Re: Why is my Fairing Different from Most?
Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 8:21 pm
Uh, Downut, I see that we've confused you, so I'll try to be clearer.
The bike you own has an RT fairing on it. It looks a lot like its smaller, sleeker, and sportier sibling, the RS fairing, that you've probably been admiring in whatever pictures you've been looking at. The previous owner may have even told you that they were selling you an R100RS---if so, he/she either doesn't know what they're talking about, or they lied to you---or, perhaps the bike started out with an RS fairing on it (in which case, the frame labels and model badges may also say that it's an RS), but, if so, it has been replaced with the bigger, somewhat less sleek, RT fairing. You don't own an RS fairing---you own an RT fairing.
The headlight cover, the rubber headlight tunnel, the turn signals, the brow light above the headlight, the gauges in the dash, and the fairing lowers (the pieces that wrap around the cylinder jugs) are identical/interchangeable between RT and RS fairings, but the rest of the fairing bits differ between the RT and RS fairings.
A previous owner of your bike did paint your fairing in paint and pinstripe colors that are similar to the earliest RS fairings, but yours is still an RT fairing. Front vents, hardshell pockets inside, high handlebars = RT fairing, regardless of what color it's painted. No vents, no hard pockets inside the fairing, and short handlebars tucked into the fairing = RS fairing, regardless of the color it's painted.
The windshields of RT and RS fairings are not one of the interchangeable bits. Most RT windshields are adjustable; RS windshields are not adjustable. There are several different windshield heights and shapes available from BMW or the aftermarket for both fairings, but none of those are designed to interchange between the two types of fairing. As long as you have the RT fairing mounted on your bike, you'll need to buy a windshield that fits an RT fairing. If you'd like a shorter windshield on your RT, you'll have to either buy a shorter one (yours looks like it's probably the shortest OE 18-inch high factory piece) from an aftermarket seller (Clearview, Gustafson, etc.), or you can whittle yours down to whatever height suits you. Ask this forum for tips on the cut-down methods before you fire up your saber saw . . .
You can put a variety of different handlebars behind an RT fairing, and they can probably work OK in the larger space---though most folks just stick with the comfortable, upright high bars you already have. The smaller confines of an RS fairing limit the handlebar choices to two or three much shorter and narrower options.
I hope this helps.
The bike you own has an RT fairing on it. It looks a lot like its smaller, sleeker, and sportier sibling, the RS fairing, that you've probably been admiring in whatever pictures you've been looking at. The previous owner may have even told you that they were selling you an R100RS---if so, he/she either doesn't know what they're talking about, or they lied to you---or, perhaps the bike started out with an RS fairing on it (in which case, the frame labels and model badges may also say that it's an RS), but, if so, it has been replaced with the bigger, somewhat less sleek, RT fairing. You don't own an RS fairing---you own an RT fairing.
The headlight cover, the rubber headlight tunnel, the turn signals, the brow light above the headlight, the gauges in the dash, and the fairing lowers (the pieces that wrap around the cylinder jugs) are identical/interchangeable between RT and RS fairings, but the rest of the fairing bits differ between the RT and RS fairings.
A previous owner of your bike did paint your fairing in paint and pinstripe colors that are similar to the earliest RS fairings, but yours is still an RT fairing. Front vents, hardshell pockets inside, high handlebars = RT fairing, regardless of what color it's painted. No vents, no hard pockets inside the fairing, and short handlebars tucked into the fairing = RS fairing, regardless of the color it's painted.
The windshields of RT and RS fairings are not one of the interchangeable bits. Most RT windshields are adjustable; RS windshields are not adjustable. There are several different windshield heights and shapes available from BMW or the aftermarket for both fairings, but none of those are designed to interchange between the two types of fairing. As long as you have the RT fairing mounted on your bike, you'll need to buy a windshield that fits an RT fairing. If you'd like a shorter windshield on your RT, you'll have to either buy a shorter one (yours looks like it's probably the shortest OE 18-inch high factory piece) from an aftermarket seller (Clearview, Gustafson, etc.), or you can whittle yours down to whatever height suits you. Ask this forum for tips on the cut-down methods before you fire up your saber saw . . .
You can put a variety of different handlebars behind an RT fairing, and they can probably work OK in the larger space---though most folks just stick with the comfortable, upright high bars you already have. The smaller confines of an RS fairing limit the handlebar choices to two or three much shorter and narrower options.
I hope this helps.
