BMW R1100 GS  FAIRING REPORT
	I'm glad to live in America- the land of choice, entrepreneurs, and best of
all - now the home  of three after market fairing options for the R1100 GS.   
Living in the great State of Maine, where the cold comes early in the fall but
the tourist gridlock vanishes after September , I like to ride even when it is
cold.   The midget stock fairing supplied with the GS is fine in the summer, but
I need more coverage when it cools off.   Even in the warm weather, the wind
noise around my helmet was a definite drawback to what several motorcycle
magazines dubbed "Street Bike of the Year".  	
	Two manufacturers, both long-time MOA advertisers, are currently supplying
after market  R1100 GS fairings: Parabellum and Aeroflow.  I  tested  three
different  units in various riding conditions ranging from 95 degree heat to
wind driven snowstorms with air temperatures down to 26 degrees.  	
	Parabellum makes two of the fairings: a full two-piece touring fairing and a
smaller sport fairing.  First,  I tested the Parabellum Touring fairing, which
has been in production for more than a year.  It arrived at my doorstep in two
pieces packed in a single carton. Installation was fairly simple.  Removing four
allen head screws releases the stock fairing.  It was a half-hour's work to join
the two halves and mount the unit.   Two hand-sketched Xeroxed sheets explain
the mounting procedure, one explaining installation of the lower unit on the
stock mounts and the other explaining the  sequence for mounting the windscreen
to the lower half.   The lower half of the Parabellum is made of a special black
leather grain ABS plastic that came with with 2  premounted brackets. The top
half of the unit is made of thick Lexan.  A thick rubber gasket seals the space
around the top and sides of the headlight.   Heed the warning "Don't flatten the
Aztecs". This phrase isn't a desperate plea to Spanish conquistadors- Aztecs are
large convex washers with rubber on one side and stainless steel on the other. 
Don't over tighten the stainless steel bolts that pass through them, or you'll
risk cracking the windscreen. As far as tightening of the brackets themselves,
I'd err on the looser side, and throw  a couple of wrenches in your tank bag on
your maiden voyage as you follow the maufacturer's advice-  "If this fairing
seems too flexible, then tighten the screws more."  Simple enough.
	The Parabellum does a very good job of cutting exposure to the icy cold. The
wind noise is greatly reduced over stock conditions.  There are three heights of
windshields available, and unless you are over six foot two or don't mind
looking through a windshield you won't need the tall size.  I used the tallest
windshield through the cold weather and was barely able to see over the top of
the unit, with my seat in the top mounting position.   Testing fairing coverage
in cold weather is easy, with an ungloved hand feeling  the outer limits of the
the protection envelope.   Coverage ranged from around  my knees  to the top of
my helmet.  The outside edges of my shoulders and my hands were out of the
protection envelope.   The unit was completely stable up to 100 m.p.h., where I
absorbed some sizable bumps with no rattles.  There is visible fairing movement
in the form of minor flex that first seemed worrisome, but I don't notice it
anymore.  I switched to a tinted version of the low screen for the summer,and
the adaptability of a winter/summer setup is a real plus. 
	The Aeroflow Aerotech System for the R1100GS was  released in Oct. 1995. 
MOA readers will probably recall pre-production advertisement sketches  that ran
in the MOA News  last winter for a manta-ray- like clear unit that mounted over
the the headlight that could be mated with small winglets and leg shields.  Much
to many riders' dismay production delays pushed back the release of the
Aeroscreen to this fall.  The wait appears well worthwhile, as the completely
redesigned fairing lost much of it's radical spaceship styling and ends up a
much more useful choice.  
	There are several differences between the Parabellum and the Aeroscreen. 
First, the Aeroscreen is composed of a slightly thinner polycarbonate/acrylic
blended material, created for outdoor use, with a 20 year "UV Life".  The
material is said to resist chipping, and won't shatter, like acrylic.  Unlike
Lexan, scratches can be rubbed out with compound.  Instructions for the
Aeroscreen are thorough and detailed, with  hardware and bolts enclosed in small
plastic packages with excellent graphics explaining each step on the mounting
procedure. The mounting brackets are two nicely-finished powder coated steel
frames that are color-matched in a gray that is identical to the gray plastic
trim pieces on the GS.  The brackets bolt to the rear stock windscreen mounts
and also under the fender, with longer allen bolts replacing the stock bolts. 
The Aeroflow comes with a choice of a low and a high windscreen.   The upper
windscreen is bolted to the lowers with black nylon screws, bolts and washers. 
As seen in the accompanying photo, two upper mounting brackets meet predrilled
holes halfway up the top windshield.  The finished assembly is rock-solid and
very stable, with no evidence of any flex or movement in operation.  The height
of the high screen was slightly lower than the tall Parabellum windshield.  The
fairing lowers are composed of the same material as the windshield, and can be
ordered either clear or blacked out.  The blacked out lowers are visually
appealing to a black GS setup and also reduce headlight glare at night.  For
off-road GS riders who like to keep a eye on the terrain right in front of the
bike, the clear lowers would be a plus.  I was nervous about facing the
protruding ends of the upper nylon screws  so I reversed the  heads of the upper
bolts at the top of the bracket  after another rider pointed out the possibility
of those exposed ends tearing skin as a result of a front end impact.  Paige
Ortiz, Parabellum designer/owner told me not to worry, that the bolts were
designed to tear away upon impact, but I still wasn't taking any chances.
	Aeroflow also has just released an additional component for the R1100GS
called AeroGards.  These are polycarbonate/ acrylic lowers that are are reported
to protect the tank from stone and rock damage, reduce airflow to lower chest,
and increase cooling to cylinder heads.  AeroGards  attach to the tank with four
Dual-lok buttons. According to the printed material supplied with the Aeroflow
unit, Dual-lok is a 3M plastic interlocking material that is similar to Velcro
but is not affected by the weather and holds up to repeated
engagement/separations.  To mount the AeroGards, you wash the tank thoroughly
using soap and water, rinse and dry it, then clean the tank with alcohol wipe
pads supplied with the unit.  The final step is to dry with a clean cloth to
remove any wax residue.  You peel off the backing on the circular buttons and
attach two buttons to the front and two to the underneath of the tank.  A spacer
on the underside of the rear edge of the AeroGards fits between two cooling fins
to give air space between the unit and the cylinder head.   
	I was initially disappointed with the coverage of the AeroGards.  I tried
them on my daily 20 mile ride to work on a cold thirty degree morning.  I
purposely wore loose pants to observe the airflow on my legs.  The pants were
flapping away, and when I got to work my legs were cold.  Paige Ortiz, Aeroflow
owner/designer explained that the purpose of the AeroGards was not to retain
heat on your lower legs but to provide an extended pocket of still air on the
lower chest in combination with the Aeroscreen.  Further testing verified a
moderate improvement in coverage for the lower chest, but if R1100GS riders are
looking for R100RT leg protection form the AeroGards, they'd best invest in a
pair of heated chaps.  	  	
	Both units utilize central vents at the bottom of the windshields.  Charley
Perethian, Parabellum Inc. owner/designer, said my question was the most
frequent of new owners.  Charlie explained that  the vent was useful in
controlling air pressure buildup behind the fairing and was now a common feature
in modern fairing design.  The vent prevents vacuum buildup that is created by
fast moving air tumbling over the the top and sides of the screen.  The vent
functions as an anti-turbulence device that puts a dead air space directly in
front of the rider's face.   The vents also boost the airflow higher than with a
solid unit without the vents. With both units the effect is the same.  Your
ungloved hand feels a column of fast moving air coming  up behind the vent that
is directed several inches in front of your face shield  and moves up over the
top of the helmet.   What about rain?  Charlie explained that water droplets are
too heavy to make the ninety degree turn from the lower vent edge into the
updraft so they run off the sides of the fairing and release before you get
drenched. 
	Enter the latest contestant in the R1100GS after market fairing festival-
the Parabellum sport fairing.  It is a one piece unit available in smoke or
clear that is approximately the same dimension as the Parabellum Touring Fairing
up top but with reduced coverage around and below the headlight.   A thick
rubber gasket that fits against the headlight housing helps stabilize the
security of the unit.  Double Aztecs are mounted against the screen.  The 
mounting brackets are identical to those of the Touring fairing.  Wind coverage
of the Parabellum GS Sport windscreen is more than adequate up top, but there is
slight reduction in coverage below.  The accompanying chart allows for
comparison of dimensions and features of the three products.
						
					SPECIFICATIONS 	
	Several potential purchasers of these after market fairings are concerned
about their compatibility with a very popular R1100GS accessory that mounts to
the bottom of the front fender-  light bars, such as manufactured by Top of the
Line.  On request, Parabellum will make a modification consisting of removal of
a small quarter circle of material from the bottom of the touring fairing. 
Aeroflow  stated that the owner will need to drill two mounting holes in the
bottom of the mounting brackets which  results in a good fit of the light bar
underneath the fairing.  	
	Bottom line impressions:  R1100GS Riders will be very pleased at the
increased cold weather and noise reduction coverage of either of these three
choices. The Parabellum Touring fairing is the largest unit, and a cold-climate
choice, particularly with either of the two larger windscreens. The Parabellum
has a slightly increased protection envelope, mostly due to the increased width
at the top of the windshields and the rugged lowers  would absorb rock impact
all day long with no unsightly chips or scratches.  Heck, it's tough black 
plastic.  The Aeroflow is likely to be the choice for the anesthetically
inclined- with a more rounded appearance and compound curves on the top of the
windshield and at the handlebar cut-outs that mate well with the lines of the
GS. Some riders are drawn to Aeroscreen by the rock-solid mounting system
provided by the nicely finished brachets.   For the increased aesthetic and
rigidity, be prepared to cough up an extra $100, or close to $200 if you are
considering the slightly reduced coverage of the  Parabellum Sport Fairing.  
While you can rub out scratches on the Aeroscreen, scratches on the front of the
blacked-out lowers remove the dark coating and continue to show clear lines
scratched even when smoothed over.  Parabellum's smoke option is embedded in the
shield itself and is not a coating.  Parabellum also has  a four inch margin of
choice in windshield height with the additional option of tilting the windshield
up or down even further by adjusting the main mounting bracket.  The Aeroflow is
very rigidly mounted and is unable to be tilted.  Riders who spend much time
off-road (not a majority  of GS  riders), or those that favor a transparent
fairing that  may appreciate the clear lowers that are available for the
Aeroscreen and the clear version of the Parabellum sport fairing.  The AeroGards
are an additional feature that would reduce lower-chest airflow to any of the
fairings in this review.  I'm thankful to the wonderful world of after market
entrepreneurs for helping make my long-distance and cold weather riding more
enjoyable, quiet, and warm.  Quiet and warm add up to increased ability to be
attentive to the dangers of the open road, and enjoyable is the bottom line of
why we do this riding thing.
	 	The cost of  the Parabellum R1100 GS Touring Fairing with low, medium,
or tall screens is $269.  Extra windshields are $79, with tinting adding another
$10.  The cost of the R1100GS Sport Fairing is $179, with availability also in
three heights.  Tinting adds $10. Parabellum guarantees all fairings for one
year.    They have a thirty day exchange program, in the event that the height
of the windshield is not right for you.  For information, ordering, or free
literature, call or write: Parabellum, Rt. 1, Box 412, Dahlonega, GA 30533; or
call (706) 864-8051 or Fax (706) 864-5770.
	Paige Ortiz will likely be handling your Aeroflow order if you call by
phone.    The Aeroscreen  costs  $365, with optional AeroGards another  $130. 
Additional screens can be purchased for $108.  Aeroflow products are warranteed
for 90 days from date of purchase.  Literature, information and ordering through
 Aeroflow, P.O. Box 11990, Costa Mesa, CA 92627; or call (714) 557-3119.
	These units may also be ordered through your local dealer.
						-Thomas C. Jamrog, #20126, balrog@midcoast.com