How much difference does a fairing make?

[LeftmostAardvark]

I did a 500+ mile day yesterday, mostly on motorways, doing a few errands around the country. Not a big deal compared to some days that others will have had sure, but more than I'm used to, particularly when it included torrential rain as it was getting dark coming out of the West Country.

I did it on a gsx 1400 with a fly screen and I was surprised at how much difference the screen made - took loads of windblast off my chest. It got uncomfortable in my arse and less so in my knees after about 150 mile stretches but a 15 min break normally loosened that back off. Worst feeling was cold hands after dark and squelching into the services with drenched trousers (hein gericke master iv jacket stayed bone dry).

So my question: how much more comfortable would I have been on a (e.g.) triumph trophy, gs adventure or gold wing and how much harder would it have been on e.g. a fireblade? I get the feeling that with heated grips and maybe a better pair of trousers (and definitely a new visor), I'd have been ok to about the 7 or 800 mile mark in the day.

Tank bag was enough for a spare jumper and the paperwork i needed (fortunately in a plastic ziplock bag), so take carrying capacity out of the equation.

[LeftmostAardvark]

creampuff said:

Fairing makes a lot of difference, but it won't protect you from other things such as pi$$ on your passport.

You really need better gear. Getting cold means you make mistakes and you do not want to make mistakes on a bike. You should invest in better gloves, heated grips and fully waterproof gear. You should not get wet on a bike at all, regardless of weather. Cold hands also slow the muscles in your hands down, which means you will take longer to actuate the brakes should you need to do so in a hurry.

Edited by creampuff on Wednesday 29th April 16:39

I've ridden in some crap before (including a 200 mile sub zero run in January and have stayed warm and dry so if isn't bad gear, and the jacket stood up to everything brilliantly but it really was very heavy rain (cars had fog lights on and spray was bad enough that The cars had wipers at double speed. Armoured jeans just won't hold that level of rain out - tbh I was amazed the jacket managed it.

Better pair of gloves are probably on the cards though - they weren't bad hein gericke winter ones and were fine until the last 100 miles or so when he temperature dropped hard after still being soaked. Still, I could probably spend more and get more quality without going to a luxury item iyswim.