Motorcycle fairings serve a greater purpose than enhancing a bike’s appearance. It improves overall stability, and its design reduces air resistance. It improves fuel efficiency by streaming airflow around the bike, which gives the rider overall better control on the highway.
Furthermore, motorcycle fairings provide protection and enhanced bike performance. Often, the well-built fairings reduce damage to internal parts when the seasons change.
For many riders, aftermarket fairings open up opportunities that stock parts can not offer. In this blog, we will discuss the five best fairing kits available for popular motorcycle models.
Why Upgrade to an Aftermarket Fairing Kit?
Before proceeding, let us first discuss why you should consider upgrading to an aftermarket fairing kit instead of relying on original stock parts.
- Often, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) fairings are more expensive than aftermarket fairing kits
- Aftermarket kits provide more in terms of performance and design
- Riders can select bold graphics or gloss finishes
- Aftermarket kit is a practical upgrade for competitive racers
- When riders are left with costly and limited options due to the discontinuation of parts, that’s when aftermarket fairings play a role
Key Factors To Consider
Several key factors should be considered before making a purchase
Material
Choosing the material for the fairings plays a significant role in the bike’s performance. Some of the materials include ABS Plastic, which is the most common for street riders. It is impact-resistant and flexible, and OEM manufacturers often include ABS plastic. Moreover, fibreglass is popular for racing fairings, and its main advantage is that it can be easily repaired if damaged. Lastly, carbon fibre is a premium choice, and despite it being expensive, a carbon fibre fairing is not easily repaired if damaged.
Fitment
After making sure you choose the best and most durable material, it is necessary to see if the fairing fits properly. In case of misalignment, it may cause physical gaps and rattling. Some good quality brands use pre-drilled holes to ensure factory-level fit. Riders should verify whether the aftermarket fairing kit is for their bike.
Durability
To make a good purchase, it is important to see the durability of the fairing kit. Some would seem shiny at first, but may quickly lose colour. A good quality fairing may hold up to different weather conditions and the stresses of daily life.
Ease Of Installation
Some fairing kits come with pre-drilled mounting points that are easy to install. Whereas others, like fibreglass, require some extra work, such as trimming and drilling holes.
Purpose
Finally, it is important to know the purpose of buying an aftermarket fairing kit. If you are a street biker and want a flexible, close to OEM, then go for ABS plastic material. However, if you are interested in racing, then fibreglass kits provide strength and repairability. Moreover, carbon fibre lets you stand out in events because of its premium quality.
5 Best Aftermarket Fairings Kits
1- Racing Fibreglass Kits
Racing kits have a reputation in the motorcycle world. It uses hand-laid fibreglass, and it is repaired easily with resin and patches. Moreover, its material is known for its strength. Each kit is moulded to fit sports bike models. It has a lightweight construction, which improves acceleration and handling.
2- ABS Plastic Kits
ABS plastic kits are most popular for everyday use. They are considered flexible and close to OEM. Flexibility helps them from cracking due to small damage, which is good for casual riding. Plastic kits are not lightweight like carbon fibre or fibreglass, but they come with resistance to weather exposure and scratches. It is good for daily commuters who need an affordable fairing kit. Moreover, it is a good purchase if riders want their bike factory fresh without paying OEM prices.
3- Carbon Fibre Kits
Carbon fibre is designed for riders who want good performance and design quality. Its material is both lightweight and stronger than steel. Moreover, its lightweight improves acceleration, braking, and handling.
4- Custom Painted Kits
Custom-painted kits are for those riders who want their motorcycles to reflect their personality and colour choices. Riders choose metallic finishes, unique colours, and fully personalised graphics. Additionally, a high-quality paint protects the bike from UV rays.
5- Adventure Fairing kit
Adventure riders cover hundreds of miles at a time, and they require fairing kits that are made of fibreglass or carbon fibre. Adventure fairing kits are often designed to protect the rider and the motorcycle from road debris.
Common Pitfalls in Buying
- Buying cheap, unbranded kits may cost more in the long run because of poor plastic quality
- In case of buying a kit that is not for your version of bike, it can lead to misalignment and other issues
- Cheap paints can peel off within a few months, especially in sunlight and rain
- Some kits require effort before they fit correctly, and a smart choice is having a mechanic fit it for you rather than damaging the parts
Conclusion
In this blog, we discussed the five main aftermarket fairings and explored their role in making the experience of a biker comfortable. Additionally, we talked about key factors to consider before buying a fairing kit, so you can make the best purchase based on your requirements. If you’re ready to upgrade, visit Aliwheels to find quality, affordable fairing kits and avoid common pitfalls in your buying process.
