New fairings should revolutionize the appearance of a motorcycle. If they fit correctly, the finish will be clean. If they don’t, it’s a frustrating experience.
The two most frequent complaints from riders who replace or upgrade motorcycle fairings on their motorcycles are fitment and installation problems. With a little knowledge, you can avoid most of these issues.
A comprehensive breakdown of what should go wrong and why, and how to get it right.
Fairing fitment is not as straightforward as it might seem
A fairing kit is more than a bunch of plastic panels. It’s a series of parts that need to fit together, as well as into your frame, subframe, radiator, headlight assembly, windscreen, and mounting points.
If there is an error in one panel, it will carry on to all the surrounding panels. The proper fitting of fairings takes patience, the correct hardware, and proper order.
The aftermarket fairings add more factors. Even the best aftermarket sets vary slightly from the original manufacturer’s tolerances. You may need to make small adjustments.
Knowing this in advance can save a lot of frustration and will help avoid putting panels in the wrong place.
Panels Do Not Align With Mounting Points
This is the most-reported fitment issue. You remove the fairing set from the box and place it over the bike, but the mounting tabs do not align with the frame brackets.
This is due to a number of reasons.
The most frequently occurring is the purchase of the wrong model year fairings. Some motorcycle models use the same name for several years but have different frame angles and positions of mounting points. Even a fairing that fits a 2017 model may not fit a 2019 model, and vice versa.
Check fitment by the exact year, model, and submodel. Some bikes also feature regional differences that have an impact on the fairing mounting process.
The second reason is that damaged existing frame brackets prevent proper alignment. A previous crash may have damaged the fairings and bent the mounting brackets. Fairings on bent brackets will not fit together properly.
Check and adjust all mounting brackets before fairing installation. Riders seldom do this, which causes many recurring fitment issues.
Gaps between Panels
Not only is there an aesthetic problem with the visible gaps between the fairings, but there is also a practical problem. Gaps allow water in, vibrations between panels, and wind noise.
An incorrect installation sequence is the most likely cause of gaps. Fairings have a specific order of assembly. For instance, if you install the upper fairing before the mid-fairing, you must position the upper fairing to leave a gap for the mid-fairing.
Follow the assembly procedure. Unless otherwise specified in the particular bike’s service manual, install in the following sequence: from inside to outside and bottom to top.
Missing or incorrect mounting hardware can also cause gaps. Each fairing kit includes a set of fasteners, grommets, and clips. Inappropriate substitution will alter the mounting geometry slightly. This results in an apparent mismatch between several fasteners.
Organize all original hardware when taking it apart. If any are missing, find them before putting them back together.
We are considering the problem of panels cracking at the mounting tabs.
This damage develops over time when you install the fairings under stress.
Forcing a panel in place loads the tab. Each vibration cycle then bends the tab a little bit. Eventually, it cracks.
Never force a fairing panel into position. Fix any tab that is not aligned. The panel may not fit the bike correctly, the bracket may be bent, or you may need to adjust the panels that come before it in the sequence.
ABS plastic fairings are more flexible and crack-resistant than fiberglass. Nor both materials withstand permanent installation stress without ultimate failure.
This is the most common fitment problem that happens. There are issues with windshield fitment, which are not necessarily related to the body panel issues but can be just as frustrating.
In most cases, the windscreen attaches to the upper part of the fairing. The upper fairing may be an aftermarket component, and the windscreen may be OEM or the other way around, causing the hole patterns to vary.
You need to determine the windshield compatibility first and then check the fairing compatibility. In some cases, aftermarket fairings come with a windscreen as part of the kit, as third-party fairings’ uppers will not accept original equipment windscreens.
Also, check the windshield mount hardware. Rubber grommets keep the windscreen from vibrating by cushioning the windscreen bolts. When the screen is not intact due to missing or hardened grommets, it also vibrates and buzzes in particular RPM ranges.
Removing all of the panels simultaneously
Riders most commonly experience this issue when they replace the fairing for the first time.
Before installing the new panels, the rider removes the old panels from the bike without noting the routing, clamping, or positioning of the parts.
Never take photos without taking it off. Photograph from various perspectives, including close-ups of wire routing, hose clamp position, and bracket orientation. These photos are invaluable for reassembly.
Ideally, take out and install one panel at a time, if possible. This way, you retain context throughout the job.
Improper Cable and Hose Routing
Cables, hoses, and wiring harnesses are covered by fairings. The problems that are caused by having the wrong routing are not immediately obvious.
When the steering turns, pressure is created in the brake line if there is a fairing panel that is pinched against the frame. It may lead to brake drag or worse, a stuck caliper.
Faulty routing of throttle cables can cause them to get stuck at full steering lock. This is a dangerous situation.
Before installing each panel, verify that all the cables and hoses are installed in their proper positions. Make sure there is a full 360-degree rotation when each panel is attached, before going to the next.
Skipping the Test Fit
Every panel should be test-fitted before final installation. This means holding it in position, checking all tab alignments, verifying cable and hose clearance, and checking gaps to adjacent panels.
Only when a panel sits correctly in a test fit should you proceed to final installation with all fasteners.
Many riders skip this and go straight to final assembly. When something is wrong, they have to undo everything they just did.
Test fitting takes minutes. Redoing an incorrectly assembled fairing set takes hours.
Incorrect Use of Fairing Clips
Modern motorcycle fairings rely heavily on push-fit plastic clips for panel retention. These clips are directional. They have a correct installation orientation.
Installed backwards, they provide minimal retention force. The panel will vibrate loose at speed. At best, this is annoying. At worst, a panel separates at highway speed.
Inspect each clip before installation. Understand which direction provides locking engagement. Press clips firmly until you feel or hear the click of full engagement.
Replace any clips that have been deformed, cracked, or previously pulled out forcefully. Compromised clips do not hold reliably.
Painting and Finishing Considerations
If you are installing unfinished fairings or refinishing panels, allow all paint and clear coat to cure fully before installation.
Fresh paint is soft. Mounting tabs pressed against soft paint will leave permanent impressions. The friction of installation can scratch the fresh, clear coat.
Allow a minimum of 48 to 72 hours after the final clear coat application before handling panels for installation. Longer is better in cold or humid conditions where curing is slower.
Choosing the Right Fairings
Not all aftermarket fairings are equal in quality.
Thin, brittle panels crack at mounting tabs quickly. Inaccurately molded panels create persistent fitment issues regardless of how carefully they are installed.
Quality motorcycle fairings are molded to correct OEM dimensions, use appropriate ABS material thickness, and include all required mounting hardware.
Verify that the supplier confirms compatibility with your specific year and model. A fairing kit with accurate fitment specifications saves hours of frustration and prevents the damage caused by forcing ill-fitting panels.
Conclusion
Fairing replacement is a satisfying job when done correctly. The visual transformation is immediate and significant.
Getting there requires the right panels, the right sequence, patience during test fitting, and correct hardware throughout. Skipping any of these steps turns a straightforward job into a repeated frustration.
Take your time. Work methodically. The result is worth it.
Find correctly fitted motorcycle fairings for your specific model at AliWheels.
