Original Fairings

[germanflyer]

I've had my 73 R75/5 for 17 years now, and after a prolonged storage, had it gone over mechanically from nose to tail last year. I'm absolutely ecstatic to have her back on the road again. My question is what fairings were offered as original equipment, are any still available, and what aftermarket options are out there. I really like the S fairing look but want to keep it original.

[20774]

I don't think any fairing was offered as original equipment until the 1974 models, when the R90S came out. Up to that point, people would use a variety of aftermarket fairings like Wixom, Avonaire, Heinrich, etc. Later in the 70s, people would retrofit their /5/6/7 with Luftmeisters, Windjammers, and all manner of flat screen handlebar fairings. Of course there were the RS and RT fairings beginning in 1977 (RS) and 1978 (RT), I believe. My /7 came with a color matched Luftmeister fairing, but I believe it was part of the sales pitch at the time by Butler and Smith, the US distributor. They're not "OEM" but they were dealer offered.

[germanflyer]

Thanks Kurt....hope it's warm down there.

[20774]

....hope it's warm down there.

Uh, you don't want to know!! :whistle

[ChrisF]

I can confirm that /5's didn't come with factory fairings. I bought my R75/5 (silver, toaster, LWB) in September of '73. As Kurt mentioned, there were a number of fairing manufacturers to chose from; I think Hannigan was in the mix, too.

I put on a Windjammer II (manufactured 73-74) soon after I purchased by /5. Some years later I traded up to a Windjammer III (manufactured 74-77) and added lowers. That's the way it stayed until I traded it in on an R1150RT.

[DarrylRi]

I'm moving this to the Airheads discussion area, I think you'll get more traffic on this topic there. (Vintage is usually considered pre-1970.)

[HankPfister]

There is an Avon Fairing on Ebay right now, came off a /5. I always thought they were the best looking frame mount fairing from that period.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yubqeh

I have a frame mount Roadrunner fairing that came off my R75/5. It a blatant copy of the early Vetter Windjammer. You can have it for free if you want it.

[6659]

In the early 70's , the handlebar mounted fairing was popular such as the Wixom and the Flanders. By the time the /6's arrived new frame mounted fairings were in. Some examples wer the Calafia, the Daytona,The Bates with twin headlamps, and the very unusual Jacwell SuperWedge. Pop dreyer also had an unusual two piece fairing with a frame mounted lower and a handlbar mounted upper.

Anyone else remember any others?

[Boxerkuh]

This has been discussed previously in the forum. You already know that no factory fairing was installed until the "S" fairing came out. That does not mean that you can't mount something on it. It depends on what you are looking for, how much wind protection you want and how much you are will to spend.
BMW bascially offered 3 different fairing that will mount on your bike with little, to a little more modification. They are the S, RS, and RT fairing. There are also period correct fairings from aftermarket makers such as the Vetter, Luftmeister, Hannigan's will fit. Vetter and Luftmeister are no longer being made, but you can find them used; Hannigan's are still being made new. Some of the more expensive options may be the Pitchler (sp??) and Avonnaire fairing (usually mounted to the 60's airheads).
I suggest you check this forum for previous discussions, check ebay, craiglist, airhead, bmw internet riders and long distance rider websites. You will find a lot of useful information.
Usually once you know what you want and are willing to spend, it will automatically narrow your search down.... Good luck and let us know if you are narrowing your search down...

[lostboy]

The closest you could come to an original fairing on a /5 would be an Avon frame mounted fairing. They appear in the parts books of that era and were imported by Butler and Smith. A popular handlebar mount was the Wixom "Ranger".

The first Hannigan Fairing was prototyped by Dave Hannigan arond 1977. My brother in law and I rode to Toronto to install the 6th and 7th ones made.

[lkchris]

No "original BMW" fairing works with the /5 headlight.

[paulfinney2]

Hank - I may be interested in your fairing.. Thursday OK to see it?