Softail Quick Detach Fairing

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Dec 23, 2008 | 10:01 AM

XARAN

Thread Starter

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 3,156

Likes: 41

From: So Cal

Softail Quick Detach Fairing

I am using the bike more as a daily rider , back and forth to work (130 miles r/t). I looked into getting a Road Glide, but its not in the budget now and Im also not sure I want to give up my Fatboy.

SO - Im thinking about a detachable fairing for the bike , I have looked at Hoppe, Dragonfly, Dead Center and Woodys Fairings. Are there any others out there ? I dont want a radio, so the basic fairing like Woodys or the Hoppe Vanilla is what Im looking for , but I aalos would like to be able to use the stock HD Quick Detach mounts (rubber gromets for the widshield) so I could swap it out easily.

Any pictures or opinions ?

Thanks

Dec 23, 2008 | 10:38 AM

Skitzer

Road Master

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 969

Likes: 3

From: Maine

I don't think I've ever seen a Fat Boy with a fairing ....... interesting.

Dec 24, 2008 | 08:44 AM

acchd

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 2,999

Likes: 85

From: Charlotte Metro

Xaran I have a Dragonfly on my Fatboy. You should be able to swap between windshield and fairing with about a 5 minute hardware swap. These fairings are made for Road Kings too so there is a small width spacer added to detachable grommet hardware on softails. You'd just have to remove spacers to put windshield back on. If you had some sounds you might change your mind! I have a Sony headunit with a Arc Audio 125.2 mini amp that cranks. I've got some album pics posted you can look at and if you have any more questions just PM me.

Last edited by acchd; Dec 24, 2008 at 08:52 AM.

Dec 24, 2008 | 01:38 PM

XARAN

Thread Starter

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 3,156

Likes: 41

From: So Cal

Thanks "acchd", your bike looks good with the fairing!

Dec 24, 2008 | 08:20 PM

Yosemite

Tourer

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 271

Likes: 13

From: OKC

Hey XARAN,

I've set mine up to tour, or not. Click the links in my signature at the bottom to see the difference.

I've attached some extra pics of it with the fairing attached to this message.

Anyway, the fairing I got was from a mid-70's FLH of some sort. There is no inner fairing on these and the windshield mounts to the attachment brackets rather than the front side of the fairing. You can see what the back side looks like from one of the pics attached.

To make it fit I had to purchase the detachable mount gromments (I didn't own a detachable windshield at the time.) and spacers. I mounted them at the same time I moved my turn signals (can't see handlebar mounted signals behind a fairing) (see thread on how to move signals elsewhere). The mounting brackets were too short so I had to have them lengthened and then notched them to fit the grommets. I added the spring clips and now the fairing essentially mounts like a detachable windshield.

Overall, it was pretty cheap to get going because the fairing was free. I spent about $60 on parts and bought a detachable windshield off Ebay for $50 to get the patterns for the mounting brackets (HD price was over $100 each).

I like it, a lot. The whole 'cutting the wind' thing is real and the fairing helps a ton. However, I have to say I'm danged impressed with the high price ones. This one is a little rough and will take a lot to make look really nice. There is no interior or back side of it; it is bare. The high priced fairings are for a reason; they have put a lot into making them look very similar to the HD unit and the fit and function is great. If I had the money, I would strongly consider selling the one I have and moving up to the more costly units.

Anyway, if you like it, go for it. There are options; mine is just one.

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