jhall
BMWMOA #24809
It recently occurred to me, of the six Airheads I've owned since 1981, all have had fairings. The first Airhead was a 78 R100/7 SPECIAL, which came stock with Luftmeister fairing with lowers, bags and tail trunk; next was a 79 R65 with Pichler fairing; an 82 R100RT; a 79 R100RT; a 76 R90/6 with Hannigan fairing, and now a 95 R100RT.
Prior to Airheads in 1981, I rode the first 100,000 miles on Harleys with no fairing or windshield, and wore only a half helmet and sun glasses. One reason for naked Harleys (besides being young and dumb) was I'd heard many stories of, "tank slappers" induced by handler mounted windshields. With the first Airhead, I learned that a frame mounted fairing was rock steady at all speeds. Not to mention the excellent weather protection.
If I were buying a naked Airhead today, I'd also be shopping for a frame mounted fairing at same time. To me, the RT provides the ultimate weather protection. Maybe that's why, of the six Airheads owned, three were RTs. I also have bragging rights to having owned the first and last year RTs, 1979 and 1995.
Prior to Airheads in 1981, I rode the first 100,000 miles on Harleys with no fairing or windshield, and wore only a half helmet and sun glasses. One reason for naked Harleys (besides being young and dumb) was I'd heard many stories of, "tank slappers" induced by handler mounted windshields. With the first Airhead, I learned that a frame mounted fairing was rock steady at all speeds. Not to mention the excellent weather protection.
If I were buying a naked Airhead today, I'd also be shopping for a frame mounted fairing at same time. To me, the RT provides the ultimate weather protection. Maybe that's why, of the six Airheads owned, three were RTs. I also have bragging rights to having owned the first and last year RTs, 1979 and 1995.