Been thinking bout a fairing lately... Wide open?

[dago mooserider]

Hi guys,

I've been reading through various fairing posts and cannot seem to answer my ?
So, general consensus is Woody's was the best fairing. Not available anymore . So wide open is my next option.
My question for anyone with a wide open is: if I relocate the gauges can I lean the fairing farther back against the fork tubes? I don't like the looks of the one on their web page where the windshield is practically straight up. I was also considering the Memphis shades because I don't need/want a stereo. Any advice welcome

Thanks!

[hubcapsc]

Any advice welcome

A long time ago you could get Valkyrie specific fairings
from Hoppe, supposedly made by Woody... I had one...



After a while I took it off while I was fitting a Cobra lightbar, and rode that
way for a few weeks. I never put it back on. Bike felt lighter and nicer without
it.

-Mike "just a data point..."

[dago mooserider]

After a while I took it off while I was fitting a Cobra lightbar, and rode that
way for a few weeks. I never put it back on. Bike felt lighter and nicer without
it.

-Mike "just a data point..."
[/quote]


Oh yeah, I have a windshield that I think is hideous so it's rarely on but just with that I can feel the difference in the way the front handles. Not expecting to like the way a fairing feels either but 300+miles the other day with no wind protection had me worn out. 

[hubcapsc]

If you have a bad OEM windshield, you could replace it with
a Clearview (you have to have the OEM hardware).

If you have some other hideous windshield  there's
still some decent ones available. DetN8er has a
National Cycle Switchblade, I think. And 98valk likes
some other kind of still-available windshield a lot,
Rifle maybe?

A lot of people have and like their fairings...

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

For a bargain, the Memphis Shades fairing (with one of their multiple height windshields for it) is hard to beat.  A good shape aerodynamic bat-wing style fairing, though the inside is completely empty.  There is probably some wiggle room in the mounting angle to the bike, and short spacers can be made.

There should be some decent discussion threads on here about them (using search function).

I rode a standard with one on it and it was just fine (I ride two interstates myself). 

That was a black bike, and I think MS fairings only come in black.... so if your bike is another color... there's that.  I'm not sure if their shields have any tints available.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php?topic=35814.0

MS fairing with MS lowers.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php?topic=35814.0


MS spoiler shields for their fairing.

[hueco]

I have a old HD batwing fairing I was thinking about rigging up some day. It has been done. Can pick em up cheap on ebay.

[vanavyman]

One Fairing that is still available for the Valkyrie is Riffle.  Some like it some don't.  Here is a link.  I've seen this on a Trike and a Tour.

https://rifle.com/Motorcycle-Fairings/Honda/Raven-Fairing-Honda-Valkyrie-VTX1800-C-R.aspx

[idaida98]

I have a 1980 fly fairing mounted to my honda windshield brackets of course a little persuasion was used in doing so. I did put my honda windshield back on, I like the look better.

[idaida98]

That should read flh,damn fat fingers.

[Fazer]

I got one of the last fairings made by Glenn "Woody" and love it.  Had a minor crash that messed up the front half, and was fortunate that he had a front still on hand.  Back in business now.  Prior to that I had the Memphis Shade fairing and was happy with it for the most part.  I had a difficult time keeping it lined up to where looked like it was on straight.  Supposed to be easy off/easy on, but I found it to be quite fiddly trying to put it back on--always had to loosen every clamp and pretty much start over each time I had it off.  Of course, there is really no need to take it off, but seems like I was always fiddling with it.

Fazer

[Bagger John - #3785]

I've been running a Memphis Batwing on my Tourers for about 13 years now.

That fairing has been through some interesting - both good and bad - times with me - at first on my 2000 then on my 1999 when the other bike was sold.

When I first installed it I used a pair of Fats windshield brackets from Memphis. These of course weren't quick release, although they would allow me to swap the fairing for the clear windshields when I wanted more airflow. A couple years later I bought the correct (Trigger Lock) mounts but lost the ability to easily go from shield to fairing and back. And Memphis doesn't offer a set of Fats Trigger-Lock brackets for the Valkyrie.

Or do they?

After much experimentation and the purchase of several different "plates-only" kits, I ran across a set for  Victory (Hammer, IIRC...but I'll verify) which - by elongating one of the mounting holes - would allow a Fats to fit perfectly on the Trigger Lock fork clamp assemblies. They come in polished aluminum or black.

Many years ago I bought a 19" Fats from VRCC member 'John-In-NC' and that shield was the first recipient of a set of converted plates. Next in the project queue is a set of black plates and a 17" tinted shield.

I can go between the Batwing and the Fats quicker than it took me to type this sentence out.

There's still a pair of the original Memphis clamps at the bottom of the triple clamp area of the upper fork tube assemblies. Those are for when I want to run my Bob Dron fairing in very hot weather, and it's on the bike at the moment. Upon removing the other shields, you remove the flanged rubber mounts and associated fasteners that secure the Trigger Lock plates to the clamps, leaving the clamps themselves plus captive nuts on the fork tubes. The Dron fairing had its mounts modified per an old Shop Talk article and these are secured to the Memphis clamps with conical washers and 1/4" hex bolts as originally supplied with the Fats mounts.

The lower clamps stay in position as datum points. The middle and upper are loosened and positioned, the Dron brackets secured to them then they're tightened once again. Reverse the procedure when lining up a Trigger Lock equipped shield.

I took pictures of all this once upon a time and will post the whole procedure if anyone is interested.