greg bender

http://www.thisoldtractor.com/gtbender

Fairing (the stock or Polizia one)

I really like the look of my Ambassador without a fairing. But, sitting upright while riding 80 MPH down the highway is much more enjoyable when you aren't pushing 80 MPH wind with your body.

My Dad suggested that I use a stock fairing (which was designed using the now famous wind tunnel at Mandello del Lario), rather than go with an after market version. He mentioned that former MGNOC Illinois Rep Bob Ferris thought that it was the best protecting fairing he had ever ridden behind. Fortunately, my Dad had a stock fairing and some of the necessary parts in his stash in Texas.

So Dad shipped me the parts he had and I ordered a windshield (MG# 12577250) and two V braces (MG# 12578621) from MG Cycle. This left me with a few parts I needed to find or make myself.

I made patterns of several of the parts that can be fabricated in the common home shop.

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Here is what I did for the remaining parts...

Major components

• Fairing (MG# 12575421): My Dad sent me this. Alternatively, you may be able to purchase a replica from MG Cycle. Take note that there are two versions of the fairing: one for V7 / V700 models and one for Ambassador and Eldorado models. The difference in the two fairing has to do with the length of the 'nose' of the fairing AND with how far back the undersides protrude. The V7 / V700 fairing is longer in order to accommodate the longer headlight shell. A long-nose fairing will definitely fit with a shorter headlight shell (there aren't any differences in the fork ears), but you will have a most difficult (impossible) time trying to keep your headlight adjusted properly. Furthermore, the underside of the V7 / V700 fairing protrudes further back than the later fairing...so much so that it will contact the later tank when the handlebars are turned fully right or left.
• Windshield (MG# 12577250): I purchased one from MG Cycle.
• Aluminum trim piece (MG# 12578240): My Dad sent me this. Download the pattern above using the "fairing_parts.pdf" link if you would like to create one yourself.
• "V" bracket (MG# 12578621): I purchased two from MG Cycle. Download the pattern above using the "fairing_parts.pdf" link if you would like to create these yourself.
• "U" bracket (MG# 12575540): My Dad sent me two of these. Download the pattern above using the "fairing_parts.pdf" link if you would like to create these yourself.
• Gasket [fairing to headlight] (MG# 12578940): My Dad sent me this. Alternatively, you may be able to find a very soft 1/4" or 3/8" diameter rubber tube, slice it open length-wise, and wrap the tube around the headlight opening in the fairing. Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle reports that McMaster-Carr item number 12335A52 works very well in this application.

Windshield to fairing connections

• Gasket [fairing to windshield] (MG# 12577940): For this I used an old length of motorcycle inner tube. The natural curve in the inner tube approximates the curve of the windshield. I punched the needed holes with a gasket punch.
• Bolt (MG# 98260520): I substituted stainless steel 3/16" x 24 x 1" tapered head bolts. The heads fit very nicely into the aluminum trim piece (MG# 12578240).
• Flat washer (MG# 95000205): I substituted stainless steel 3/16" flat fender washers. I think the larger diameter of the fender washers will help even the pressure on the fiberglass fairing.
• Nut (MG# 95602205): I substituted stainless steel 3/16" x 24 nylon insert lock nuts.
• "U" clamp (MG# 12578450): My Dad sent me two of these. One "U" clamp should go around the windshield and fairing on each side of the windshield. Download the pattern if you would like to create these yourself.

Fairing to headlight connections

• Bolt (MG# 98054318): I used 6 mm x 1 mm x 18 mm bolts.
• Flat washer (MG# 95021106): I used 6 mm flat washers.
• Distance tube (MG# 91180707): Neither my Dad nor I had one of these to evaluate. Not knowing the dimensions, I ordered four of them from a dealer (two for him and two for me). When I got them, I realized there is nothing special about them at all. Each is a 7.5 mm long tube that has an outside diameter of 10 mm and an inside diameter of 7 mm. A 6 mm bolt (MG# 98054318) fits through the tube and into the special bolt (MG# 12740740). The fairing itself is then free to rotate on the distance tube (MG# 91180707).
• Special bolt (MG# 12740740): Although you may be able to find this special bolt, I chose to make the two I needed from a 1/2" stainless steel bolt. This took quite a bit of work on the grinder, and some slow going with the tap and die (stainless steel is much more difficult to work with). In the end, my bolts are as good as the originals. Download the pattern if you would like to create these yourself.

Faring to "U" bracket connections

• Bolt (MG# 98260625): I substituted stainless steel 1/4" x 20 x 1" tapered head bolts. The heads fit very nicely into the finish / trim washers.
• Finish / trim washer (MG# 12577840): I substituted stainless steel 1/4" finish / trim washers.
• Small rubber washer (MG# 45212400): I created my own using 1/8" thick neoprene washers I found in the plumbing section of my local hardware store. I used my gasket punch set to size the washers properly. The outside diameter is 5/8" and the inside diameter is 5/16". The real purpose of this washer is to prevent the finish / trim washer (MG# 12577840) from cutting through the large rubber washer (MG# 93110060).
• Large rubber washer (MG# 93110060): I created my own using a 3/32" sheet of neoprene I found in the plumbing section of my local hardware store. The outside diameter is 7/8" and the inside diameter is 1/4".
• Flat washer (MG# 95021106): I substituted stainless steel 1/4" flat washers.
• Nut (MG# 92602206): I substituted stainless steel 1/4" x 20 nylon insert lock nuts.

"U" bracket to "V" bracket connections

• Bolt (MG# 98054316): I used 6 mm x 1 mm x 16 mm bolts.
• Washer (MG# 95021106): I used 6 mm flat washers.
• Nut (MG# 92602406): I used 6 mm x 1 mm nylon insert lock nuts.

"V" bracket to handlebar connections

• Bolt (MG# 98054318): I used 6 mm x 1 mm x 18 mm bolts.
• Lock washer (MG# 95021106): I used 6 mm lock washers.
• Flat washer: I also chose to use 6 mm flat washers between the lock washers and the "V" brackets.

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