabricating. I also plan to put in a hole for the headlight.
I could go with the Haberman, I like the way the VW headlight fits in the fairing itself, but it's a bit bulbus for my taste and covers up a little too much (I like my jugs visible...LOL).
I like the lightweight, one piece, look of that Yamaha fairing.
Like Vanzen infered, I don't want the standard R90S or Duc half fairing look that everyone is doing.
I suppose if the full fairing is open at the bottom, the fitment task will be easier. The lower portion should be able to spread a bit even if it was designed for a narrow machine.

[mattcfish]

http://www.airtech-streamlining.com/hon ... SINCAM.htm
I'm thinking this is the one I want. If it will fit anything from a In-line 4 to an in-line 6 CBX then it should be adaptable to a beemer. Actually, if you think about it, an airhead is a relatively narrow machine without the jugs. With holes cut for the cylinders and the expandable open bottom on this fairing, I should be able to get a good custom fit.
It's also one of the least expensive full fairings Airtech makes.

[vanzen]

Do consider the steep rake angle of the airhead –
and plan to do some cutting to allow forks travel from stop to stop ...
I will anticipate seeing pics of the transformation, eh ?
Sounds like a cool project ...

[Garnet]

Matt, don't forget the oil cooler ducts...... even if you don't have an oil cooler.

[mattcfish]

Do consider the steep rake angle of the airhead –
and plan to do some cutting to allow forks travel from stop to stop ...
...

Roger that, especially if I want to keep my gators. One solution (since I need to cut a large headlight opening anyway) would be to split the fairing at the front and add material between the halves to make it wider. Of course then you need a wider windshield to fit it...hmm...maybe R90S glass.

[mattcfish]

Matt, don't forget the oil cooler ducts...... even if you don't have an oil cooler.

You're spending my money again ...I've considered it.