Nomad fairing comparrison

DUG · 12-17-2013, 02:53 PM

I have a 2008 VN1600, would love to get a fairing. Optimally it would be able to be switched out for my windshield in the hot weather but not required.

I am sure that some of you must have researched this completely and I am not looking to re invent the wheel here. Any of your research, experience or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Dug

**GIBBY** · 12-17-2013, 03:31 PM

I had a Wide Open Customs fairing on my 2003 1500 Nomad and thought the quality was second to none. It is a two piece plastic design that is plastic welded into a single piece unit. The benefit of a one piece design is there is virtually no rattling that can be a problem with two piece designs. Another advantage is there is no trim piece required to hide the seam on a two piece design. Another advantage to the WOC fairing is their weather cover on the radio, it can be put up and out of the way for manually adjusting the radio controls. It also comes with the mounting brackets and a quick disconnect wiring harness. Also, it can be used with handlebar risers. It may sound like I am biased and quite frankly I am, I think that the WOC fairing is a quality piece at a reasonable cost.

Monkeyman · 12-17-2013, 04:36 PM

I had a HD Electra Glide fairing on my '07 Nomad. Nice fairing but you have to fabricate your own brackets. Definitely some fabricating involved as the only things that "fit" are the speakers (5 1/4" but you can put 6 1/2" with easy to find adapter rings) and the 4 smaller gauge holes (standard 2 1/16"). The 2 larger gauge holes (originally for the speedo and tach) pretty much require the HD gauges. The HD tach works fine with just 3 wires to run. Never could get the speedo to work but I'm sure it would be possible. I used aftermarket gauges for volts, water temp, oil pressure, etc. The cutout for the stereo is bigger than that of a DIN sized aftermarket stereo so you'd need to fabricate a mounting bracket.

Lots of work but there are TONS of aftermarket parts (including a bunch of windscreens) and I think it blocks the wind very well, especially if you use the HD headlight.

**ringadingh** · 12-17-2013, 06:38 PM

Premeux make a very nice HD style fairing, it comes color matched to your bike.

**nomadtom69** · 12-17-2013, 10:25 PM

I have a Reckless fairing on mine and like it 2 piece fiberglass comes off with the same 4 bolts that hold your windshield on.

rickyboy · 12-18-2013, 12:50 AM

I have an HD Fairing and love it.....

paul · 12-18-2013, 09:10 AM

I put a Reckless on my 07. Very good fairing, price was right. Can't say if it's better that any of the other or not, but it was easy install, very sturdy, and again, price was right.

doctorgski · 12-18-2013, 09:47 AM

I just got a reckless fairing for my 2012 Nomad. Awesome quality and the factory two tone paint to match the bike is fantastic. Easy to install, no rattles ( had lots of rattles on my 2011 voyager). The Bluetooth radio sounds fantastic, it also has a USB port making an i-pod not necessary to listen to your own music, just insert your music loaded flash drive an bingo the radio works like an i-pod. The folks at Reckless are great to work with!

gcsteve · 12-18-2013, 11:53 AM

Got the Reckless recently. Love it. I dont think I would ever put the windshield back on. Can always just put the low windshield on in summer. Bluetooth radio with the amp option really cranks. Sound is excellent.

Boscoe · 12-18-2013, 12:09 PM

http://www.tsukayu.com/Bike_Kawasaki_Nomad.html

**GIBBY** · 12-18-2013, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boscoe

http://www.tsukayu.com/Bike_Kawasaki_Nomad.html

If I were in the market I would be all over the GPS model!

**ringadingh** · 12-18-2013, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickyboy

I have an HD Fairing and love it.....

I have one now too, since I smashed the Premeux. It was more work to make up the brackets, but I really like it, the inner fairing looks the best of all the other brands to me.

**canuckrider** · 12-21-2013, 12:15 AM

I have the Wide Open Custom one on my '08 and pretty much concur with Gibby about the fit, finish and quality of it.

12-17-2013, 02:53 PM	#1
DUG Jr. Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2	Nomad fairing comparrison I have a 2008 VN1600, would love to get a fairing. Optimally it would be able to be switched out for my windshield in the hot weather but not required. I am sure that some of you must have researched this completely and I am not looking to re invent the wheel here. Any of your research, experience or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Dug Login or Register to Remove Ads
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12-17-2013, 03:31 PM	#2
GIBBY Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Osceola,WI Posts: 3,083	I had a Wide Open Customs fairing on my 2003 1500 Nomad and thought the quality was second to none. It is a two piece plastic design that is plastic welded into a single piece unit. The benefit of a one piece design is there is virtually no rattling that can be a problem with two piece designs. Another advantage is there is no trim piece required to hide the seam on a two piece design. Another advantage to the WOC fairing is their weather cover on the radio, it can be put up and out of the way for manually adjusting the radio controls. It also comes with the mounting brackets and a quick disconnect wiring harness. Also, it can be used with handlebar risers. It may sound like I am biased and quite frankly I am, I think that the WOC fairing is a quality piece at a reasonable cost. __________________ Mike "GIBBY" Gibson Osceola, WI VBA # 1279 2011 National Rally 2012 NCR Rally 2012 Antlers Rally 2013 National Rally 2013 Antlers Rally 2014 NC/SC Rally 2014 Antlers Rally 2015 VRA/VBA Rally 2016 NCR Rally 2016 Antlers Rally 2017 Antlers Rally 2018 NC/SC Rally 2018 Antlers Rally 2019 Antlers Rally 2020 Antlers Rally 2022 Antlers Rally 2023 Antlers Rally 2021 Indian Roadmaster Limited 2022 Indian Roadmaster
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12-17-2013, 04:36 PM	#3
Monkeyman Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Wilkesboro, NC Posts: 6,289	I had a HD Electra Glide fairing on my '07 Nomad. Nice fairing but you have to fabricate your own brackets. Definitely some fabricating involved as the only things that "fit" are the speakers (5 1/4" but you can put 6 1/2" with easy to find adapter rings) and the 4 smaller gauge holes (standard 2 1/16"). The 2 larger gauge holes (originally for the speedo and tach) pretty much require the HD gauges. The HD tach works fine with just 3 wires to run. Never could get the speedo to work but I'm sure it would be possible. I used aftermarket gauges for volts, water temp, oil pressure, etc. The cutout for the stereo is bigger than that of a DIN sized aftermarket stereo so you'd need to fabricate a mounting bracket. Lots of work but there are TONS of aftermarket parts (including a bunch of windscreens) and I think it blocks the wind very well, especially if you use the HD headlight. __________________ Christopher "Monkeyman" Gray ---------------------------- Widows Sons "Overseers" Patriot Guard Rider USArmy 1987-1990 2021 Can Am Spyder RT 2018 Can Am Spyder RT Limited - SOLD 2014 Nomad - SOLD 2012 Victory Vision - SOLD 2007 Black Nomad - SOLD VMC #9367 VBA #1860
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12-17-2013, 06:38 PM	#4
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Premeux make a very nice HD style fairing, it comes color matched to your bike. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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12-17-2013, 10:25 PM	#5
nomadtom69 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryville, Tn Posts: 2,656	I have a Reckless fairing on mine and like it 2 piece fiberglass comes off with the same 4 bolts that hold your windshield on. __________________ (NomadTom69)Tom Green Previous bikes - 2004 BMW R1200 CLC 2006 Nomad 1600 Black -1985 BMW K100 RT VBA #001609 Viet-Nam Vet 71-72 Maryville , Tn. Maggie Valley '11-Townsend '12-Estes Park '13- Copperhead fall rally "13- Elkins WV '14- Eureka Springs ' 15- Helen Ga. SE Rally '16 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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12-18-2013, 12:50 AM	#6
rickyboy Top Contributor Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 108 Mile Ranch B.C. Canada Posts: 5,472	I have an HD Fairing and love it..... __________________ Nomad'a What ! "rickyboy" Richard Cole Canada West Region 108 Mile Ranch, British Columbia Canada Vulcan Bagger Assoc. #00722 Black 2006 Nomad https://cdn2.iconfinder.com/data/ico...Book_32x32.png
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12-18-2013, 09:10 AM	#7
paul Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: magnolia, tx Posts: 1,500	I put a Reckless on my 07. Very good fairing, price was right. Can't say if it's better that any of the other or not, but it was easy install, very sturdy, and again, price was right. __________________ The beatings will stop when morale improves.
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12-18-2013, 09:47 AM	#8
doctorgski Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ft Myers FL Most of the time Posts: 218	I just got a reckless fairing for my 2012 Nomad. Awesome quality and the factory two tone paint to match the bike is fantastic. Easy to install, no rattles ( had lots of rattles on my 2011 voyager). The Bluetooth radio sounds fantastic, it also has a USB port making an i-pod not necessary to listen to your own music, just insert your music loaded flash drive an bingo the radio works like an i-pod. The folks at Reckless are great to work with!
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12-18-2013, 12:09 PM	#10
Boscoe Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Jefferson City, Missouri Posts: 372	http://www.tsukayu.com/Bike_Kawasaki_Nomad.html __________________ 2011 Voyager 1700, Ebony/Pearl Meteor Gray Bridgestone Exedra Max tires in stock sizes Heated Avon grips with Throttle Mod Cobra Scalloped Slip-ons Thunder Mfg. Intake Gasket DEI Titanium exhaust header wrap Corbin heated seat. Polk Audio db521 speakers Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 with Mobil 1 M1-110 filter Kuryakyn Longhorn Offset Dually Highway Pegs Chrome passenger running board covers All new fluids and lube.
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12-21-2013, 12:15 AM	#13
canuckrider Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Okotoks, AB, Canada Posts: 1,088	I have the Wide Open Custom one on my '08 and pretty much concur with Gibby about the fit, finish and quality of it. __________________ "Sun on my face, wind in my hair, sound of my bike in my ears and peace in my soul..." VBA Member #01514 2008 "Ultra" Nomad 1600, Candy Plasma Blue
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