Best Fairing for R90/6???

[rbryson]

Please weigh in. The Windjammer III was the standard for years, but in retrospect what other fairings are aerodynamic and block the wind?

[rvbeemer]

I had a Parabellum Scout on my R90 and wish I had never got rid of it. It did the job and looked good. I will buy another, although very expensive.

[PGlaves]

Please weigh in. The Windjammer III was the standard for years, but in retrospect what other fairings are aerodynamic and block the wind?

The Leuftmeister frame mounted fairing (looked a lot like the Windjammer) was more common on the /6 than any other fairing I am aware of.

[97077]

I have a Hannigan Fairing on a 86 R80 that works great. Good wind protection and plenty of storage. Plus with the smoke paint of a R90S the old girl looks great too. I had a Luftmeister on a R100/7 that did a good job but to compare the two I would choose the Hannigan. If you can find a RT or RS fairing those would work also. I own a R80RT and love that set up. I am in the proses of putting a RS fairing on a R80RT but haven't rode the bike yet. Good luck with your choice. :brow

[20774]

?? http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22382 ??

[DOINTHETON]

i just removed a mint windjammer three fairing from a super low mileage 76 R90/6. BMW specific design, as it uses the stock headlight and blinker assemblies. black with white pinstripes. complete with mounting bracket, pocket vinyl covers, running lights, etc.
if you want to try one on the cheap, i'll sell it for $100.00. located just west of st louis, mo.
Bill

[6659]

I have a red "S" fairing off of a 1977 R100S. You can buy higher shields for it from Parabellum. When I found out what the hardware, clock, and voltmeter cost, I decided not to put it on my R100. I think the Scout fairing would do the job and look decent also. Either way the bike would look good. If you want cargo capacity and full wind protection then either the Windjammer or the Luftmeister is the way to go. Don't forget to add spacers to your fork springs with the heavier fairings.

Anyone want to trade my S for your Scout?

[kstoo]

IMHO the best fairing for a R90/6 is wearing the proper riding gear!!

I have spent a lot of time behind a Vetter SS and a RT fairing. The Vetter Windjammer/Luftmeister will suffice to block the wind a little bit. Meanwhile you will lose a lot of the nimbleness of your R90. An RT or RS fairing seems lighter and placed better. Here is my other point that you guys may weigh in on: if you plan on selling a bike with a Vetter/Luftmeister on it plan on selling it for less or having a harder time selling it. From what I have seen most people want a bare R90 and don't want to have to mess with taking the fairing off.

[sgborgstrom]

I really like the Hannigan ST fairing. Right now ones lives in the attic waiting for another bike to roll under it.

[donbmw]

I installed an RS fairing on my 75 R90/6. I have a Rapid Transit fairing on my 82 R65. Thier is a German Co. Pelcher that make a nice fairing.

[Boxerkuh]

I think you already have all the different options and it really depends on your opinion. What do you want? What do you think looks good? What type of riding do you do? Does age, living location, physical limitations play into it? I myself started out with a RT, which I found to have too much wind protection in the heat of South Carolina... so I switched it to a R bike... that wore me out on long trips and on Parabellum Scout with first a 10" screen and then a 18" screen. That worked pretty good for my needs, but I thought it did not look great, okay, but not great, so I switched to a RS fairing. I love the looks of it, it gives me great wind protection, is period correct. I am staying with it on this bike... until I get another bike and have something else... :stick Your call... my food for thought... :eat :drink

[ppakyz]

i just removed a mint windjammer three fairing from a super low mileage 76 R90/6. BMW specific design, as it uses the stock headlight and blinker assemblies. black with white pinstripes. complete with mounting bracket, pocket vinyl covers, running lights, etc.
if you want to try one on the cheap, i'll sell it for $100.00. located just west of st louis, mo.
Bill

Bill, Do you have any photos of this fairing? I am looking for one not as large as the one I just took off. Mine had it's own lights and headlight etc.
Thanks,
Paul Pakyz

[StevenRankin]

I have a friend who put a BMW stock R80/100RT fairing on his bike from a newer model R100.

You have to remove the stock headlight ears and turn signal stalks. Take out and switch the ignition key to the fairing. Drill and tap two holes in the Steering head for the main fairing mount.

Right now a fellow has a R100RT fairing and the mounts for sale in the flea market. For 800 bucks, it is not a bad deal.

The BMW fairing will look and respond a whole lot better than anything aftermarket. I should know, I tried Vetter, Handlebar wind screens and other combos of fairings until I broke down and went with the BMW designed fairings. Even an S fairing is better designed than any aftermarket. Plus, it keeps the BMW BMW. St.

[DennisDarrow]

Had two different Avon fairings over the years. One on a 72 R75 and the other on a 75 R75.............both come with lowers and storage.........the latter one had driving lights built into the lowers...............both were totally aerodynamic and looked slick.............maybe difficult to find but perhaps worth the search........

God Bless and Merry Christmas........Dennis

[tuber1]

best fairing is whats best for you, what do you think you want??
Windjammer and Luftmeister can be like pushin a barn door, and with roads they way they are now, you have to watch for mounting frame cracks. I used Luftmeister for yrs on my /6, because i thought I needed a full fairing.
If you can. try some other bikes with various type farings, even some of those full size windshields; that might be enough for you.

[Na Cl K9]

IMHO the best fairing for a R90/6 is wearing the proper riding gear!! Second that however, the two best full fairings I ever used on /6 and /7 were the Avon and Hannigan SS. Both could be used with the sport handlebars, were slippery enough to give a few miles per gallon back and provided excellent protection from the elements. The Hannigan is heavier than the Avon but both are good for making miles. I now have one bike equipped with an 'S' fairing, One with an Avon and one bare but ready to mount an RS fairing I put together. The RS suits my preferred riding posture, is very slippery, and has almost the protection of the Hannigan with half the weight which is the important message of this post.

We used to call the mid 70's plastic "Barn Doors", "Bug Mashers" and "GoofMeisters" but the truth is that with a set of lowers either original or the "Dry Legs" set up the old plastic did a good job providing a modicum of comfort. I used both Luftmeister and Vetter products and have a complete copy of the last of production of each on my garage wall...used the Cycle Sound radio equipped Vetter as my shop radio for awhile.

At one time I had a bunch of Vetters and Luftmeisters removed from the heard of BMW's that ran through my early years of twisting wrenches. They nested neatly one inside the other from the ground clear up under a ten foot high eve behind my shop. Oddly that’s both a testament to their popularity, and to the speed at which technology, marketing, and better ideas replaced them.

[rbryson]

I have had a Vetter Windjammer III for 30 years and have never tried anything else...am the original owner. Seems that everyone feels the Windjammer is a barn door...not at all aerodynamic, hence my desire to change. After reading some of the repsonses it appears that I could mount an RT fairing on my bike. How much modification is necessary. Which year(s) is/are the best? Cost? Other advice much appreciated.

[rbryson]

After reading all the responses I have concluded the RT BMW fairing is the best for me. Very aerodynamic and adequate wind protection compared to my Vetter Windjammer IIII. Which year is the best, how much modification, price, etc? Please advise. Thanks.

[Na Cl K9]

I have had a Vetter Windjammer III for 30 years and have never tried anything else...am the original owner. Seems that everyone feels the Windjammer is a barn door...not at all aerodynamic, hence my desire to change. After reading some of the repsonses it appears that I could mount an RT fairing on my bike. How much modification is necessary. Which year(s) is/are the best? Cost? Other advice much appreciated. The RS and RT fairings use an upper fairing mount that attaches to the steering head with two bolts. The /7 steering head which is designed for use with the RS/RT fairing is thicker than the /6 at this attachment point to provide more support. Simply drilling and tapping the /6 steering head will not provide sufficient purchase for the mounting bolts and they will eventually cause localized fatigue in the steering head and the bolts will pull out causing a upper mount failure. The second item on the list is the fairing mount that attaches to the frame under the tank. A large /6 tank sits down over the top of the engine more-so than the /7 tanks do which means that you'll have to find a /7 tank to provide clearance for this particular mount and that will require you to purchase a /7 seat (either touring or sport with cowl will do).

I think you can wait with cash in hand and find a suitable RT fairing for between 6 and 8 hundred dollars. $250.00 for a tank with cap and $200.00 for a seat (selling yours to offset the added expense). Get the split lowers for ease of mounting and dismounting and a louvered front lower engine panel would be best. After that, relocate front turn signal wires and add a harness for the volt and clock. You'll need the RT/RS specific instrument bracket. I don't think the ignition switch assembly needs to be relocated to the fairing...I left my switch in the headlight on my /7 "S" to "RS" conversion. Your handle bars are ok and control cables should work fine as routed too. My experience has been that most of the upper RS/RT fairing mounting brackets that you buy used are bent if only just slightly. They can be straightened with a well calibrated eyeball and little patience.

The local shop service manager and I did our first retro-fit of an RS fairing to his 76 R75/6 in 1977. Neither of us thought the upper bracket would stay attached to the /6 steering head. After about two years, Jim was traveling home from work one day, hit a small pothole and his fairing collapsed onto the front forks making it almost impossible to turn the handle bars. My advice is use ONLY a 77 or later frame designed for use with the RT plastic.

[Polarbear]

A slash 6 frame steering head will be fine with RT/RS bracket and bolts, with a "great welder" at hand:). Drill, put the bolts in place and tack weld four sufficient areas around the bracket and you have a very nicely done, strong hold for any fairing, forever! Of course this is a more permanent fixture and not easily undone, but feasable to undo if ever needed. Randy13233:wave

[donbmw]

I have had an RS fairing on my 75 R90/6 for over 20 years now and have not had any problems with it.

Don

[rbryson]

Does anyone have pics of either an RT or RS fairing on a R90/6? Would also like to see pics of a Hannigan or Pichler on a R90/6 if possible.:wave

[donbmw]

I will try and take some over the next couple days of mine with the RS fairing. In this months ON there is a Don Vesco Rapid Transit Fairing for sale.

Don

[manicmechanic]

PM me with your email address and I'll shoot you a couple pix of my /6 with Hannigan.

[sumran]

I think you would find a conversation with Jerry to be helpful. Someone gave me a link to their website after I saw some pictures of the fairing. His contact information is on the site.

http://www.hanniganmotorcyclefairings.com/main.html

[OHScot]

Hard to beat, the storage alone is worth it. Picture in thread post a picture of your airhead.

[sumran]

Hard to beat, the storage alone is worth it. Picture in thread post a picture of your airhead.

Page 34, I think. Beautiful.

[Na Cl K9]

...This is narrower than the ST and still had lots of storage and great protection
from the elements. Note the small bubble secondary windscreen which is an
important accessory. It can deflect most of the bugs away from your face shield.
I think it's one of those "Designed by a motorcyclist" accessories that makes the
miles roll by a little easier.

[535is]

...This is narrower than the ST and still had lots of storage and great protection
from the elements. Note the small bubble secondary windscreen which is an
important accessory. It can deflect most of the bugs away from your face shield.
I think it's one of those "Designed by a motorcyclist" accessories that makes the
miles roll by a little easier.
Unless you're 5'6". I've ridden Manic Mechanic's (Randy's) R90 and I hated that windscreen. The seam between the main windshield and the bubble deflector is exactly at my eye level. It was miserable trying to see through, over, or under it.

I ride an RS and while that screen is a little low, I know there are some other higher ones that are bolt-on replacements for it. I learned years ago that you don't have to be behind the screen for it to keep the wind off your helmet. It just needs to be at the right angle for its height. My old Shadow's 'shorty' tombstone shield was a good 8 inches below my eyes, so I almost never looked through it. Still, it kept the bugs off my face and deflected wind over my head up to around 65 mph. I would also give serious consideration to the RT fairing. I think there are a couple for sale in ON right now and frankly, I think the stock RS or RT fairing looks better than any of the aftermarket ones.

[manicmechanic]

Just remember that the windscreen for the Hannigan can be(and in my case was) made for your riding position.

Hey C.R., stop in and visit at the shop someday.

[535is]

Just remember that the windscreen for the Hannigan can be(and in my case was) made for your riding position.
No; it was made for your riding position. :p

Hey C.R., stop in and visit at the shop someday.
Yeah; I should. You going to the Airheads' February tech session in Waunakee? I'm takin' the RS (behind the Jeep - whaddya think I'm crazy?) and gettin' my splines lubed ... :thumb

[20975]

Hi, I put an RT fairng on my R90/6 in the late 80s and it has worked well. You can use the stock gas tank but you have to peen the cross over fairing mount under the tank to accommodate the larger /6 tank. On the steering head, I drilled holes and then used good quality bolts with nylocs and large washers inside. I have had no problems.

If this has worked, I have attached a photo showing my bike in 2007, with the same RT faring. By the way in my part of Canada you can get "collectors" insurance if the bike is 25 years old and stock. They do allow "accessories of the period" and the RT faring qualified.

John

[carockwell]

My R80 ST has an Hannigan fairing. IMHO the Hannigan is a much better fairing than the RS because it can use much wider handlebars, offers better protection, can be configured with mid lowers for easier servicing, is not harmed in a parking lot tip over, can be removed in 30 minutes, is available with HID lighting, and provides more leg room. In addition, you can still buy one brand new.

I recently had a 45 mph low side crash and the fairing did pretty well. I need a new blinker, new shield, and a new mirror. The scrapes in the gel coat will be more difficult to repair.

The complete weight of the Hannigan , brackets, lights, and mid lowers was 35 pounds. I believe that an RS fairing, with all attachments, weighs 33 pounds. The RS weight comes from somebody else's post, so I don't know if it is correct.

[Na Cl K9]

Hi, I put an RT fairng on my R90/6 in the late 80s ...I drilled holes and then used good quality bolts with nylocs and large washers inside. I have had no problems.John This is (one of) the least problematic solution to mounting the RT upper fairing bracket to a /6 steering head. It requires that the steering stem be removed to permit bracket installation/removal or periodic tightening of nuts on the mounting bolts. Welding this upper faring bracket in place on the /6 steering head is such a terrible idea that most readers should have already dismissed that as a solution but I felt the need to make a statement to that effect anyway.

Again, (IMHO), the earliest frame of choice for this conversion is the 1977 /7. The reasons in addition to the thickness of the steering head are the second massive tubular cross-frame brace under the steering head AND the increased size of the cross braces above and below the swingarm pivots. These frame upgrades were directly related to the additional weight of an integrated full fairing and the loading forces that act upon the frame geometry and structural performance during operation. A good used /7 frame with title goes for 100. - 150. The really nice thing is that all the /6 stuff bolts right on and so do the /7 RS and RT fairings. If you use the /7 tank and seat, there are no modifications necessary at all.