Batwing?

[HossinMA]

So let me know what you all think.   The wife is wanting a new bike. I cant afford one, nor can I justify selling the old girl.  I've been on that saddle for 14 years and I still fall back in love with it every time I throw a leg over.

Thanks in advance.   



Hoss

[tank_post142]

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,35116.0.html

[Jess Tolbirt]

looking at your last choice, if you dont want your bike to look like a harley then i suggest you dont buy a bat wing fairing..

[HossinMA]

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,35116.0.html

\


Tank,

That looks AWESOME!! Although I am not nearly that tallented.   The things I make look more like I had too much beer and 3 years old using a craftsman toy tool set. 

Question though.     How do you reset your trip?


G

[HossinMA]

looking at your last choice, if you dont want your bike to look like a harley then i suggest you dont buy a bat wing fairing..

That was more for the purists that dont like them.   Personally there is no way that this bike could EVERY resemble a Harley.   But then again, thats a whole new thread.

[signart]

The Harley's copied the batwing so they could look like an early Gold Wing.

[t-man403]

This is the "MS" version and I'd have a hard time believing they're different from each other.

It works well and comes off quickly for cleaning behind or for just another look. I would love to have it and my saddle bags color matched to the bike but am not sure if it's a wise choice to spend more money on paint than the wing is worth.
I'm looking forward to seeing the "Woody" fairing at "InZane" ........... sure there will be a few there that have them, then I'll decide what to do.

[HossinMA]

It works well and comes off quickly for cleaning behind or for just another look. I would love to have it and my saddle bags color matched to the bike but am not sure if it's a wise choice to spend more money on paint than the wing is worth.

What does the back side of it look like on the bike? 

Sorry to be a pain in the rear.   I just hate to spend money on something that I have not seen.   You're right.  it has to be about the same thing.  the MS is an option as well.     Since the bike is black and the bags are leather, I am not going to worry about color matching.

[Hoser]

So let me know what you all think.   The wife is wanting a new bike. I cant afford one, nor can I justify selling the old girl.  I've been on that saddle for 14 years and I still fall back in love with it every time I throw a leg over.

Thanks in advance.   



Hoss

leave the wife home when you ride.    Hoser

[BF]

IMHO, for our Valks, there's no better option out there than a Woodys fairiing.  They're built specific for our Valks....and they fit like a glove.  They're NOT a one size fits all kinda fairing that was originally built for some other bike. 

Glenn is a one man shop and builds your fairing to your order (that's why it takes awhile to get it).  He doesn't have a bunch of fairings sitting around on a shelf in a warehouse somewhere. 

http://www.woodysfairings.com/fairingsetc/HNFVLKX.html

My bike.....

[csj]

I've got the MS batwing as well. I like the wind blockage, it's better than the original
Tourer shield.

I DO NOT like the mounting hardware. The top mounts kept breaking, I'd gotten to my
third set, then said %$@# it, made up my own redneck mount for the top. So far,
it's working well. I've also got the winglet add-ons for the bottom of the batwing.

Now I'm looking at a way to make the batwing larger, by adding more material.
Should look cool.

Oh BTW, I've seen batwings of different parentage on e-bay for maybe $200.

[Lazy]

[imghttp://][/img]

No part of this picture "looks like a Harley"
It is also the Woody's. VERY good quality and Glen is a great guy, a Valkyrie rider.
Mine is still unpainted, can't decide exactly what I want to do so I have left it as is when I unpacked it.  

[BF]

My outter fairing is painted black with clear coat.  The inner fairing I just left it as is with the black gel coat.  

[Jess Tolbirt]

[imghttp://][/img]

No part of this picture "looks like a Harley"
It is also the Woody's. VERY good quality and Glen is a great guy, a Valkyrie rider.
Mine is still unpainted, can't decide exactly what I want to do so I have left it as is when I unpacked it. 

you should have said, no part of this picture looks like a harley to me. thats what it should have said cause it looks just like a harley to me..except for that huge engine on it..

[BF]

Looking like a Harley is not a bad thing IMHO.  Harley makes some great looking bikes.  

And just for the record.....my trunk, when on the bike, is a Harley trunk.  It's the one for the Harley Heritage Softail.  I put a Corbin backrest on it and added a Harley luggage rack. 

[BF]

Besides the Woodys fairing, there's also Memphis Shades as mentioned above. 

http://memphisshades.com/application-charts/honda/batwing-fairing

And Wide Open Customs.

http://www.wideopencustom.com/p-36-honda-valkyrie-fairing.aspx

And the Hoppe Quadzilla.

http://hoppeindustries.com/store/quadzilla-batwing-fairing-valkyrie-9703-p-55.html

And Rifle.

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

And Tsukayu makes fairings.

http://www.tsukayu.com/products.htm

And then there's also folks that modify a Harley fairing and mount it to their Valks. 

You do have options. 

[Tailgate Tommy]

I'm happy with my Wide Open Customs. If I had it to do over I'd take a serious look at a Woody's. WOC is an ABS plastic. Woody's is fiberglass.

[t-man403]

It works well and comes off quickly for cleaning behind or for just another look. I would love to have it and my saddle bags color matched to the bike but am not sure if it's a wise choice to spend more money on paint than the wing is worth.

What does the back side of it look like on the bike? 

Sorry to be a pain in the rear.   I just hate to spend money on something that I have not seen.   You're right.  it has to be about the same thing.  the MS is an option as well.     Since the bike is black and the bags are leather, I am not going to worry about color matching.

This is the best I can do for now but if you look at the forks you an see how it's mounted and it removes easily. Gauges can stay put as well. If my bike was black or part there of, I'd probably be satisfied the way it is.
I can take a picture tomorrow up close if you'd like.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

The Harley's copied the batwing so they could look like an early Gold Wing.

Got any proof on that claim.

I think not.

Good Try.

[signart]

The Harley's copied the batwing so they could look like an early Gold Wing.

Got any proof on that claim.

I think not.

Good Try.

The 1980 Goldwing rolled into the showroom looking very much like the Harley you ride today, fairing, hard bags, hard trunk. So, when did your Harley first start looking like an early Gold Wing? You tell me, because the silhouette is very similar.

[Gryphon]

If anything, the fairing on the '80 'wing showed the influence of Craig Vetter and the "Windjammer" on the industry.  That fairing is frame mounted.  Batwings are fork mounted.  The Harley batwing is "remarkably" similar to the original Wixom design from the early 60's.  In fact 'Glides have been using them since at least '66. Harley started marketing their own and it was standard on the Electra Glide since 1969. 

http://www.dadscyclemags.com/tag/wixom-fairing/

The Goldwing was a game changeer for the touring crowd, but to say Harley copied the look is total BS.  Harley had the look when Honda's big bike was a 305.

[czuch]

My window is de-laminating. I dont think I like the loss of vision on the batwing. Seeing a few of them dosent look like what I want. Gotta find something soon though.
I like the look on your's though.

[BF]

My window is de-laminating. I dont think I like the loss of vision on the batwing. Seeing a few of them dosent look like what I want. Gotta find something soon though.
I like the look on your's though.

Loss of vision?  Do you constantly look at your front fender and headlight bucket while riding?

You don't have to have a tri-pouch mounted on your fairing like I do.  I like the look, plus it's extra stroage for things like spare riding glasses, clear glasses for night riding, a rag to clean up gas dribbles at the pump, etc.

[signart]

If anything, the fairing on the '80 'wing showed the influence of Craig Vetter and the "Windjammer" on the industry.  That fairing is frame mounted.  Batwings are fork mounted.  The Harley batwing is "remarkably" similar to the original Wixom design from the early 60's.  In fact 'Glides have been using them since at least '66. Harley started marketing their own and it was standard on the Electra Glide since 1969. 

http://www.dadscyclemags.com/tag/wixom-fairing/

The Goldwing was a game changeer for the touring crowd, but to say Harley copied the look is total BS.  Harley had the look when Honda's big bike was a 305.

I believe that Windjammer possibly made the early fairings for Honda. I did not know that Harleys looked like early Goldwings all the way back in '66.

[Jess Tolbirt]

just looking but looks like vetter made the fairings for harley in the beginning,,1974,,
http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Vetter_Fairings/Liberator.html

i am trying to find out when harley had their first fairing..

ok i found it.. 1969...

Engines:

Knuck 1936 – 1947
Pan 1948 – 1965
Shovelhead 1966 – 1985
Evo 1984 – 1999
Twin Cam 88 1999 – 2006
Twin Cam 88B 2000 – 2006

Unit construction:

Evo Sportster 1986 –
Ironhead Sportster 1957 – 1985
Flathead K Model 1952 – 1956

Milestones:

1909 First V-Twin Harley is produced.
1930 V and VL 74” Flatheads (VL was 30 HP)
1936 VLH 80” stroked74 = 34 HP
1932 GA Servicar 3 Wheeler
1941-45 WLA 45 for Army, 88,000 shipped including foreign armies.
1941 1000 XA built for US Army, copy of BMW with opposed cylinders and shaft drive.
1946 last year of the Cat’s Eyes Dash.
1946 Monroe Shock Absorber replaces Ride Control friction device on Springer.
1936 61” Knucklehead E (37 HP) and EL (40 HP); EL had higher compression.
1941 74” Knucklehead added as F and FL (48 HP).
1948 Panhead is introduced – E is 61” and F is 74”. (The Panhead was the first Harley to get hydraulic lifters, but they were at the top until 1953.)
1948 Last year of Springer front end (It is reintroduced on 1988 FXSTS.)
1949 Hydra Glide is introduced with telescopic tube front end.
1952 Footshift is introduced.
1952 Last year for 61” Panhead.
1952 45” K Model (predecessor to the Sportster) is introduced. It is the first Harley with a swingarm. It had a flat head with 4 cams and was of unit construction.
1956 Last year for the K Model.
1957 Sportster is introduced with a 55” Ironhead engine that will continue until 1985.
1958 XLCH is introduced. CH stands for “Competition Hot”.
1958 Panhead gets rear shocks.
1965 Duo Glide gets electric start and becomes the Electra Glide.
1965 Last year of the Panhead.
1966 FLH gets a new top end transforming the Panhead into the Shovelhead.
1969 AMF buys Harley Davidson. They continue to own it until 1981 when it was bought by a group of Harley executives, including Willie Davidson.
1969 Batwing Fairing first appears as an option for the Electra Glide.
1971 Batwing Fairing becomes standard equipment on the Electra Glide.
1971 FX model is introduced with a kickstart 74” Shovelhead engine and a Sportster front end. (In 1971, an FL Electra Glide weighs 710 pounds, an FX Super Glide weighs 560 pounds and a Sportster weighs 500 pounds.)
1972 Last hand shift.
1973 FX gets disc brakes.
1974 FX is also offered with electric start as FXE.
1977 XLCR Café Racer is produced.
1980 FXB Sturgis is introduced with an 80” Shovelhead that produces 65 HP. It has a belt primary and final drive and is the first belt drive Harley in 70 years. (There were 6846 built between 1980 and 1982 when they were discontinued.)
1981 Harley bought from AMF by a group of Harley executives, including Willie Davidson.
1982 FXR is added with a new, stiffer frame with a rubber mounted 80” Shovelhead that produces 65 HP, and a 5 speed tranny.
1983 XR1000 is introduced. Based on the XR750 alloy engine with dual carbs, it produced 70 HP, making it the most powerful Harley production bike of its time.
1984 Softail is introduced with the new Evolution (Evo) motor. It produces 69 HP.
1984 Last year for the Shovelhead and rear chains.
1985 Last year for the Ironhead Sportster.
1986 Evo Sportster is introduced with a choice of 883 or 1100 cc’s.
1987 Harley stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
1988 Springer front end returns on the FXSTS Springer Softail. This is the first Harley Springer since it was discontinued in 1948.
1989 Ultra Classic is introduced. (The Tour Glide has a frame-mounted fairing and the Electra Glide has the traditional bar mounted fairing.)
1990 FLSTF Fatboy is introduced.
1991 The Sturgis returns for one year as the FXDB Dyna with 72 HP and the oil tank under the tranny.
1999 Twin Cam 88 replaces the Evo on all Big Twin swing-arm frames.
2000 Twin Cam 88B replaces Evo on Softails. It is a counterbalanced version of the 88.
2006 Last year for carburetors on stock Harleys.
2007 88” (1450 cc’s) Twin Cam is stroked to make it 96” (1584 cc’s) and is standard on all 2007 Big Twin models, along with a six-speed tranny. They also offer a 110” big-bore kit for an additional $2500 plus installation.

[tank_post142]

the fixed fairing is not a batwing fairing . batwing refers to fairings such as the street glide wears.

[Jess Tolbirt]

the fixed fairing is the shark nose fairing on the road glides

[Jess Tolbirt]

the fixed fairing is not a batwing fairing . batwing refers to fairings such as the street glide wears.

look at the second 1969 above

[flatsixrider]

Have it, love it.  Goes in or off in 5 minutes as I have it mounted with the Memphis Shades fork mounts.  Been on the bike for 10 years.  

[HossinMA]

Damn,

Looks like I started a nice little debate.    


I completely believe you that Glenn is probably an awesome guy.   Money is going to be an issue for me though so I hate to say it, it comes down to $$$   The cheapo $200.00 on ebay may be the way to go.  Then again, I still have to buy the mounts (Unless I can use my current mounts.  Although I cannot remember who made that one)

G

[Jess Tolbirt]

hey hoss,, buy the early model harley faring, pre 95,, all you need to do to mount them is a couple flat bars about 4 inches long.. these fairings have the bolts on the inside and will line up with your existing windshield mounts..

[BF]

Damn,

Looks like I started a nice little debate.    


I completely believe you that Glenn is probably an awesome guy.   Money is going to be an issue for me though so I hate to say it, it comes down to $$$   The cheapo $200.00 on ebay may be the way to go.  Then again, I still have to buy the mounts (Unless I can use my current mounts.  Although I cannot remember who made that one)

G

Save up for the Woody.  

Buying a cheap plastic outter fairing shell will most likely only result with you buying twice and later going with a higher quality full fairing anyway.  

[flatsixrider]

Damn,

Looks like I started a nice little debate.    


I completely believe you that Glenn is probably an awesome guy.   Money is going to be an issue for me though so I hate to say it, it comes down to $$$   The cheapo $200.00 on ebay may be the way to go.  Then again, I still have to buy the mounts (Unless I can use my current mounts.  Although I cannot remember who made that one)

G

Save up for the Woody.  

Buying a cheap plastic outter fairing shell will most likely only result with you buying twice and later going with a higher quality full fairing anyway.  

I have to disagree.  I purchased this outer fairing 10 years ago and see no need to purchase anything different.  if you figure out what you want/need and buy accordingly there is no need to buy twice.  If a stereo and speakers were important to me I would have made a different purchase.  For function and looks this batwing from a 1970's HD works well. 

[HossinMA]

[/quote]

I have to disagree.  I purchased this outer fairing 10 years ago and see no need to purchase anything different.  if you figure out what you want/need and buy accordingly there is no need to buy twice.  If a stereo and speakers were important to me I would have made a different purchase.  For function and looks this batwing from a 1970's HD works well. 

[/quote]

I do like the look of that and frankly a stereo is somewhat of a bone of contention with me.   Living in the northeast where the riding season is short and the cagers are all oblivious I rely heavilly on my sense of hearing to keep me out of trouble as much as possible. My fear is that with the radio blaring I will become blind to any incoming danger.   Although on those long rides, it would avoid me having to hear myself sing.

Do you happen to have a photo of the backside?   The only thing I really am concerned about with the open back fairings is the look and if it is going to howl at all.

Just a though.  But I completely agree that I really do not want to buy one and find out I absolutely hate it.


Hoss

[BF]

If you were to buy a Woody, there's nothing that says you have to put a stereo in it.  If you later decide that you want one, you can install one later.  Even if you install one later on, there's nothing that says that you have to actually turn it on.   

[tank_post142]

you advocate putting a fairing on a bike that is worth 1/3 of the total value of the bike? some of use don't have the cash you do. that's why he said it had to be low cost.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

The Harley's copied the batwing so they could look like an early Gold Wing.

Got any proof on that claim.

I think not.

Good Try.

The 1980 Goldwing rolled into the showroom looking very much like the Harley you ride today, fairing, hard bags, hard trunk. So, when did your Harley first start looking like an early Gold Wing? You tell me, because the silhouette is very similar.

Dead Wrong man.

1969 Batwing Fairing first appears as an option for the Electra Glide.

Honda has copied Harley's for years. They were first. Harley that is.

The F6B is a direct copy of the hottest selling bagger on the planet, the Street Glide.

But the Street Glide has many more options standard like CRUISE CONTROL.

Good Try though.

[t-man403]

you advocate putting a fairing on a bike that is worth 1/3 of the total value of the bike?

Maybe a third of the cost of the one in your avatar! 

[big poppa pump]

I have a MS batwing installed on mine and I love it. Did not pay an arm and leg for it either. The Woody's are nice but I did not want to relocate my gauges. Also did not want any stereo installed since I use a FF helmet with bluetooth for music.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

Have it, love it.  Goes in or off in 5 minutes as I have it mounted with the Memphis Shades fork mounts.  Been on the bike for 10 years.  

Nice Bikes.

I like your Avatar, from the movie the Worlds Fastest Indian. Great Movie as well.