Batwing Fairing! Which one should I go for?

[ringadingh]

The sending units come with new gauges, and you will need one for a used gauge or else its of no use to you.
All the instrument makers have sets of gauges available so they all match each other. You don't really want all the gauges to be mismatched.

[ringadingh]

Originally Posted by mobandy78

Just went through the ebay search for some more fairings... Seems like that last little stretch the last couple of days had the best options. I have a few on my watch list, but not as many as last time.

I guess I'll keep an eye out over time. So what did you guys search for when looking? I've been searching for "harley fairing", Ultra fairing", & "harley davidson fairing"... come up with all kinds of matches and then have to just scroll through the pages to see what comes up.

You never know, the wife may convince me to just go with a new Reckless Fairing whenever I decide to pull the trigger and get one. I guess I couldn't complain about that, even though it's more money.

I use all the searches you mentioned as well as "batwing fairing",
you get quite a few with that search.

[mobandy78]

Originally Posted by ringadingh

I use all the searches you mentioned as well as "batwing fairing",
you get quite a few with that search.

Thanks, Ring.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by ringadingh

The sending units come with new gauges, and you will need one for a used gauge or else its of no use to you.
All the instrument makers have sets of gauges available so they all match each other. You don't really want all the gauges to be mismatched.

Just don't use a brass fitting for the oil sending unit. Kevin Clark did and it snapped going over Grant's Pass in Oregon, IIRC. I think he replaced it with a one that used a more sturdy material. Luckily, no damage to the engine.

[mobandy78]

So, are you guys using the HD headlight with the fairing or are you modifying the fairing to fit the stock Nomad headlight? All the instructions I've seen on the fairing project are using an HD headlight, so I'm not finding the version to modify the fairing to fit the stock headlight.

[ringadingh]

Using the HD headlight is the easiest method to do, If you want to use the Nomad headlamp you have to trim the fairing around the headlight opening. Thats done by cutting out the ring that the HD light mounts to.

[rickyboy]

Go with the HD headlight it's the best way, less screwing around.

[mobandy78]

Yea, but that just means I have to spend more money and buy a new headlight. I see that the newer HD headlights plug straight into the Nomad wiring harness... is that correct?

[ringadingh]

Thats the way I see it as well, spending more money. The HD headlight should plug right in with no alterations at all.

[ringadingh]

Originally Posted by rickyboy

Go with the HD headlight it's the best way, less screwing around.

Rick; Do you have a pic of the gauges mounted in your fairing and the diameter of the small gauges?

[rickyboy]

I'll have to make time and get to measuring the gauges. I'll be back.

I saw a set of beautiful digital gauges in an HD fairing, at the motorcycle show that I'd like to eventually install and replace these.
When 'strobe" orig, put the gauges in they all matched but the tach went on him and replaced it with a different brand. Still, they work and look pretty good. The digital ones are real nice though.

[Caddyman]

They look very nice rickyboy.

I need some help (again!) in the same department.

I am about to agree a purchase of a full set of gauges from a 2009 Ultra ($170 including the bezels) and want to be sure it will fit the batwing I bought which came off a 2008 Ultra?

[Monkeyman]

'08 and '09 Electra Glide and Road Glide (and the Ultra versions of each) all had the same gauges. Basically all the same gauges since about '96 or '98.

[Caddyman]

Thanks for confirming that for me Monkeyman

I have a few more questions if you or any of the other guys can help with;

A. What wiring harness I am going to need and is there a part number for it or can they be made up if I get the connectors etc?

B. What about brackets! Can they be made up or do I have to buy them as well and if so what year(s) fit the 2008 fairing?

C. What else am I going to need? I'm sure I will have left something out!

I know this is asking detailed questions but there is probably nowhere better on the net to ask them

[Monkeyman]

Best to make up your own wiring harness. It's not difficult, just time consuming.

Brackets for what? The guages? They should come with brackets to mount them in the holes.

You can use some 4 pin trailer connectors to wire from the fairing to the bike. That's what I'm going to use and that's what others have used as well. Look on Gadgets site for specific instructions for the smaller gauges. You can probably get the stock HD tach to work but you'd have to be creative with your wiring to get the speedo working. (And you'd have to do some body work on the tank when you were done.) If you use a fuel gauge in the fairing, disconnect the sending unit to the tank mounted one. You can't hook both up as neither will work right. You get one or the other. One of the gauges HD chose to use was an ambient air temp gauge. Stupid idea especially since it's not very accurate. You'll probably want: water temp, oil pressure and volts (not amps) at the least. The HD tach would be cool. Then you'd need to find another to fill up the 4th small hole and something to fill up the large hole. The HD speedo would fill up the large hole but again, it wouldn't do anything. At least it would look right.