Ideas on Keeping Dry with a Fairing

[Modbikemax]

Its raining in sunny Perth? I've been reduced to driving my car
I am trying to avoid using my car so thoughts turn to a covered in bike.
I am not interested in wet weather gear, years of riding a motorcycle in the rain means getting wet holds no mystery for me.
Here is one solution although gas powered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8Z4zIlfcdk

Any ideas?

 

[Jonathan in Hiram]

This one looks like it uses a flat windshield, would be a lot easier to fabricate.

[youtube]cihVD_gtrkY[/youtube]

 

[mikebikerad]

http://organictransit.com/

If you can live with the width where you are these are pretty slick and can handle some cargo since you are replacing the auto.

 

[Ykick]

The inherent problem with any lightweight enclosed and/or fairing design is that wind and particularly crosswinds can have adverse effects on safe handling. I've been hit by severe crosswinds on full size touring motorcycles and it's nothing to ignore. I simply cringe at the thought of a strong gust of wind slamming into something under 100lbs that is effectively shaped like a sail.

I've been riding on 2 wheels in just about every type of weather/situation for over 40 years - dress accordingly (rain suit) is the only thing I've found that works most of the time. Even then, give it enough time and speed, water usually finds a way in.

 

[gogo]

The inherent problem with any lightweight enclosed and/or fairing design is that wind and particularly crosswinds can have adverse effects on safe handling. I've been hit by severe crosswinds on full size touring motorcycles and it's nothing to ignore. I simply cringe at the thought of a strong gust of wind slamming into something under 100lbs that is effectively shaped like a sail.

I've been riding on 2 wheels in just about every type of weather/situation for over 40 years - dress accordingly (rain suit) is the only thing I've found that works most of the time. Even then, give it enough time and speed, water usually finds a way in.

Same here with a windjammer fairing on a BMW. I found that a 1/4 type 'bubble' fairing deflected the wind and rain from my torso and face while at speed with significantly less side-load from crosswinds.

I've thought of making leg guards that would slide sideways into the center when not needed. A similar minimal slide-up windscreen/deflector could be used for the torso, and something like the soda pop 2-liter wind deflectors, as discussed elsewhere on an E-S thread for cold weather riding, could be used for the hands. Shielding the shoulders and arms is probably not realistic due to the mentioned sail-effect. And as Ykick points out, rain suits are the best you can do otherwise.

 

[USAEBIKECO]

Wouldn't turning be a problem with a fairing?

 

[gogo]

Wouldn't turning be a problem with a fairing?

Not if mounted properly.

A handlebar mounted windscreen would affect steering due to sidewind more than with a frame mount. Based on experience with both on my BMW, I wouldn't want a handlebar mounted windscreen on a bicycle.

 

[Ykick]

The inherent problem with any lightweight enclosed and/or fairing design is that wind and particularly crosswinds can have adverse effects on safe handling. I've been hit by severe crosswinds on full size touring motorcycles and it's nothing to ignore. I simply cringe at the thought of a strong gust of wind slamming into something under 100lbs that is effectively shaped like a sail.

I've been riding on 2 wheels in just about every type of weather/situation for over 40 years - dress accordingly (rain suit) is the only thing I've found that works most of the time. Even then, give it enough time and speed, water usually finds a way in.

Same here with a windjammer fairing on a BMW. I found that a 1/4 type 'bubble' fairing deflected the wind and rain from my torso and face while at speed with significantly less side-load from crosswinds.

I've thought of making leg guards that would slide sideways into the center when not needed. A similar minimal slide-up windscreen/deflector could be used for the torso, and something like the soda pop 2-liter wind deflectors, as discussed elsewhere on an E-S thread for cold weather riding, could be used for the hands. Shielding the shoulders and arms is probably not realistic due to the mentioned sail-effect. And as Ykick points out, rain suits are the best you can do otherwise.

My old short swingarm/5 had a WJ. As you likely know, kinda quick steering and weighing only 420lbs (light for touring bike) the WJ made for some very interesting Interstate crosswind situations.

By comparison, a bar mounted fairing on HD FL (700-800lbs, long wheel base, low center of gravity) is/was easy to hold a lazy line under similar conditions.

My current GL1100 is more like the HD but still can be a serious problem when crazy strong winds kick up out in the Imperial Valley.

I'll reiterate that keeping dry is a relative thing, IMO. You can delay it to some extent but give it enough time/speed you will likely get wet. But ya know something learned on several cross country rides? There's always a laundry mat nearby and they have dryers...

 

[karlInSanDiego]

Cedric Lynch preferred this solution

 

[Modbikemax]

It's OK it's sunny again. :lol:

I saw a Mitsubishi MIEV in the car park the other day. Something like this May be the answer for the odd rainy day.
They are going for A$20k 2nd hand.

http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au/vehicles/i-miev?mkwid=stsjAFIdu_dt|pcrid|34549659298|kword|miev|match|e&gclid=CNbiq9qw98QCFYEHvAod1l4ARA

 

[Modbikemax]

Found it! And it's Aussie too!

http://www.trisled.com.au/rotovelo.asp

 

[ddk]

...
Any ideas?

I struggled with the same issue a few years ago.
Since I once again am car-less, I needed something that could get me around on rainy (very) windy days and nights..
My dilemma included being not able to bend or contort my body as when I was younger, further complicating design choices.

It rains a lot where I live. Being right on the coast famous for winds gusting over 160kmh along with rain falling at up to 250mm per hour placed severe requirements on the design.

Along the way I discovered I hated the claustrophobia feel of available fairings, nor could I contort my body into their tight little bodies.
Heck, I doubt I could get into an ELF without issues.

With these issues in mind I decided on a trike with limited speed, massive torque (two motor front and rear) and a completely transparent body tall enough that I didn't have to bend to mount the trike.
It's worked flawlessly during those days and nights of wind, rain and anything else that happens otherwise locally.

Silly me, I have no current picture with the new door and there's 4 trikes in my workshop... too crowded to try for one now.
BTW I have two operational trikes and one in the works but only one has a silly-looking fairing.
You might note the floor- there isn't one.
And the back is completely open to the elements, which is why the trike survives extreme winds without being blown off the road.

edit- forgot to mention it's top speed is actually not so bad @ 27kph -it was designed for 25kph

 

[ScooterMan101]

I have been thinking a similar same thing as ... gogo

Getting a windscreen from a Sport bike ( GSXR, CBR 600, ZX6R, R6/1 ) and making a bracket that attaches to the bicycle. that way you could tuck inside when raining to keep your head and torso dry.
A windscreen from a sportbike is small enough to not have too much of the high side wind problems as a windjamer or Touring Motorcycle full fairing . ( I own a Kawasaki ZX6R sport bike and I cut through the wind quite well when I tuck in like they do at the race track )

I would like to see someone here on the forum do this . ( I am busy right now with designing a bike hitch . that pulls from the center of a rear rack , although its almost done. )

Also I live in Drought Ridden California , so I do not need to put too much
effort into keeping dry just now. but I would like to get the wind around my handlebars and upper torso a little cleaner so as to cut down on some drag.

>

The inherent problem with any lightweight enclosed and/or fairing design is that wind and particularly crosswinds can have adverse effects on safe handling. I've been hit by severe crosswinds on full size touring motorcycles and it's nothing to ignore. I simply cringe at the thought of a strong gust of wind slamming into something under 100lbs that is effectively shaped like a sail.

I've been riding on 2 wheels in just about every type of weather/situation for over 40 years - dress accordingly (rain suit) is the only thing I've found that works most of the time. Even then, give it enough time and speed, water usually finds a way in.

Same here with a windjammer fairing on a BMW. I found that a 1/4 type 'bubble' fairing deflected the wind and rain from my torso and face while at speed with significantly less side-load from crosswinds.

I've thought of making leg guards that would slide sideways into the center when not needed. A similar minimal slide-up windscreen/deflector could be used for the torso, and something like the soda pop 2-liter wind deflectors, as discussed elsewhere on an E-S thread for cold weather riding, could be used for the hands. Shielding the shoulders and arms is probably not realistic due to the mentioned sail-effect. And as Ykick points out, rain suits are the best you can do otherwise.