Fairing Removal, Naked Bike, Street Fighter

[David Allaband]

Has anyone eliminated their fairing?

I've seen some pictures. Looks like that little frame member that holds up the fairing is in the way of an aftermarket, naked style headlight shell. Can I cut that cross member off, or is it a structural part of the frame?

What kinds of ears have been used? What kind of headlight bucket (shell)?

I'd love to make my gauges more compact. Maybe a tach/speedo combo and nothing else but some idiot lights. Any ideas for modifying the current gauges or sources for getting new ones?

My big thing is that I HATE having stuff in front of me. The less crap in front of me the more I can feel the wind, the more I'm running on my own two feet, and that's why I ride. So I would like a headlight that stays out of my way and gauges that are small. I don't have to see the numbers on my tach, I can see where the needle's pointing.

Sources? Any ideas where I can get parts? Ears and bucket?

Problems? Anything I'm going to have to deal with, like where do I mount the choke cable?

Images? Can you send me close up pictures of your conversions?

Frame Modification? Can I cut off that cross beam or is it structural frame support?

Thanks for any help!

[andyb]

Undoubtedly.

It's called a fairing stay.  Anything in front of the steering head is optional.

Whatever fits.  If you're that far into it, pick something you like and force it to work.  It's just metal, after all!

Acewell jumps to mind, depends on if you want a high-tech look or an old hotrod sort of look.

Why are you looking down?  Ride faster and pay attention to the road, instead of the gauges

You could likely convert the switchgear on the bars to something else, that included a handlebar mounted choke.

[WestOzXJR]

My big thing is that I HATE having stuff in front of me. The less crap in front of me the more I can feel the wind... and that's why I ride.

I know exactly what you're saying there...

What kinds of ears have been used? What kind of headlight bucket (shell)?

Depends what style of headlight you want and if you want to mount it fixed to the chassis ala Trumpy Daytona style or mount to the forks..

I'd love to make my gauges more compact. Maybe a tach/speedo combo and nothing else but some idiot lights. Any ideas for modifying the current gauges or sources for getting new ones?

Sexiest most compact instruments on the planet are here: http://motogadget.com/

If you're not running the standard clip-ons but instead are having a 33 x 85 top clamp then this set up is just drop dead gorgeous and what  I will eventually get for mine:
http://motogadget.com/digitalinstrumente/digitaltacho-serie-mini/montage.html

Sources? Any ideas where I can get parts? Ears and bucket?

Three places, ebay, ebay and ebay... Don't just limit yourself to .com, some excellent styles available out of the UK and Germany too... Line 'em up a hundred deep and pick your style...

I picked these... with stainless steel brackets... brought 'em over to Oz from the UK.

Problems? Anything I'm going to have to deal with, like where do I mount the choke cable?

Maybe the left bar mounted thumb lever choke actuator from an FJ11 will work.

[the fan]

Absolutely not.

You can not cut the tube running around the steering head. It is a structural part of the frame. I have 2 FJ's in pieces in my garage and that tube is a major structural element. Cutting it off would significantly weaken the frame. Clean the tube up by removing unused brackets and use it as a handy headlight mount, but do not cut it.

The black subframe / fairing stay simply unbolts.

[andyb]

Looked to me that they could be clipped off if you were tying the remnants back to the steering stem safely.

That begs the question I suppose on what's acceptable to who, and how much fab work you're able to do in re-engineering things.  If you're not going weld the front framespar extensions to tie them back in, then no, absolutely leave them alone.

Doesn't help that I've been reading on various bike builds lately.  Forget that not everyone can do all that... hell, I forget that I can't do it also!

[David Allaband]

Thanks a lot for all the ideas!

I find a few ear options on Ebay but all the buckets are for a single mount, Harley style. I want to use the ears. I'll keep looking around.

I don't look AT the fairing, but it's always there in my peripheral vision. Imagine walking down the street. Now imagine walking down the street pushing a shopping cart. I don't have to look AT the cart for it's presence to feel like a cage. I know I'm in the wrong group for this, but I'll always be a naked bike guy. I also won't own a car that's not a convertible and I keep the roof down even in the rain and snow. I like being outside. A fairing makes me feel like I'm inside.

About the fairing stay, I don't like it but I'm not interested in changing the frame unless it's some kind of afterthought part I can just cut off. I'll leave it there. I'll put the headlight under it and push the gauges down on top of it.

Those instruments are expensive! When the time comes maybe I'll be able to use the stock gauges in a hand crafted box or something.

This project is still a few months away, I have many things to sort out on this bike. But this fairing thing will be my first cosmetic job.

Thanks again for all the help and ideas!

[fjkid]

as seen on customfighters.com

as seen on customfighters.com

[FJTillDeath]

That has got to be the best one by far. I am not a hot rod kind of personal(plastic looks better) but that is one sweet bike. Looks a bit like a drag bike though..

[Steve_in_Florida]

as seen on customfighters.com

Something about this bike appeals to me. (*MINE* would be painted differently, of course)

It's funny, that with all the extreme mods and removal of plastic, that (s)he kept the stock chin fairing!

The rules are different in Dubai.

[fjkid]

this bike is pretty neat
http://www.customfighters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23331&highlight=fj1200&page=9

[FJTillDeath]

this one is quite unique...

FJ 1200 Fighter

[miked]

this one is quite unique...

I don't know about that one Jessie,

Looks a bit like an Armadillo mated with a feral pig 

[FJTillDeath]

Lol an FJ is still an FJ.. its amazing the lengths some people will go to to change things