Fairing removal to naked conversion

[banjojonker]

Hi:

I have a 1983 GL1100 Interstate. I would like to remove the front factory stock fairing and replace it with just a plain windshield such as the national Plexi fairing or something similar.

It appears that the headlight and directionals are about the only thing involved and new housing, etc. would be needed for each.

Has anyone on the board done this successfully?

Is there some sort of a kit available such as headlight, turn signals, and all needed parts with step by step instructions?

As I get older (66 and still going strong) I find the added weight of something I have never liked anyway (The fairing) cumbersom and I am a long way from giving up the pleasure my cycle gives. I will keep the trunk and bags as the storage space is always needed.

Any help would be appreciated.

My email is \ Bombadee@surfglobal.net

Thanks

Carl

[Whiskerfish]

Been done many many times!! Some folks use new aftermarket parts some get used parts. Both are available from Frenchy at Crescent Moon Unlimited or on Flea Bay. There are other sources but it seems these are the two most used.

[fuzzball59]

Hi Carl--

Your request caught my attention because I'm contemplating the very same thing.
I've got a 1982 gl1100 Interstate and am looking to lose the bulk and weight up front as well but keep the hardbags and trunk, just as you said.

I had the Plexifairing on a previous bike---a 82 Silverwing and I was real happy with it. It's nice and wide and has built in contours for hand protection and has lowers as well.

It occurred to me that step one would be to buy the fairing and build my headlight and turn signal configuration around it because the plexifairing is manufactured with a semi-circle cut that matches the headlight and should fit snug around the top of it.

A couple of the member albums on this great site show some ideas and solutions for headlights and signals on this type of conversion but I, like you am looking for a source for parts that don't involve a ton of fabrication. I'd really appreciate hearing about your project as it goes along and I will do the same for you.

Paul

[winston]

My CB750K7 had a Vetter Windjammer and assorted other 1980s touring crap on it when I bought it...I got the stuff I needed on eBay.

And I did this same thing this winter with a 1982 GL1100Aspencade I bought a few months ago...eBay is pretty good for the hard-to-find stuff.

[hmratbam]

Howdy Carl,Welcome to NGW! Lotsa ways to go and lotsa stuff to do it with,but your best bet for one stop shopping would be Frenchy. I've seen everything you need on fleabay one time or another, but not all at once.
God Bless!
Ron

[winston]

Here's a conversion question...does anyone know what the assignments are for the 9 pins in the GL1100 fairing electrical socket?

Rather than cut the thing off and hardwire my lites and signals, I'm thinking it'd be cleaner and easier to wire directly to the existing spades in the socket itself.

Sure, I guess I can trial and error it...or decipher the maze in the back of my Clymer...or give up and pay my mechanic...but I figure SOMEBODY must have done it this way before...

Yes? No?

Lemme know...thanks!

Winston

[Brant]

Not really a trial and error, just get your 12 volt test light out.

[Frenchy]

First: WELCOME!!!!!!
It depends on the look your after... You hint some OEM gl1100 headlight ears, or use an aftermarket mounting set, with some after market running lights/turn signals (or as our friends across the pond say "winkers").

I think I may have some gl1100 ears available..... I'll check & see what I have... Mother Honda actually made the task of going naked rather easy!! As far as the electrical goes, unplug the fairing, remove it (along with any intercom cording if installed). You're left with a headlight plug (if memory serves) & plugs for your running lights..

[winston]

(~snip~)As far as the electrical goes, unplug the fairing, remove it (along with any intercom cording if installed). You're left with a headlight plug (if memory serves) & plugs for your running lights..

Yeah, I see the headlight plug and a whole mess of other connectors, but there's also a 9-spade square connector with a rubber boot over it...maybe that was for Aspencade type stuff like the extra guages, stereo, etc?

[sgwilly]

I just took the fairing of an 83 Interstate. That square plug is a basically an extension of all the wiring that goes into the fairing. You can ditch it. Just follow it back up to the multitude of connections (smaller rectangle black, white and red connectors along with the running and turn signal lights). There are also several additional power lines (3) for other accessories one might add to a fairing. I forget the color of these but they all forked out of one of the blocks. I cut and capped them. You kinda need to cut these as they are the only wires that go directly from the bike wiring harness into the pigtail extension. There is another power source - it's the brown one that didn't go through a connector and simply had a male connector with rubber housing. I'll probably use that to hook up a lightbar at some point.

You probably ought to figure out the wiring diagram in the manual, but here's what I remember.

Green is ground.
Orange is for the left turnsignal (there's a solid and striped - one is turn, the other running).
Light blue is for the right turnsignal (same solid/striped thing)
The 3 prong white connector with a blue, green and white(?) is the headlight connector.
The other wires are for the indicator lights as well as the clutch lockout switch (keeps you from starting without the clutch engaged). They just need to plug into their mates (i.e. male/female).

The hardest part is getting the wiring into the headlight and getting the headlight up close to the forks so the brackets reach the mount holes. I had to push a bunch of the main wiring trunk up under the tank and put the three smaller connectors next the the steering axle on the frame.

Good luck.