Converting from Faired Bikes
Discussion
Aside from my pre-DAS bikes, all my bikes to date have been full fairing machines.
The VFR is now getting to the point of being a bit long in the tooth, so I'm now in the early stages of perusing/test riding new bikes.
To date I've tried a few - GSXR, R1, Fireblade and a few other bits and pieces, which included a Street Triple. Really enjoyed the Triumph as a change, and giving it serious consideration as the next machine.
My problem is, on a fairly short test ride, I'm not sure I have a proper sense of what its like living with one day to day. I only have the one bike, so it has to do it all, including the daily commute which is largely motorway miles, as well as the fun hoon with mates.
I'm just slightly concerned that after a while the novelty factor will wear off - particularly on cold rainy/windy/sleeting days on the commute, when I'll start wishing I had a fairing to hide from the elements.
What are others thoughts? Anyone got pearls of wisdom, experience of having made a similar change?
The VFR is now getting to the point of being a bit long in the tooth, so I'm now in the early stages of perusing/test riding new bikes.
To date I've tried a few - GSXR, R1, Fireblade and a few other bits and pieces, which included a Street Triple. Really enjoyed the Triumph as a change, and giving it serious consideration as the next machine.
My problem is, on a fairly short test ride, I'm not sure I have a proper sense of what its like living with one day to day. I only have the one bike, so it has to do it all, including the daily commute which is largely motorway miles, as well as the fun hoon with mates.
I'm just slightly concerned that after a while the novelty factor will wear off - particularly on cold rainy/windy/sleeting days on the commute, when I'll start wishing I had a fairing to hide from the elements.
What are others thoughts? Anyone got pearls of wisdom, experience of having made a similar change?
I think it depends on a few factors as to whether you will like it or not. I find at 6'4 that the double bubble screen on my ZX7R puts the wind directly into my helmet, whereas on my Tuono I get an even spread of wind and its more comfortable really. I test rode a Z800 and the front cowl on that was amazing, I could barely feel any wind at all.
70-80-90mph cruising is comfortable on the Tuono, it only starts to get a bit windy at 120+ and you need to be tucked down a bit then anyway.
I guess if you are coming from a VFR then it will be a bit different, but personally I don't find fairings all that great for protection.
70-80-90mph cruising is comfortable on the Tuono, it only starts to get a bit windy at 120+ and you need to be tucked down a bit then anyway.
I guess if you are coming from a VFR then it will be a bit different, but personally I don't find fairings all that great for protection.
Like you I've only owned faired bikes but I testrode an XSR900 recently (funky retro styled MT09 3 cyl Yamaha) in the errrr ....sleet and after half an hour all I wanted was to take it back. Lovely round town and at 55-60mph on the back roads but s
te on big fast stuff.
I de-thawed for half hour then took a Tracer out (same bike but with a half fairing) in the same conditions and I conspired to add extra loops to my testride just for the fun of it.
I'm sure it's different in mid Summer but for my one and only bike an unfaired one is a bit too much like hard work.
te on big fast stuff. I de-thawed for half hour then took a Tracer out (same bike but with a half fairing) in the same conditions and I conspired to add extra loops to my testride just for the fun of it.
I'm sure it's different in mid Summer but for my one and only bike an unfaired one is a bit too much like hard work.
The Triumphs can be had with a flyscreen that may divert some of the wind blast away from you. If I was doing a lot of miles in fast, open motorways I'd want that fairing. My enduring memory of riding to work on my CG125 in the rain was always that the chest, sleeves and knees of my clothing was fking soaked. Even on bigger naked bikes, where your legs aren't bowed around the tank, you still catch a surprising amount of wind and rain.
king soaked. Even on bigger naked bikes, where your legs aren't bowed around the tank, you still catch a surprising amount of wind and rain. You get a bit wetter on unfaired bikes, but if you have waterproofs it doesn't really matter. I've had a few unfaired bikes, but bought my first unfaired performance bike in January - a 2013 Triumph Speed Triple. I had to get the fly screen as it was just a bit too harsh on my neck for prolonged speeds above 80mph or motorways. Once the fly screen is fitted, it's usable up to about 120mph and 90mph cruising is comfortable.
When I go into the garage currently, I'm picking it over my 2015 Blade, or the ZZR1400, unless I'm looking for a really antisocial high speed trip of a long M-way journey. Novelty wearing off is not in sight for me!
Ultimately though, my quest for upright bikes was driven by back issues rather than a preference to go unfaired and dump sports bikes.
When I go into the garage currently, I'm picking it over my 2015 Blade, or the ZZR1400, unless I'm looking for a really antisocial high speed trip of a long M-way journey. Novelty wearing off is not in sight for me!
Ultimately though, my quest for upright bikes was driven by back issues rather than a preference to go unfaired and dump sports bikes.
From my experience riding my naked bike along with my friends on faired bikes, it's colder, wetter although not by much, and windier. I'm not sure I'd want to do any sort of commute at motorway speed on one, 20 miles or so would probably be fine, much longer and it would get tiring. But then I imagine most of this would be the front screen rather than the fairings, so could have a front screen for commuting.
You will be fine 
I pretty much only ride unfaired bikes regularly these days. Occasionally I might try the latest superbike for a weekend and then find it way to easy to be doing 30-40mph more than what I think Im doing because of the lack of wind blast
Ive done 10-12 hour riding days when touring just fine. Wear the right kit and the weather shouldn't bother you any different really
I find cruising at 80-90mph bearable, but not much more for any length of time....which is a good thing, it kind of keeps you in 6 point territory rather than the world where you go to prison if you get caught
I pretty much only ride unfaired bikes regularly these days. Occasionally I might try the latest superbike for a weekend and then find it way to easy to be doing 30-40mph more than what I think Im doing because of the lack of wind blast
Ive done 10-12 hour riding days when touring just fine. Wear the right kit and the weather shouldn't bother you any different really
I find cruising at 80-90mph bearable, but not much more for any length of time....which is a good thing, it kind of keeps you in 6 point territory rather than the world where you go to prison if you get caught
bogie said:
You will be fine
I pretty much only ride unfaired bikes regularly these days. Occasionally I might try the latest superbike for a weekend and then find it way to easy to be doing 30-40mph more than what I think Im doing because of the lack of wind blast
Ive done 10-12 hour riding days when touring just fine. Wear the right kit and the weather shouldn't bother you any different really
I find cruising at 80-90mph bearable, but not much more for any length of time....which is a good thing, it kind of keeps you in 6 point territory rather than the world where you go to prison if you get caught
Completely agree. At first riding a naked bike it might feel like your head is going to be ripped off, but after a few months 80-90mph isn't a problem, even on a 400cc naked which is doing well north of 8k rpm at 'normal' motorway speeds. I don't even notice the wind blast at 70mph tbh. Your neck will get stronger over time. I pretty much only ride unfaired bikes regularly these days. Occasionally I might try the latest superbike for a weekend and then find it way to easy to be doing 30-40mph more than what I think Im doing because of the lack of wind blast
Ive done 10-12 hour riding days when touring just fine. Wear the right kit and the weather shouldn't bother you any different really
I find cruising at 80-90mph bearable, but not much more for any length of time....which is a good thing, it kind of keeps you in 6 point territory rather than the world where you go to prison if you get caught
If it's all weathers, bear in mind that a fairing keeps not only the rain off but the masses of dirty spray thrown up by cars and lorries.
One winter, I came home from a 150 mile journey, on an unfaired Gold Wing (80s), using goggles as the visor was so dirty and I looked like a coal miner.
One winter, I came home from a 150 mile journey, on an unfaired Gold Wing (80s), using goggles as the visor was so dirty and I looked like a coal miner.
Thanks all.
To be clear, I felt pretty comfortable on the Triumph despite the model I rode not having a fly screen. I've been giving a naked bike a bit of consideration as, although I'm not particularly over the hill, I have been getting more problems with my lower back in the last year or so.
Starting to get very tempted by the idea of a Speed Triple with a fly screen. My textiles are pretty good, and the commute is 15 miles, so not a huge schlepp in the elements.
To be clear, I felt pretty comfortable on the Triumph despite the model I rode not having a fly screen. I've been giving a naked bike a bit of consideration as, although I'm not particularly over the hill, I have been getting more problems with my lower back in the last year or so.
Starting to get very tempted by the idea of a Speed Triple with a fly screen. My textiles are pretty good, and the commute is 15 miles, so not a huge schlepp in the elements.
Venom said:
Thanks all.
To be clear, I felt pretty comfortable on the Triumph despite the model I rode not having a fly screen. I've been giving a naked bike a bit of consideration as, although I'm not particularly over the hill, I have been getting more problems with my lower back in the last year or so.
Starting to get very tempted by the idea of a Speed Triple with a fly screen. My textiles are pretty good, and the commute is 15 miles, so not a huge schlepp in the elements.
There are worse choices...To be clear, I felt pretty comfortable on the Triumph despite the model I rode not having a fly screen. I've been giving a naked bike a bit of consideration as, although I'm not particularly over the hill, I have been getting more problems with my lower back in the last year or so.
Starting to get very tempted by the idea of a Speed Triple with a fly screen. My textiles are pretty good, and the commute is 15 miles, so not a huge schlepp in the elements.
Rode a Street Triple R over the weekend and ruddy loved it. Felt so agile and light, and around town at least the riding position was spot on. Out on the open road, as many have said, the lack of fairing almost forcibly keeps speeds in the more sensible end of the lunacy spectrum, but oddly without detracting from the experience of it.
Longer distances or inclement weather might be more tiresome, but that's vs. a tourer - I am impressed with anyone who manages >100 miles in a single stint on a sportsbike without complaining/running out of fuel - I certainly can't!
Will be adding an STR to my garage very soon I think, just as soon as I work out how to get it past the girlfriend...
Longer distances or inclement weather might be more tiresome, but that's vs. a tourer - I am impressed with anyone who manages >100 miles in a single stint on a sportsbike without complaining/running out of fuel - I certainly can't!
Will be adding an STR to my garage very soon I think, just as soon as I work out how to get it past the girlfriend...
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