The ever tedious (and getting boring) fairing saga...

[dougie]

Twist, I really lusted after a Pichler back in the day, but I was never encumbered with one, or any full fairing, for that matter.
The biggest slug I have added to a bike was a sidecar, or me, on a 250...
dougie, what can you say, you are a 2-beemer kind of guy.

Rob - I love my HawkGT. No fairing, 380 lbs, roughly the same hp as an R100, impeccable handling, and nothing goes wrong with it (97,000 km).

[Rob]

Twist, I really lusted after a Pichler back in the day, but I was never encumbered with one, or any full fairing, for that matter.
The biggest slug I have added to a bike was a sidecar, or me, on a 250...
dougie, what can you say, you are a 2-beemer kind of guy.

Rob - I love my HawkGT. No fairing, 380 lbs, roughly the same hp as an R100, impeccable handling, and nothing goes wrong with it (97,000 km).

Yeah, I forgot! I may have to look into scaring one of those up. I just got back on the road yesterday, and I have to admit, a practical top-end of 80-85 MPH (128-137) might be wearisome when trying to make tracks. But my new gel seat is a real treat! I don't fee the first vibe through my butt.

[dougie]

Twist, I really lusted after a Pichler back in the day, but I was never encumbered with one, or any full fairing, for that matter.
The biggest slug I have added to a bike was a sidecar, or me, on a 250...
dougie, what can you say, you are a 2-beemer kind of guy.

Rob - I love my HawkGT. No fairing, 380 lbs, roughly the same hp as an R100, impeccable handling, and nothing goes wrong with it (97,000 km).

Yeah, I forgot! I may have to look into scaring one of those up. I just got back on the road yesterday, and I have to admit, a practical top-end of 80-85 MPH (128-137) might be wearisome when trying to make tracks. But my new gel seat is a real treat! I don't fee the first vibe through my butt.

They aren't expensive yet. I paid $2600 for mine, albeit with 80,000km on it. But it was a properly maintained Honda liquid cooled engine with 2 mature previous owners, so I went for it. Runs strong, no problems, and does not use any oil to speak of. Also, in 1989 bikes had an electrical system rather than mysterious electronics.

[Ken in Oklahoma]

Dougie, it's clear to me that you need two airheads, S and RS. As you know, they are way different rides. With an S and RS you can enjoy the pleasure of each, depending on your mood and the ride you're taking. You also have a backup bike for those times when one is down for inevitable problems. With only one airhead, it's going out of service will put you in a foul mood, plus you will feel an acute sense of deprivation. With two bikes, when one is down, that sense of panic and need for urgent action is mitigated and you can do the troubleshooting and repairs with a new found serenity.

Also, if it helps, you can regard both bikes as investments. You're not going to make a lot of money when you cash in on one, but you're not going to lose money either.

One's concerns, and one's justifications for two airheads do get a bit confusing at times, but the lack of panic when one bike is down is worth something of import to your psyche.

How am I doing?

Ken, cool, calm, and collected in Oklahoma

[Texer]

Ken,

I agree. I was 'coerced' into buying a friend's '74 60/6 with S fairing recently. Compared to my '70 75/5, it is a different experience of course, and has taught me what is lacking in the current trim of the 75 (fork travel, etc) that I can now address with some knowledge. It also gives me fodder for questions which will probably begin soon...

[Texer]

http://i.imgur.com/XAn8bC5.jpg

[dougie]

Dougie, it's clear to me that you need two airheads, S and RS. As you know, they are way different rides. With an S and RS you can enjoy the pleasure of each, depending on your mood and the ride you're taking. You also have a backup bike for those times when one is down for inevitable problems. With only one airhead, it's going out of service will put you in a foul mood, plus you will feel an acute sense of deprivation. With two bikes, when one is down, that sense of panic and need for urgent action is mitigated and you can do the troubleshooting and repairs with a new found serenity.

Also, if it helps, you can regard both bikes as investments. You're not going to make a lot of money when you cash in on one, but you're not going to lose money either.

One's concerns, and one's justifications for two airheads do get a bit confusing at times, but the lack of panic when one bike is down is worth something of import to your psyche.

How am I doing?

Ken, cool, calm, and collected in Oklahoma

I understand Ken but in truth I never did like how it felt riding my RS, or working on it. Too much clobber and bother to get to anything. And I didn't like the high up weight of that fairing, or the riding position.
Another issue, as I have mentioned before, was the weight - over 500 lbs full of gas. I was small to start, now I am small and old.
I do however agree about 2 bikes, especially when one is down. My '89 HawkGT is perfect for me, my 2nd bike is a '66 CB77 Superhawk that arrived "down", and is still soooooo "down".