I'm thinking about taking off the bikini fairing from my M696; to those of you who have already done it: do you notice much difference riding at 75mph or so (I am 6' and I'm not sure that it's really protecting me all that much).
Thanks
Giordy
there's been a thread on this. I'll some it up for you. if you don't like the look of it (like me) take it off. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Danmack_98 on December 06, 2008, 07:02:45 PM
if you don't like the look of it (like me) take it off. [thumbsup]
Yeah, I don't really like it, but on the other hand I'm already finding it harder than expected to ride at 75mph or so on the freeway (this is my first bike... somehow I never considered that the wind would be a big factor when riding...), so I hesitate to take it off.
I took mine off a few weeks ago. I've been riding around 70 mph and tonight I got into the 80s to get away from some lane changing cages and I can't say I noticed a diff. I think it's a cleaner look, so off it went, and no regrets.
No more flapping about in the breeze with it off. Saves almost 10 ounces. [thumbsup]
P.S. more naked is more better!
Quote from: wark on December 06, 2008, 09:51:09 PM
P.S. more naked is more better!
+1 don't really notice much difference with it off.
From the size of it, I'd find it hard to belive it really provides any wind protection. Hell even the larger ones of the previous monsters did very little unless you tucked in tight behind them. I found that mine with the stock clear bit actaully made things worse on me since more air was directed up, right at helmet level for me. I replaced it with a slightly taller, lipped bit that cured that problem.
But, for the majority of the year, I go naked.
Giordy, you might just still be adapting to riding. Thoough it was a few years back, I still remember the bobble head feeling I had when I 1st spent time on the highways. Over time you body will adapt to the weight of the helmet, neck gets stonger etc and your perception changes a bit - so that bobble head feeling will disappear for the most part... until you start going faster ;D Now I don't notice any head bobble at highway+ speeds - I'm sure some is still there, but I'm used to it so it just gets taken in stride.
Thanks everybody, I went ahead and took it off.
Giordy
I'm only 5'9 and I've noticed that on a lot of bikes, bikini fairings (or double bubble windscreens) actually make the wind blast worse. Instead of nice smooth air on my upper chest and helmet, I end up with turbulent air that is kicked up from the screen.
i use mine for salsa when i am having chips....
It's so small in the first place,i doubt if you'll notice a diff. Go naked all the way :-)
i will say that at higher speeds the fairing when tucked helps. that's all i'll say and i'll not say more (ie what higher speeds means)
I didn't notice any difference after I took it off..It's too small to get behind. Not very functional, just for looks.
well now that i'm in Germany and my bike gets here next week, i'll have to experiment legally at higher speeds.
But when i tucked under the stream at highspeeds as compared to sitting semi-upright i noticed a huge difference. but then again i didnt tuck when not using the fairing. soooo still need to check that aspect of the experiment.
Quote from: yuu on December 07, 2008, 09:31:45 AM
From the size of it, I'd find it hard to belive it really provides any wind protection. Hell even the larger ones of the previous monsters did very little unless you tucked in tight behind them. I found that mine with the stock clear bit actaully made things worse on me since more air was directed up, right at helmet level for me. I replaced it with a slightly taller, lipped bit that cured that problem.
I agree. The fairing seem really small. I doubt you are gonna notice.
Quote from: Raux on December 11, 2008, 12:31:08 AM
well now that i'm in Germany and my bike gets here next week, i'll have to experiment legally at higher speeds.
da fährt man gut! wo wohnst du da eigentlich? wie lange bleibst du?
erst einmal, du musst dir etwas größer kaufen: antriebsritzel vorn 17-zähne. [laugh]
und die beste abfahrtzeit liegt natürlich in den sehr frühen morgenstunden...
17 tooth... yeah if i want to become a missile. no thanks.
i have very twisty mountain roads to my house :D so i'll keep the speeds in check.
seriously i doubt i'll be hitting triple digits on but a few roads cause the traffic is so bad in my area (Kaiserslautern)
I have the 14t sprocket so i have heard the top speed is about 10mph lower now. didnt run it all out, and honestly don't want to.
lately thought it's been about 32 degrees F so early morning comes with ice. errrrrrrrrr gotta wait til it warms up just a bit more. 36 should be enough ;) less chance for bridges freezing.
I had a powerful hunch you were in K-town. ;D
I lived in Grünstadt (about 30 km northeast of there). Not a day goes by...
Did an experiment when I was thinking of ditching the bikini fairing; Got on the highway about 75 mph and slowly tucked down until the fairing kicked in. My chin was on the tank! Lose it if you want, it's just for looks.
Quote from: giordy on December 06, 2008, 06:57:16 PM
I'm thinking about taking off the bikini fairing from my M696; to those of you who have already done it: do you notice much difference riding at 75mph or so (I am 6' and I'm not sure that it's really protecting me all that much).
Thanks
Giordy
I really like the way it looks on my M696. If it didn't come with one, I would have bought it. So I bet you could sell it.
Quote from: Rambler1982 on December 11, 2008, 06:15:17 PM
I really like the way it looks on my M696. If it didn't come with one, I would have bought it. So I bet you could sell it.
all the stateside 696's are the + version which come with the fairing. you'll have to sell overseas to find someone without it. or maybe find someone who is going through a color change.
yeah, K-town is alright. i lived in a few other places in europe and this is my least favorite, but still it's better than the states for me.
Quote from: Raux on December 11, 2008, 11:51:17 PMyeah, K-town is alright. i lived in a few other places in europe and this is my least favorite, but still it's better than the states for me.
anywhere that americans are unheard of is going to be a fun place to stay. K-town ain't one of em!
definitely pay a visit to some of the smaller, more rural towns in germany if you haven't had the chance yet. [drink]
Was contemplating this as well recently. Even have a Barracuda windscreen on it's way. Guess I'll return it and save the cash.
For those that have removed it, easy to do?
4 hex screws to remove the fairing. then take off the brackets, then put the other cover on.
easy
Quote from: Raux on August 24, 2009, 11:09:21 AM
4 hex screws to remove the fairing. then take off the brackets, then put the other cover on.
easy
Other cover? You mean the Barracuda?
I meant to remove the whole piece and go naked.
Thanks.
you should have received a small black cover and two screws that go on back of the instrument panel. if not hit up your dealer you purchased from.
It is so small you won't hardly notice a diff.I did it on my 04 s4r and it's much bigger than the 696 [thumbsup]