Well, it's arrived - WJ IV for GS850G


Dave Ireland

Vetter Aficionado
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Yesterday...

Bit of an unexpected result, but nice to have my hunch proved right.
The Raydyot 7" Fireballs (UK market driving lamp) with the older deep-dish metal body, have a factory H4 socket in the back of the bowl, this is fitted with an H3 converter. The lens is more of a distance thrower though, so I doubt it'd be a good performer on dip. No matter, as the deep dish means the Hellas can go straight in there with no mods required.
The later, slimmer Fireballs have the same diameter, so will happily take a Hella unit, but need the back hole-cut to allow the rear of the bulb and connector to poke out. I'll make a rear housing and epoxy that on.
 

Dave Ireland

Vetter Aficionado
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Well, ready to go out on the road with it tomorrow, weather permitting for its first run out.
There are several things done, all at the same workshop time
1, New fork legs from a GS1000, with a mix and match of 1000 stanchions, 850 lowers, 1000 HD springs, and air suspension too.
2, The fairing - at the moment there's nothing in or on the fairing, so I'll get a feel of what that's like unladen.
 

Dave Ireland

Vetter Aficionado
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qzWIPSO.jpg


Zx9U5tm.jpg


Turned out I needn't have worried about the handling, as it's ended up almost in the same stance and feel as the XJ900F, which I've really gotten used to in the past few months. Strictly speaking, it's a bit lower at the front that it should be (as the GS1000 stanchions are ~19mm shorter), but it works out ok. Apart from trying to put it on the centrestand now. That's going to need some alteration.
It's actually quite chuckable around the twisties and there was absolutely no feel of front heaviness from it at all, unlike the last full fairing I had on this bike - that certainly let me know it was there.
The shortened screen is just right in this app - up to about 70, it's letting some wind to me, but not much, and over that speed, it's quite effective. I'll see how it goes during the rest of the winter and might put a deflector on it, if I feel it needs it.
 
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Kynan C.

Admin
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I'd be seriously interested in one, if you're offering one for sale.
I have one, but the condition is poor and its really been cut up. I am looking for one in good condition with the gauges. I will see if I can locate the one I have and see what condition its in.
 

Kynan C.

Admin
Country flag
qzWIPSO.jpg


Zx9U5tm.jpg


Turned out I needn't have worried about the handling, as it's ended up almost in the same stance and feel as the XJ900F, which I've really gotten used to in the past few months. Strictly speaking, it's a bit lower at the front that it should be (as the GS1000 stanchions are ~19mm shorter), but it works out ok. Apart from trying to put it on the centrestand now. That's going to need some alteration.
It's actually quite chuckable around the twisties and there was absolutely no feel of front heaviness from it at all, unlike the last full fairing I had on this bike - that certainly let me know it was there.
The shortened screen is just right in this app - up to about 70, it's letting some wind to me, but not much, and over that speed, it's quite effective. I'll see how it goes during the rest of the winter and might put a deflector on it, if I feel it needs it.
Coooool pics!
 

Dave Ireland

Vetter Aficionado
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I have one, but the condition is poor and its really been cut up. I am looking for one in good condition with the gauges. I will see if I can locate the one I have and see what condition its in.
I found the seller of that empty shell, and he'd failed to sell either of the ones he had so he'd dropped his price a lot. I expressed interest, but he hasn't come back to me. The empty one suits me, as I can make my own front plate, to suit myself.
 

Kynan C.

Admin
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I found the seller of that empty shell, and he'd failed to sell either of the ones he had so he'd dropped his price a lot. I expressed interest, but he hasn't come back to me. The empty one suits me, as I can make my own front plate, to suit myself.
Thats a good idea. Ill still check for you. Ill let you know today.
 

Dave Ireland

Vetter Aficionado
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The weather's turned a little bit wintry now and today I was able to find out how the whole setup works in the rain. When it started raining I didn't bother stopping to put on waterproof over trousers, as this was the whole point of the thing. I was only five miles from home and it was only showers, but I'm glad to say not a drop wetted my legs. The helmet was a different story, though. Because of the short screen, there's a downdraught falling across my visor, which is handy, because it clears the rain from it. There's not as much water as there would be if I was screenless, but there's more than I want, so I'm going to have a go at either a simple screen extension or a diy laminar lip and see how it goes.
I haven't done anything about the lack of feet protection yet, and for longer distances in the cold, that's a major thing for me.
On the other hand, the overall airflow behind the fairing is pretty good, and I'm sure there's a fair of bit of warm air being drawn up from the back of the engine into the volume twixt screen and rider. I'm quite sure I was warmer than I expected to be, and not just because of the simple presence of the fairing, it was more than that.
 
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