great divide ride..

[kayak_shack]

Hey folks, I have had an idea to put a differetnt fairing onto a KLR to give it more of a Dakar Rally style bike look (like the Elefant, Triumph Tiger, Africa Twin, Transalp etc). I would like a rounder fairing that extends down to form the tank shrouds as one piece, Does anyone make such a thing or have any of you KLRers made one of your own? I have done a bit of fiberglass work in the past and am considering making a foam mock-up of the fairing on the bike then glassing over it. Ideally it would have the exact same mounting points and use the same headlight, (although adding a dual headlight system would be nice but I am not so good with electronics.) Ideas are: -one piece fairing and tank shrouds of fiberglass, coloured resin/painted & clear coated -possibly is a bit higher in the front to raise the windshield a couple inches to cut the wind -maybe even a built in storage compartment above the light like the shelf many have added any other ideas to add or things to consider?? THanks in advance. Hey if the project goes well maybe I could make a couple extras to sell once the mold is made. Josh PS I have been looking at a lot of rally style bikes to get ideas for shape, here is a great link to a bunch of rally bikes: http://people.su.se/~wilke/dvm/

[bigfatgreenbike]

kayak_shack@... wrote:

>Hey folks, > >I have had an idea to put a differetnt fairing onto a KLR to give it >more of a Dakar Rally style bike look (like the Elefant, Triumph >Tiger, Africa Twin, Transalp etc). I would like a rounder fairing >that extends down to form the tank shrouds as one piece, > >Does anyone make such a thing >

Yes, Kawasaki did. It's called the Tengai, the KLR650-B. A few people on the list have them.

>or have any of you KLRers made one of >your own? > >I have done a bit of fiberglass work in the past and am considering >making a foam mock-up of the fairing on the bike then glassing over >it. Ideally it would have the exact same mounting points and use the >same headlight, (although adding a dual headlight system would be >nice but I am not so good with electronics.) >

Fortunately the headlamp wiring is really simple stuff. Depending on what you want to do, everything you'd need for the rewiring can be found at any auto parts store for less than $30. Since you are hand-laying the fiberglass, you can make it as thick (and strong) as you want.

> >Ideas are: >-one piece fairing and tank shrouds of fiberglass, coloured >resin/painted & clear coated >-possibly is a bit higher in the front to raise the windshield a >couple inches to cut the wind >-maybe even a built in storage compartment above the light like the >shelf many have added > >

Devon Brooklyn, NY A15-Z '01 KLR650 '81 SR500 cafe racer "The truth's not too popular these days....." Arnold Schwarzenneger, in The Running Man

[r.w. "dick" Conrad]

For Jeff and those others interested.. Very good writeup about riding the divide in Rider Magazine, April 2003 issue by Clement Salvadori... Good riding to all... Dick in central Idaho