naked or faired
Discussion
having read the "1st bike" threads I've narrowed the choice down to a bandit or a hornet ( hornet is looking favourite at the mo ).
Anyway I intend to use the bike as a weekend toy and to get some experience. I'm not using it for commuting or planning to do any motorway riding on it and I just wonder how useful a fairing is at normal speeds. When I did my DAS on an ER-5 I found 70 on the dual carriageway pretty uncomfortable, but I prefer the look of the naked hornets & bandits.
Around town and at speeds up to 60 will a fairing make much of a difference ?.
Anyway I intend to use the bike as a weekend toy and to get some experience. I'm not using it for commuting or planning to do any motorway riding on it and I just wonder how useful a fairing is at normal speeds. When I did my DAS on an ER-5 I found 70 on the dual carriageway pretty uncomfortable, but I prefer the look of the naked hornets & bandits.
Around town and at speeds up to 60 will a fairing make much of a difference ?.
Depends what you mean by "normal" speeds. An unfaired bike can get pretty uncomfortable at 70 mph or higher on A roads and motorways, even when the weather is fine and dry. Try it when its raining or cold and it becomes downright unpleasant. I ended up suffering from exposure riding an unfaired bike in close to freezing point temps, even though I was wearing leathers with lined waterproofs on top. If you are only planning to go for rides in fine weather then you can get away with a naked bike, especially if its going to be a first bike to get experience. If you grow out of that machine and want something with a bit more grunt, by then you will have made your mind up on whether you want a fairing.
Interestingly, some sports bike riders are now turning to naked muscle bikes instead, perhaps because they have done the speed thing and want to preserve their licences.
Interestingly, some sports bike riders are now turning to naked muscle bikes instead, perhaps because they have done the speed thing and want to preserve their licences.
Thanks for the reply guys, I'm hoping that a naked bike will also help to preserve my licence, really I want a Triumph TT or Daytona, but not very sensible as a first big bike.
Also what's the advice on ear-plugs ?, does everybody wear them now. I've been an ocasional rider on my 125 (most weekends in good weather ) for the last couple of years around town and never bothered. Is the lack of a fairing liable to increase the potential for ear damage ( I understand that it's the wind rushing through the helmet that causes the damage ). Sorry if it's a stupid question.
Also what's the advice on ear-plugs ?, does everybody wear them now. I've been an ocasional rider on my 125 (most weekends in good weather ) for the last couple of years around town and never bothered. Is the lack of a fairing liable to increase the potential for ear damage ( I understand that it's the wind rushing through the helmet that causes the damage ). Sorry if it's a stupid question.
ledger said:
Also what's the advice on ear-plugs ?, does everybody wear them now. I've been an ocasional rider on my 125 (most weekends in good weather ) for the last couple of years around town and never bothered. Is the lack of a fairing liable to increase the potential for ear damage ( I understand that it's the wind rushing through the helmet that causes the damage ). Sorry if it's a stupid question.
I woudn't go without them.
there cheap, desposible and tinitus is permenant with no cure. your call.
Thanks s200z,
I know, my father in law has tinitus (sp ?) from working with heavy machinery without ear protection (Health and Safety wasn't as good in the 60's & 70's)and it's evil.
Poodling around on my 125 for half an hour on a saturday at 30 I've not bothered (although often thought I should). I will definately be getting them now I'm moving up to a bigger (and faster) bike. But I wandered if having a naked bike, even with ear plugs put you at greater risk ?.
I know, my father in law has tinitus (sp ?) from working with heavy machinery without ear protection (Health and Safety wasn't as good in the 60's & 70's)and it's evil.
Poodling around on my 125 for half an hour on a saturday at 30 I've not bothered (although often thought I should). I will definately be getting them now I'm moving up to a bigger (and faster) bike. But I wandered if having a naked bike, even with ear plugs put you at greater risk ?.
ledger said:
Thanks for the reply guys, I'm hoping that a naked bike will also help to preserve my licence, really I want a Triumph TT or Daytona, but not very sensible as a first big bike.
Also what's the advice on ear-plugs ?, does everybody wear them now. I've been an ocasional rider on my 125 (most weekends in good weather ) for the last couple of years around town and never bothered. Is the lack of a fairing liable to increase the potential for ear damage ( I understand that it's the wind rushing through the helmet that causes the damage ). Sorry if it's a stupid question.
Hornet vs Bandit, my choice would be Hornet!
Regarding earplugs I always wear them now but not always in the past, however since I bought an Arai (RX7) helmet they are essential as it is the noisiest lid I've ever had - vents work well though!
craigw said:
wow, scary, can u get it just from riding around town ie, 30-50mph(in places)
Mmm, I think it may take longer, but possibly not.
constant traffic noise, car engines, your bike etc, cant be good for you though.
I would say non faired bikes should get worse wind noise.
the thing with plugs, they block out the noise, and leave the important things like sirens, horns, approaching cars, still audible. its the wind noise that blocks all that low Hz stuff out, so your accident chances must improve, if you can finally hear whats around you instead of szszszszszszsz ??
example: 4 hours blasting down motorways back from assen ; my pal has permenant high pitch ringing in his ears.
(its like coming out of a nightclub after a coupla hours by the big speakers. - FOR LIFE)
just get a pak-o-ten and see what you think.
You need to try a few bikes out from the $ealers, I didn't know what I wanted but I rode a few bikes (£20 a pop at P&H in Crawley, refunded if you buy from them) and realised that I wanted faired for M'way work. I tried a 900 Hornet and at 90+ it was horrible.
A mate of mine who passed the same time as me bought a 900 Monster and he now wants to change it for a faired bike as his neck hurts too much after a ride on fast roads.
An unfaired is prob a good way of keeping your speed down and keeping your license, but I am doing mucho m'way miles so faired for me.
You could go faired Hornet/Fazer/Bandit? but they are mostly fugly IMHO.
On the subject of earplugs, I didn't use them at first and got the 'evening at the night club' situation, then I bought an Arai RX7 and realised that anything over 30mph is deafening and wouldn't leave home without them now, they cost peanuts as well.
Mags
Edited 'coz I kant speel
>> Edited by mags on Monday 7th July 16:36
A mate of mine who passed the same time as me bought a 900 Monster and he now wants to change it for a faired bike as his neck hurts too much after a ride on fast roads.
An unfaired is prob a good way of keeping your speed down and keeping your license, but I am doing mucho m'way miles so faired for me.
You could go faired Hornet/Fazer/Bandit? but they are mostly fugly IMHO.
On the subject of earplugs, I didn't use them at first and got the 'evening at the night club' situation, then I bought an Arai RX7 and realised that anything over 30mph is deafening and wouldn't leave home without them now, they cost peanuts as well.
Mags
Edited 'coz I kant speel
>> Edited by mags on Monday 7th July 16:36
I didn't notice that much difference between faired and unfaired until you get to about 90 and up. I have done Reading to Liverpool on my GPz500 and my Speed Triple and didn't have any pain on either. When you get to about 70ish then the wind blast takes a lot of the weight off your wrists. Definately get ear plugs though. As has been mentioned before, the damage can be permanent.
I do a daily commute on the A2 Kent to London on my ER-5. First bike I've had since doing the Direct Access nearly 2 years ago.
I understand the poster saying that 70mph seemed blustery when first going out on the bike, I must admit I thought the same first time out when learning on the ER-5 but believe me it's nothing, you get used to it,adapt to it, upper body strength improves. Give it a couple of months and you'll be doing 100mph and think nothing of it - and that's on the ER-5.
I do this commute in all weathers all year round and its doable. No doubt a faired bike would be more comfortable (although some will just direct the air into your chest/face) but if it's just occasional motorway use then I don't think you'll have any problem with an unfaired bike.
As for ear plugs - never used them, probably should do but my shoei must be a good one as I don't suffer any of the effects previous posters have described.
I understand the poster saying that 70mph seemed blustery when first going out on the bike, I must admit I thought the same first time out when learning on the ER-5 but believe me it's nothing, you get used to it,adapt to it, upper body strength improves. Give it a couple of months and you'll be doing 100mph and think nothing of it - and that's on the ER-5.
I do this commute in all weathers all year round and its doable. No doubt a faired bike would be more comfortable (although some will just direct the air into your chest/face) but if it's just occasional motorway use then I don't think you'll have any problem with an unfaired bike.
As for ear plugs - never used them, probably should do but my shoei must be a good one as I don't suffer any of the effects previous posters have described.
passed last august, 1st bike was a bandit12 faired (ok, 2nd if you count the SV I had for 6 weeks) I do 60 miles round-trip to work and back and have done in all weathers (just had 12k service and new front tyre.) But there's no way I'd do it on an unfaired bike, in fact I swapped the screen for a "flip-up" to try and increase the protection over the winter.
And DEFINITELY wear earplugs. I've got a Shoei Z-one and the difference between wearing plugs and not is deafening
! I invested in some custom fit ones at the bike show last year and they are well worth it.
And DEFINITELY wear earplugs. I've got a Shoei Z-one and the difference between wearing plugs and not is deafening
! I invested in some custom fit ones at the bike show last year and they are well worth it.well after the no-nonsense advice from s200z I bought some ear plugs at the weekend. I was scheduled for test rides on a hornet 600 and an sv650 and anticipated going faster than I normally do on my little RXS100 :-). Anyway just a couple of question where I'd appreciate some advice.
Ear plugs - I bought a couple of pairs of the only make they had in the shop to see how I got on. I couldn't get the bloody things to stay in, followed the instructions but they just kept popping out.
Hornet brakes - I have no experience of riding big bikes other than the er-5 I did my DAS on. But the hornet front brake was dreadful, not very effective and little feel. The guy at the dealers said the brake design was quite old and the bike was from the budget end of the market but even so. Will fitting braided hases make much of a difference ?.
Mileage discrepancy - the bike has 9000 miles (2000 V), but the clocks are only showing 2000. Apparently the clock assembly was stolen, but being a cynical sod I'm worried that the bike may have been in an accident. I can't see any obvious damage and it's from a large Honda dealer in Surrey so I guess I should be ok. Would a dealership need to declare if it had been in an accident, and would I have any come back if I notice something wrong with the bike i.e. bent forks damaged frame etc after my 3 month warranty expires.
any advice much appreciated
Ear plugs - I bought a couple of pairs of the only make they had in the shop to see how I got on. I couldn't get the bloody things to stay in, followed the instructions but they just kept popping out.
Hornet brakes - I have no experience of riding big bikes other than the er-5 I did my DAS on. But the hornet front brake was dreadful, not very effective and little feel. The guy at the dealers said the brake design was quite old and the bike was from the budget end of the market but even so. Will fitting braided hases make much of a difference ?.
Mileage discrepancy - the bike has 9000 miles (2000 V), but the clocks are only showing 2000. Apparently the clock assembly was stolen, but being a cynical sod I'm worried that the bike may have been in an accident. I can't see any obvious damage and it's from a large Honda dealer in Surrey so I guess I should be ok. Would a dealership need to declare if it had been in an accident, and would I have any come back if I notice something wrong with the bike i.e. bent forks damaged frame etc after my 3 month warranty expires.
any advice much appreciated
In the case of ear plugs it most certainly is NOT one size fits all. Some people have relatively narrow ear canals (I do) which means some plugs are difficult to insert. If I do get them in they often make such a tight seal they are bl**dy painful to extract again.
Try different makes, and use the weird looking technique of stretching your right arm around the back of your head to pull your left outer ear in order to widen the ear canal when inserting plug into left ear. Reverse applies for other ear.
The ultimate ear protection is custom made plugs, which work out at about £40 - £60 a pair, depending on who does them and whether you can get a discount. Some can have inserts to cope with intercoms etc.
Having damaged my hearing going to noisy gigs in my youth and compounded the problem driving noisy cars, I want to keep what hearing ability I have left.
Try different makes, and use the weird looking technique of stretching your right arm around the back of your head to pull your left outer ear in order to widen the ear canal when inserting plug into left ear. Reverse applies for other ear.
The ultimate ear protection is custom made plugs, which work out at about £40 - £60 a pair, depending on who does them and whether you can get a discount. Some can have inserts to cope with intercoms etc.
Having damaged my hearing going to noisy gigs in my youth and compounded the problem driving noisy cars, I want to keep what hearing ability I have left.
you could try this site: -
www.earplugs.gb.com/
where you can get a trial pack of 15 different ear plugs plus a vial to keep them in for £6
www.earplugs.gb.com/
where you can get a trial pack of 15 different ear plugs plus a vial to keep them in for £6
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