There’s no exact science in this matter. Fairing fanatics and naked nutcases will debate to the death over which design works best. It’s all a matter of perspective. Naked riders may argue that fairings aren’t functional in blocking the wind. Fairing riders respond that naked bikes are hard to ride when you pick up speed.
A lot of newbies drool over the rugged naked streetfighter style motorcycle. Even still, the appeal of a fully faired or even half faired bike can be too magnetic to pass up. Taking a side on the debate will never fly with everyone in the crowd; instead let’s just point out a few facts.
Nakeds
Getting down to the stone cold facts, all bikes were once naked. Motorcycles void of the plastic coverings are considerably more durable. Naked bikes can withstand repeated drops and falls without the need of costly repairs.
The exposed hardware doesn’t offer the most comfortable ride. Naked motorcycles are ideal for shorter trips at a modest pace. Traveling at 75mph, there isn’t an obvious difference between faired and naked bikes. But when you pick up the pace to around 90-100 mph, you’ll soon become aware of the importance of a windshield and fairing. Adding a larger windshield to your naked bike can solve your issue with gusting winds but it may take some more work to soothe the buns of steel from the bulky bike.
On the other hand, naked bikes are a more convenient ride. Without the all of the excessive width that some fairings cause, they can be easier to handle and quicker to turn. That fact may be true but the days of arguing that they’re more comfortable because of their upright seating won’t hold much weight anymore. Faired bikes are reassessing their designs to suit the rider’s needs. There are now more options available besides the strenuous sport bike style.
Faired Bikes
Easily considered a product of the evolution of the age-old naked motorcycle, adding fairings improves the bikes appearance and efficiency. Fairings not only help riders glide through harsh winds, they can also protect your machine from rain, fog, and sleet.
The most arguable disadvantage for a fully faired bike is the costly consequences of a drop or fall. Purchasing fairings made from high quality materials and using your better judgment while out on a ride can prevent you from having to learn this lesson. Your bike can go from ‘awesome’ to ‘awful’ in a matter of “I bet it’d be cool if I…”
There’s no disputing that fairings enhance your bike’s aerodynamic abilities. By directing air away from the rider and into the radiator, fairings keep your bike cool while adding to its overall functionality. Because of this, faired is the way to go when taking a long journey or if you plan on breaking the sound barrier.
So Which One’s Better?
As we said earlier, there’s no right or wrong answer to this question. The only way to decide which style works best for you is to test them both out. Riders who’ve experienced both naked and faired bikes for themselves can determine which one can get the job done right. It’s not uncommon for previous naked naysayers to cross over to the bare boned side after giving the opposition a try. And more than the fair share of naked connoisseurs have fall for the sleek ergonomic abilities of a fully-faired machine. In a world with so much dispute and debate, whether you go naked or for the fairing- can’t we all just get along?
A lot of newbies drool over the rugged naked streetfighter style motorcycle. Even still, the appeal of a fully faired or even half faired bike can be too magnetic to pass up. Taking a side on the debate will never fly with everyone in the crowd; instead let’s just point out a few facts.
Nakeds
Getting down to the stone cold facts, all bikes were once naked. Motorcycles void of the plastic coverings are considerably more durable. Naked bikes can withstand repeated drops and falls without the need of costly repairs.
The exposed hardware doesn’t offer the most comfortable ride. Naked motorcycles are ideal for shorter trips at a modest pace. Traveling at 75mph, there isn’t an obvious difference between faired and naked bikes. But when you pick up the pace to around 90-100 mph, you’ll soon become aware of the importance of a windshield and fairing. Adding a larger windshield to your naked bike can solve your issue with gusting winds but it may take some more work to soothe the buns of steel from the bulky bike.
On the other hand, naked bikes are a more convenient ride. Without the all of the excessive width that some fairings cause, they can be easier to handle and quicker to turn. That fact may be true but the days of arguing that they’re more comfortable because of their upright seating won’t hold much weight anymore. Faired bikes are reassessing their designs to suit the rider’s needs. There are now more options available besides the strenuous sport bike style.
Faired Bikes
Easily considered a product of the evolution of the age-old naked motorcycle, adding fairings improves the bikes appearance and efficiency. Fairings not only help riders glide through harsh winds, they can also protect your machine from rain, fog, and sleet.
The most arguable disadvantage for a fully faired bike is the costly consequences of a drop or fall. Purchasing fairings made from high quality materials and using your better judgment while out on a ride can prevent you from having to learn this lesson. Your bike can go from ‘awesome’ to ‘awful’ in a matter of “I bet it’d be cool if I…”
There’s no disputing that fairings enhance your bike’s aerodynamic abilities. By directing air away from the rider and into the radiator, fairings keep your bike cool while adding to its overall functionality. Because of this, faired is the way to go when taking a long journey or if you plan on breaking the sound barrier.
So Which One’s Better?
As we said earlier, there’s no right or wrong answer to this question. The only way to decide which style works best for you is to test them both out. Riders who’ve experienced both naked and faired bikes for themselves can determine which one can get the job done right. It’s not uncommon for previous naked naysayers to cross over to the bare boned side after giving the opposition a try. And more than the fair share of naked connoisseurs have fall for the sleek ergonomic abilities of a fully-faired machine. In a world with so much dispute and debate, whether you go naked or for the fairing- can’t we all just get along?