National Cycle Mirage Fairing

NATIONAL CYCLE MIRAGE FAIRING

EVALUATION

CLEAR-THINKING WIND MANAGEMENT

SOMETIMES, IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS that make a big difference. One click on a shock’s rebound-damping adjuster, for instance, can make the difference between struggling with a bike or enjoying it, just as a single layer of clothing can transform an excruciatingly cold ride into, at least, a bearable one. Likewise, a single piece of plastic can make the difference between arriving at journey’s end feeling like a windsock, or merely pleasantly fatigued.

One particular piece of plasticacrylic, really—that aims to make such a difference is the Mirage handlebar-mount fairing from National Cycle (Box 158, Maywood, IL 60153; [312] 343-0400). Some \1VI inches across at its widest, and extending about a foot above a bike’s headlight, the Mirage resembles some sporty-looking quarter-fairings, but in size it ranks between full-on touring fairings and those tiny windscreens that barely cover the motorcycle’s instruments.

Not surprisingly, the Mirage also falls between those two extremes when it comes to wind protection, as we found after mounting the National Cycle fairing both to a Yamaha Fazer and a new Honda 700 Shadow. The Mirage in fact rivals the full fairings on some sportbikes in that respect, providing a pocket of relatively still air that extends down from the pilot’s throat to his waist, and from shoulder to shoulder. That protection can make a huge difference in comfort on cruisers like the Shadow, too, because they usually have seating positions that prop the rider up in the wind like a sail, a position that can turn an extended freeway journey into a test of endurance. The Mirage, though, keeps the blast off the rider’s torso, which relieves some of the strain on his arms and, thus, reduces fatigue.

But for some riders, the top edge of the Mirage marks the end of its competence in wind management, particularly on the Shadow. That bike’s low saddle puts average-height riders’ heads squarely into turbulent air coming off the lip of the fairing, resulting in an annoying amount of wind roar at freeway speeds and causing some faceshield flutter. The same problem occurs on the Fazer, but to a lesser extent due to that bike’s seating position, which allows the rider to stick his head up out of the turbulence. Still, testers shorter than about 5-foot-10 complained bitterly about the noise on the Fazer. Nor does the Mirage get especially good marks as a high-performance device. The fairing knocked about 2 to 3 miles per hour off both bikes' top speeds, and made the Fazer's steering fractionally heavier in fast corners.

But at least the Mirage is a cinch to remove, should you be in sudden need of maximum top speed or the lightest possible steering; 30 seconds’ work—without tools—has the fairing off, and it takes only slightly longer to reinstall. Initial installation, though, is more challenging. It took us more than an hour and a half to mount the fairing on the Fazer, in part because space on that machine's handlebar is at a premium, and also because the instructions aren't as clear as they could be. Yet once in place. the fairing provides excellent protection for its size, although with a sizable increase wind noise. -

The Mirage is available through motorcycle dealers, in an almostclear smoke tint for $99.95, and a dark black-bronze tint for $109.95. National Cycle also offers optional hardware kits to fit 1-inch-diameter bars for $9, and cast bars for $20.83. And although the Mirage does have a few shortcomings, it still is an appeal ing compromise between tiny wind screens that barely protect your na vel, and barn-door-size touring fairings. It's one of those relatively small items that make a big differ ence in comfort.