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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Technical Documents/Reference >> Plexifairing 3 From National Cycle /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1205020318 Message started by 1st2know on 03/08/08 at 15:51:57 |
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Title: Plexifairing 3 From National Cycle Post by 1st2know on 03/08/08 at 15:51:57 I've recently installed a Plexifairing 3 on my 98 stock LS650. The instructions from National Cycle are very general, and don't tell how to get the thing to fit. I imagine with all the bike models out there, comprehensive instructions for every bike would be the size of a telephone book. The instructions are for a "dealership". Being a Savage owner/operator/wrencher, I had to look this word up. Dealership? I don't need no dealership, I've got SuzukiSavage.com! Prior to installing this sheild, I searched the Internet for some photos of real bikes with the sheild installed - there are a few, but they are all installed incorrectly; but that's my opinion. My machine is a 1998 Stock with a buckhorn bar. Savage owners have to purchase "bag 077" for mounting the stays to our 1 inch bar. National Cycle sells it directly - it's about $20 delivered as of this writing. Here's the machine with "max sheilds up": http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2319072565_e87e291717.jpg?v=0 Note the angle of the shield is not parallel to the rake - I think this is correct, but there are postings out there that insist the angles match. YMMV. |
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Title: Re: Plexifairing 3 From National Cycle Post by 1st2know on 03/08/08 at 15:57:37 The angle I chose here is important on the Savage, as if you choose the paralell angle, the skirt of the Plexifairing 3 will be in front of the turn signals. This may not be a problem, but it didn't look right for me, so I put the skirt behind the blinkers: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2025/2319072543_5b040eabd7.jpg?v=0 |
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Title: Re: Plexifairing 3 From National Cycle Post by 1st2know on 03/08/08 at 16:07:12 In the instructions, they do tell you the correct order in which to install, but the placement of the stays is where it gets tricky. I installed the stays incorrectly several times, "so you dont have to" :-) Here is where I think the lower skirt stays should go: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/2319072561_f661375a44.jpg?v=0 About an inch and a half above the lower tree. The stay itself, an "L" shaped rod that connects to the sheild and then to the bracket, will point forward and outward. You can use the blinkers themselves as a reference point to make sure the skirts are fitted evenly. You may have to flip the bracket around a few times to get that L shaped rod to line up, but it's easy and only takes a minute to get it right. |
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Title: Re: Plexifairing 3 From National Cycle Post by 1st2know on 03/08/08 at 16:22:33 Upper Placement: Ok, this is where most of my head scratchin time went, and this is what I settled on: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/2319072571_94377550e5.jpg?v=0 Remember, the patient here has buckhorns. The brackets from "bag 077" are round, but these bars are cold bent and not exactly round. This is the highest position I could get them to fit. You S40 owners with yer fancy risers and flatbar will probably have an easier time with this. You may have to loosen the banjo bolt on the master cylinder to get the thing to fit. Don't give up - these brackets will clamp down. I didn't use the sticky tape that comes with the brackets. The tape prevents the brackets from turning on the bar under normal use. I'll keep the tape handy in case the instructions are right :-) Of course, both brackets should be at the same height - mine are real close to the same height: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/2319072573_03cd9edc8f.jpg?v=0 View from "inside" the vehicle. |
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Title: Re: Plexifairing 3 From National Cycle Post by 1st2know on 03/08/08 at 16:37:46 To get the right wind protection for my hands & face, I mounted the shield about an inch higher than spec. It is most obvious in this photo: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2019/2319072545_ac7e99b585.jpg?v=0 The edge liner is about an inch above the headlight. I think it would be ok resting on the headlight liner, but I moved it up an inch to be safe, and it places the "wings" right in front of my handgrips. The opening for the fork should fit on the fork member, and it fits perfectly. This is another good test for symetry. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/2319093275_be223d2bd0.jpg?v=0 |
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Title: Re: Plexifairing 3 From National Cycle Post by 1st2know on 03/08/08 at 16:41:31 The best test for fitting is the U-Turn test. With the skirt, there is a risk that the skirt can come in contact with the tank. Standing over the bike, turn the bar all the way to the left, then to the right to check your clearence. There should be almost an inch of clearence between the skirt and the tank: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2148/2319093277_042d4f27cc.jpg?v=0 Another trickier, but important test, check to make sure the skirt does not bump your knees when your turning. This could result in comprimised low speed handling (U-turns, parking). I did a few figure eights and had more than enough room to spare. YMMV. |
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Title: Re: Plexifairing 3 From National Cycle Post by 1st2know on 03/08/08 at 16:52:53 Finally, remember that the Plexifaring 3 is a big a$$ed sheild. I had to change the way I mounted the machine cuz I kept bumping my forehead on the top of the sheild. Not a deal killer, but something to think about. I'm 5'11 and I cannot see over the shield while driving. I now have to remember to keep some wipes with me to keep the shield clean, because I have to look thru it to see the idiot turning right on red in to my right of way! As far as the value of the shield, I can say this: It keeps me warm; I can now hear better - (I now have to fix the speedo rattle problem because it's very obvious now :-). I read a biker's review where he warned Plexifairing users to watch their speed: Without all the wind noise and buffeting, you can't really sense your speed as well. I discovered this on my first test ride when I saw a cop ahead of me and wondered why he was going so slow in the 30mph zone. I looked down, and realized that I was doing 70 and he was going about 45. Crap - emeregency braking-too-avoid-a-ticket procedure :-) I would guess that this procedure would be either 1/2 or 1 billable hour at the stealership. It took me about 1 1/2 hours, but that included de-installing the first fubar attempt and doing right the 2nd time. Good luck, and let me know if you need more pics or advise. |
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Title: Re: Plexifairing 3 From National Cycle Post by Prophet_10 on 04/11/08 at 10:18:05 2C6E692F7673726A1D0 wrote:
Keep in mind "bag 077" will not be easier on an S40. I may be possible to stuff it in if you move the master cylinder, but even then I am not sure. For reference here is a link to a recent thread I started about those pivot mounts: http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1205338797 |
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Title: Re: Plexifairing 3 From National Cycle Post by Charon on 06/13/08 at 12:01:38 I installed the Plexifairing 3 on my S40. It ended up being somewhat less elegant than the Plexifairing 3 I installed on my old Suzuki Tempter. Two problems arose. First, the upper mounts could only be installed in one spot, as the windshield top support interfered with the brake master cylinder. It might have been possible to rotate the brake master cylinder, but that changes the angle of the brake lever and I didn't want to do that. Second, if the fairing was installed as recommended behind the turn signals, there was interference with the tank at full lock. I installed it in front of the turn signals (reluctantly and under wifely goading). It works well enough, but ends up several inches above the headlight shell instead of resting near it. My fairing (just as on the Tempter) was too tall, and I cut an inch or so off the top of it. That cut also helped the optics, as the Plexifairing 3 is slightly "bent" at the top. |
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Title: Re: Plexifairing 3 From National Cycle Post by deejaymo on 06/19/14 at 18:07:24 Hi,i didn't realize how old this post was,but it was extremely helpful ! The instructions that came with the windshield were terrible. I wasn't happy with the installation on my 2003 Savage when i found your detailed pictures. There really is no way to install the windshield in front of the turn signals without making serious contact and therefore,you can't keep the desired angle of the front fork. I have to put some miles on the bike and tweak the windshield here and there,but it certainly keeps the wind off your chest and head. Thank you again, Mark |
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