Stripes or no Stripes?

[ContraMoto]

Got my Scout back from the painter. It looked big and bare next to that striped tank, so...





Opinions...?

I've got some good install tips and pics that I'll post later...

[xprof]

Count my vote FOR the stripes!

[ContraMoto]

I had a couple issues when I first installed the Scout. One was that it sat lower and farther forward than I thought best. So, I crafted a new mounting bracket. Silver is stock -- black is mine. The two close-together holes mount into the existing headlight bracket, with two bolts. The headlight then bolts to the single forward hole, moving it a little up and forward. I made mine a lot more up and forward -- as far as I could and still have the headlight swivel properly for aiming.



This brings the whole fairing higher and closer to the rider, with a flatter rake to the windshield. I think it looks better, and it materially smoothed out the airflow. The pic shows the bottom edge of my fairing's "dashboard" above the brake reservoir. The stock setup has that bottom edge down and in front of the reservoir.
Mine...



Stock...



The other problem I had was that the fairing was loud. It picks up engine vibrations and re-directs it, like a guitar body. It was roaring at me. So, I applied some pieces of Dynamat surrounding the four mounting points. This did the trick. It killed off the vibration of the entire fairing.



Finally, I upgraded some of the hardware to larger bolts. The whole fairing ended up stiffer and more robust on bumpy roads and at freeway speeds.

[Faylo]

I like the stripes and the fab work. Nice job!

[celticus]

VERY NICE! I would buy something like that. Does it help with the wind noise and turbulance that comes off of the front of the tank?
Can we get another picture of the bike from the side? The fairing was in the shadows on the first picture.
Maybe you should sell the brackets for that fairing or sell the whole set up. Like I said I like it. If I had that I would install it today.

Mark

[ContraMoto]

I bought the fairing direct from Parabellum. It comes ready to install on an R1200R, and I ordered mine unpainted. It's cheaper to have them paint it (they charge $200 and I paid $300 locally), but I didn't want it painted until I had finished fiddling with the installation...in case I wanted to trim it or drill holes somewhere or if I dropped it while fooling with it...

The only real hardware change was to make those mounting brackets. They are simple aluminum stock from the hardware store. Drilled with a handdrill; cut with a jigsaw and filed/sanded kinda smooth on the edges. Sprayed with flat black primer so they "disappear" a bit down in the dark area inside the fairing.

I swapped out the M5 bolts w/stop nuts that hold the fairing to the mounts with M6 bolts and U-Nuts. That tip came from Harry (Mogu83) on this board. I also put bigger bolts in the end of the bracket that mounts to the triple clamp.

This was not cheap by any means. I am into this thing for $900. It's a much bigger commitment than a windshield! But, it makes the bike into exactly what I wanted...something between a touring bike and a standard, that doesn't have the modern angular fairing look to it. A modern R90/6...

With the shorty screen, air at the helmet is the same as the bare bike. It's smooth without buffeting, but you want earplugs for long rides. It takes the wind completely off your gut and chest, so it's relaxing to ride at highway speed. I have the tall screen for it, and my head is out of the air completely. No buffeting and no wind coming up the "tank tunnels." Lots of wind on legs and arms, so it's nothing like a touring bike. The Scout fairing is smaller than you'd think once you're on the bike.

Will take better pics today....

[mogu83]

Looks Good. It is a large commitment, but most of the guys that went for one are happy with it. When I bought mine their were no pictures and no one had mounted one yet. The guys that don't like them just don't like them,that's why Peter Paul makes Mounds AND Almond Joys. Having a naked bike is fine (I have three in the garage) but I use my R1200R mostly to tour on and having that fairing out in front on a rainy or cold day, when you have to put on some miles, makes up for the big price. .
My read on the stripe (you asked), I assume it's tape. Tear off the lower stripe and replace it with a single 1/4 inch white stripe run parallel to the remaining small stripe. That will closer match the stripes on the tank. The two small stripes seem lost, if your going to go, then go BOLD.

Naturally IMHO

[ContraMoto]

My read on the stripe (you asked), I assume it's tape. Tear off the lower stripe and replace it with a single 1/4 inch white stripe run parallel to the remaining small stripe. That will closer match the stripes on the tank. The two small stripes seem lost, if your going to go, then go BOLD.

Yup, the stripes are too small. I bought the tape that Creamora used, but it's not the right size when next to the existing double stripe. I will get a matching size dual-stripe on there. I want it exactly the dimensions of the bottom tank stripes.

[zei220]

Hello,

Great work, any chance you could scan s template in for people to copy?

Thanks,
dave

[ContraMoto]

Hello,

Great work, any chance you could scan s template in for people to copy?

Thanks,
dave

That's a good idea. I'll try to do that...

[celticus]

"I am into this thing for $900."
DANG! Can you break this down for me? Is the fairing itself THAT expensive?
I guess the paint job IS $300 of the total.
Why do I start these replies before I think?
Please still break it down.

Mark

[mogu83]

Not much to break down
Fairing Cost ---------------$599
Paint (by Parabellum)---- $200 (or $300 locally)

Check it out: http://www.parabellum.com/stores/showde ... 59&CATID=1

[celticus]

Dang fairings are costly.

[ContraMoto]

Dang fairings are costly.

That's why RT's cost so much more than R's!

But...an RT blocks TOO much wind. An R with a small bullet fairing is a nice compromise. IMHO...

[zei220]

Any progress on the template?

[ContraMoto]

Any progress on the template?

I keep tweaking it! Right now, I've one in a temporary position to see if I like it. Looks good so far, then I have to take it off, make a final version and measure it.

I moved the fairing even closer, while keeping it low. I want it low enough so that the small screen keeps the wind on my chest, not face. Quieter that way.

Here's how it locates, without the "dashboard" installed...



And, with the dash trimmed to clear the brake fluid reservoir...



Once I got the top where I wanted it, I then needed to locate the lower/headlight bracket mounting holes in the right spot. That's now done, and I need to make the final bracket. The result is that the Scout is, overall, about the same height as stock, but closer to the rider and with a flatter rake to the windshield.

[bimmerguy]

I Like the stripes, 2 thumbs up!
IT's your bike and mods are a personal thing, nobody else has to like them , if you do.
Nothing more bland than a sea of identical bikes with no mods.
Let you imagination go wild and have fun.
Good job.

[ContraMoto]

Ok - final bracket made. Some folks have asked for dimensions, so here's a scan of the bracket, and the dimensions. Dimension drawing is NOT to scale -- just an illustration. You'd need to measure out your own.

Also see above post about trimming the dashboard to fit over the right fluid reservoir.





Post back any questions!

[ContraMoto]

[mogu83]

What did the lowering do to your front fender to fairing clearance. I thought about doing something similar but with almost 5 inches of suspension travel in the front end I was concerned about the fender/front brace hitting the fairing. What's the clearance with the bike on the side stand??