Maybe a strange question....

[spiritdream]

How does a fairing affect the ride and/or gas mileage on a bike/trike? Does it help or hinder?

 

[Ironhorsepilot]

Cheri, I don't know how it affects the gas milage, but as far a comfort goes, I love the fairing. Much warmer in cool weather, keeps me dryer in the rain and not as much wind and buffeting. I do get a lot of buffeting if I open the little plastic "wings" on the side of the fairing, so I just keep them closed. Heavy trikes aren't known for their good gas milage. I got around 33 mpg going up and back.

 

[Nauga Mok]

SmokinJoe & Meredog have very similar trikes -- 1800 VTXs. They were getting almost identical fuel mileage -- Joe's with a faring & Meredog without. Then Meredog put his faring on & it jumped his fuel economy by about 8 MPG. He hasn't said lately if it's holding at the higher economy level or not. Maybe it depends on location, fuel quality, riding habits, & such. I know here in Las Vegas, we get the 10% alchohol blend in the winter & straight gas in the summer & it DOES make a difference in fuel mileage. A faring SOES make the ride more plesant.<br />
<br />
NM

 

[trike lady]

I have a GL-1500 and I get excellent gas mileage. Plus you have protection from the elements.
If anyone is searching for 'Real' gas for their vehicles go to www.pure-gas.org you may have a station close by.

 

[shiney b.]

we have a '97 GL1500 SE. with 2-up, pulling trailer moderately loaded, and 65 m.p.h. or lower, we get 32-35 m.p.g..
since wife and i have both had eye surgery, the wind-in-the-face thing is almost unbearable. so, the full-fairing is the way to go. not nearly as tiring as having to fight the wind, either.
dave

 

[Gorilla]

Cheri, Another issue on fairings. there are 2 types: Frame mount and Fork mount. Your HD Electra and Ultra are fork mount along with the Trikes. The HD Road Glide and the Honda Wings are frame mount. With that being said wind pushes on the fairing and some say the frame mount fairing react less to wind then the fork mount. I have ridden both extensively and it's really a matter of taste and what you get used to. They are definitely a big help in keeping the wind and rain off the rider. They can help in the MPG department if they help in the streamlining of the front.

 

[skuuter]

Yep, Bike to Bike to Bike.....I've had Bikes that gained mileage with Fairings, and Bikes that suffered.......Always a Comfort Plus for Rain/Cold though....."some" get a little warm in Summer...

 

[spiritdream]

Just tossing around the idea....Lehman has come out with one for the C50, so I was thinking I might add one eventually if I can't figure out a way to "upgrade".

 

[Gorilla]

Cheri, I love having a fairing. It makes it so much easier to ride, with the majority of the wind off your chest.

 

[Capt Chaos]

The biggest reason I run a fairing is to be able to duck out of the way of bug swarms.

 

[tomg]

Besides all the large and small bugs, butterflys, I've even been hit by birds on secondary roads. Without the windshield I would have been awful sore or maybe even crashed !! Never leave home without it !!!
Tomg

 

[Sandman]

Find a flat level road, get aboard a 10 speed bicycle. ride 1 mile on a windless day. ride 1 mile on a windy day, thats 1/2 milewith a headwind 1/2 mile with a tailwind. Let your body talk to you.

 

[Calman]

I swapped out the MF windshield for a batwing fairing last month and have not noticed any drop or gain in MPG. Handling has been no different than with the MFS but I have noticed my hands/gloves don't get chaffed as before. This winter the fairing will be a blessing as the winds off the Pamlico Sound and the Neuse River make a "numbing" ride (pun intended)./