Batwing fairing

[ladderman]

I like the look of the Batwing fairing but I'm wondering how practical it is on the highway.  Do you experience a lot of buffeting at highway speeds, if so, do fork wings and engine wings curtail the wind?  I have a Switchblade windshield now and it does a pretty good job.  One problem is it is too high and goes over the top of my head, I know I can cut it down, but don't want to get into
that.  If I don't go with the Batwind fairing, I'm going to buy the Honda windshield.  Thanks for any input.
                          Ladderman

[fudgie]

I put one on in Oct. I like it. It does have its flaws. I get alot more wind under it and over the tank. It hits me right in the chest. My HD friends say its common and sux when it rains. If I could put fairing wings on it I would. I put fork mounted deflectors on and it had helped. Undecided about Bakers.   I like it cause I could put all my handle bar mounted stuff in the fairing and make it less noticable. It was hard to get use to a object in front of you since I was use to the shield. My OEM shield provided better wind protection to me, in mho. As far as buffeting, no. I never had it with the shield either. Im 5'8" and only wear a helmet when I have to, maybe that has something to do with it. I'm betting I will like it this summer. When I 1st mounted it I was on the way to a party and cranked it up to 100 mph on the highwayto test it. I didn't have a shield on it just my pouches. It was very stable, better the the shield. I run alot of highways and it has been great. My HD bud gave me his old shield and I had it cut down to where I needed it. I recently bought a tinted one that will go on this spring. I see over it to much but when Kit and luggage is on, which is 95% of the time, it lines up great. You can always try it and go back if you didn't like it.

[ssober]

I put mine on during the summer and like it.  My oem tourer shield seemed to have  a little more protection but it didn't have a radio.  The overall height is shorter. they offer freedom wings that help with buffeting and I run the bakers with the tops and they seem to help.  And you can't beat the look in my book
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j314/ssober/010-2.jpg[/img]]

[Al in AK]

We also came from OEM sheilds, which are great. But I do like the looks and have raidios and speakers mounted in the fairings. I have had these modified with fiberglass work from my own design,
to except the speakers.
The Baker air wings are a must for combating the air coming underneath. I do not have any problem with air hitting be in the chest, as we have seen our share of rain.
The one on the left has close to 40,000 miles with a batwing on it, and two round trips on the Alcan.



Speakers are inset in fairing. Baker air wings.




GPS mounted.




Utah last summer. I love to post pictures............



Oh yea, and a water tight seal around the headlight housing..........

[ladderman]

We also came from OEM sheilds, which are great. But I do like the looks and have raidios and speakers mounted in the fairings. I have had these modified with fiberglass work from my own design,
to except the speakers.
The Baker air wings are a must for combating the air coming underneath. I do not have any problem with air hitting be in the chest, as we have seen our share of rain.
The one on the left has close to 40,000 miles with a batwing on it, and two round trips on the Alcan.



Speakers are inset in fairing. Baker air wings.




GPS mounted.




Utah last summer. I love to post pictures............



Oh yea, and a water tight seal around the headlight housing..........

[ladderman]

They all look good, interested in how you incorporated the speakers and radio into the Batwing fairing, also, a water -tight seal on the headlight opening?  Thanks to all,
                                                                                      Ladderman

[ssober]

Mine came radio ready.  All i did was put the radio in the hole and wire it all up

[fudgie]

I put foam weatherstip around my light. Need to keep the shield from leaking but after my new goes on I thing it will be better. If not I'll run a bead of black caulk around it.