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H-D Fairing installation
This is the bike shortly after buying it. I chose this bike due to its low RPM/high torque, HP, and displacement values. I knew I wanted something that would run 2 up with gear, 75mph in a headwind up hill all day without beating it do death. I think I made a good choice. .
Almost immediatly I realized the dealer installed Memphis Shades Bigshots had to go along with the stock exhaust and some other mods. I first sold the Bigshot and installed a Memphis Shades Fats which I had run on my prior bike. Soon after installing that the urge to install an actual fairing became something I could not ignore. After looking at what is available for the bike I turned to HD. I've seen posts on Forums where other people have installed HD fairings on VTXs and figured I could as well. After all I installed a Vetter fairing on a Yamaha Virago back in 82 by heavily modifying the mounts.
After trying to locate a usable HD Road Glide "Sharknose" fairing I gave up and went with an HD "Batwing" fairing. While not my favorite (due to no glove box) they are readily available and there are thousands of accessories available for them. I purchased a very nice used Batwing inner and outer fairing from sellers on eBay. Once received the modification began in earnest. I made the decision to use the Memphis Shades mounts to hang my fairing.
The first attempt to mount the fairing was made by holding up the inner fairing and observing. I had considered removing my stock front turn-signals but after removing one I found that they are quite long on the fork and when off expose a part of the fork that is unacceptable in appearance. My bike is a Spec 3 Honda with chrome fork covers. I quickly decided to retain the original turn-signals. With that known it was obvious the fairing was too long. After holding it up and comparing the decision was made to cut off the excess at a natural design mark on the inner fairing. In this picture I have made the mark to cut off and drew some lines showing where the original mounting holes were.
After cutting off the excess fairing the inner fairing was fit over the forks. Surprisingly the width was just about right. Here the fairing is being examined on the bike. The HD Electraglide has less rake on the forks so it was apparent that this had to be considered as the install continued.
Another view of examining the fairing fit on the bike and determining hole location.
After reviewing the install the MS fork clamps were moved to line up with one original hole (top) and the bottom clamp was moved as far down as possible. The fairing set right on top of the turn signals. With this the lower mounting hole was determined. With the rake somewaht different on the Honda the new hole would no longer line up with the old ones. This allowed for the fairing dash to remain somewhat perpindicular to the rider and maintain the original windshield angle.
With the inner fairing determined the 2 steel mounting brackets needed to be shortened and have the 2nd mounting hole drilled. Here the length and new hole location has been recorded on the brackets.
With both the inner fairing and brackets cut to the correct length it was time to test fet the fairing. It beacme apparent that something was wrong. There was interferrence between the rolled edge of the fairing brackets and the fork clamps. The brackets would have to be notched to allow for the fork clamps
The 4.5" angle grinder made short work of removing the interference. Here the modified bracket is seen.
With the brackets modified and inner fairing cut it was time to test fit again. This time the fairing fit. The fairing was as low as possible on the bike which kept it close to the origianl design of where the fairing is in realtion to the handle bar grips (height). At the lowest point the new fairing interferres with the stock risers. After a little debate I decided I could live with this verses spending 300.00 on new risers and bars.
Here the fairing is seen from the front with the brackets installed. Everything is looking good at this point. The width of the fairing is just right for the Memphis Shades mounts (visible on the right fork tube).
HD Fairing install page 2
HD Fairing install page 3
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Almost immediatly I realized the dealer installed Memphis Shades Bigshots had to go along with the stock exhaust and some other mods. I first sold the Bigshot and installed a Memphis Shades Fats which I had run on my prior bike. Soon after installing that the urge to install an actual fairing became something I could not ignore. After looking at what is available for the bike I turned to HD. I've seen posts on Forums where other people have installed HD fairings on VTXs and figured I could as well. After all I installed a Vetter fairing on a Yamaha Virago back in 82 by heavily modifying the mounts.
After trying to locate a usable HD Road Glide "Sharknose" fairing I gave up and went with an HD "Batwing" fairing. While not my favorite (due to no glove box) they are readily available and there are thousands of accessories available for them. I purchased a very nice used Batwing inner and outer fairing from sellers on eBay. Once received the modification began in earnest. I made the decision to use the Memphis Shades mounts to hang my fairing.
The first attempt to mount the fairing was made by holding up the inner fairing and observing. I had considered removing my stock front turn-signals but after removing one I found that they are quite long on the fork and when off expose a part of the fork that is unacceptable in appearance. My bike is a Spec 3 Honda with chrome fork covers. I quickly decided to retain the original turn-signals. With that known it was obvious the fairing was too long. After holding it up and comparing the decision was made to cut off the excess at a natural design mark on the inner fairing. In this picture I have made the mark to cut off and drew some lines showing where the original mounting holes were.
After cutting off the excess fairing the inner fairing was fit over the forks. Surprisingly the width was just about right. Here the fairing is being examined on the bike. The HD Electraglide has less rake on the forks so it was apparent that this had to be considered as the install continued.
Another view of examining the fairing fit on the bike and determining hole location.
After reviewing the install the MS fork clamps were moved to line up with one original hole (top) and the bottom clamp was moved as far down as possible. The fairing set right on top of the turn signals. With this the lower mounting hole was determined. With the rake somewaht different on the Honda the new hole would no longer line up with the old ones. This allowed for the fairing dash to remain somewhat perpindicular to the rider and maintain the original windshield angle.
With the inner fairing determined the 2 steel mounting brackets needed to be shortened and have the 2nd mounting hole drilled. Here the length and new hole location has been recorded on the brackets.
With both the inner fairing and brackets cut to the correct length it was time to test fet the fairing. It beacme apparent that something was wrong. There was interferrence between the rolled edge of the fairing brackets and the fork clamps. The brackets would have to be notched to allow for the fork clamps
The 4.5" angle grinder made short work of removing the interference. Here the modified bracket is seen.
With the brackets modified and inner fairing cut it was time to test fit again. This time the fairing fit. The fairing was as low as possible on the bike which kept it close to the origianl design of where the fairing is in realtion to the handle bar grips (height). At the lowest point the new fairing interferres with the stock risers. After a little debate I decided I could live with this verses spending 300.00 on new risers and bars.
Here the fairing is seen from the front with the brackets installed. Everything is looking good at this point. The width of the fairing is just right for the Memphis Shades mounts (visible on the right fork tube).
HD Fairing install page 2
HD Fairing install page 3
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