Gus Kuhn Fairing

Norcoastal · Jul 4, 2020

This fairing is haunting me. It’s on eBay and it’s pretty expensive, but I really like the JPN and the Gus Kuhn racers.

I know all I have is a basic commando base that I’m working from, but I still like the racing history, so much so that I’m building a replica.

Does anyone have any idea what this is from? I’m curious if it has actual racing history and what that might be. It says in the listing Commando, but I’m not sure. If I get this I would need to fabricate a mount somehow and that’s a whole other story.

I could stay with what I have which is a repop small fairing, or get this which appears to be an original racer.

Thoughts?

Norcoastal · Jul 4, 2020

I could pair it up with this seat.

NPeteN · Jul 4, 2020

Steve,

I'm going to give you some bad advice.
Buy them both. It's just money, you will always find a way to make more of it.

Plus, it looks to be exactly what you are after. You have already made a commitment to the bike so buy it some nice clothing.

Norcoastal · Jul 4, 2020

NPeteN said:
Steve,

I'm going to give you some bad advice.
Buy them both. It's just money, you will always find a way to make more of it.

Plus, it looks to be exactly what you are after. You have already made a commitment to the bike so buy it some nice clothing.

Hey Pete,

That’s terrible advice! And that’s exactly what I’m thinking. Haha, you know me...

Do you think it will fit?

Craig · Jul 4, 2020

If it turns out not for you , you can always put back on where you found for a bit higher price , seems to work

o0norton0o · Jul 4, 2020

Back in the day you would probably have seen a Gus Kuhn bike to get bitten by the bug to build a replica. It's easy enough now to just do a google image search and get an idea which way you want to go with your build. I've searched already, and there are some nice examples of Gus Kuhn bikes and quite a few mixed parts examples with Gus Kuhn tanks or fairings. It's nice to see pictures to know if that's the look (and riding position) you wish to have when your project is finished...

My method of bike evolution is to pick a direction and slowly morph in that direction, get disgusted, change direction, then repeat... It can get expensive, but not compared to some people who have twice the amount of money in their bike as I do. If you feel you want to go in that direction and have the money,... no brainer..

NPeteN · Jul 4, 2020

No idea if it will fit, but I do know it will cost you more $$ to find out, so keep that in mind as well.

if you are after a white racer replica, then this seems like a no brainier.

Norcoastal · Jul 4, 2020

Yeah, this seems like a no brainer. I guess this is why god made credit cards.

I think I’m going to buy both and see where that takes me. I think it would be a real nice add to my bike. I don’t need an every day bike, I have 2 of those, I’m looking to build something different and special.

And Pete, you know this is where I’ve been trying to get to for a long time. I just don’t want to put on a BMW racing fairing or something different from a Commando. I was hoping someone may recognize this and know some history.

But I agree, no brainer.

Norcoastal · Jul 4, 2020

o0norton0o said:
Back in the day you would probably have seen a Gus Kuhn bike to get bitten by the bug to build a replica. It's easy enough now to just do a google image search and get an idea which way you want to go with your build. I've searched already, and there are some nice examples of Gus Kuhn bikes and quite a few mixed parts examples with Gus Kuhn tanks or fairings. It's nice to see pictures to know if that's the look (and riding position) you wish to have when your project is finished...

My method of bike evolution is to pick a direction and slowly morph in that direction, get disgusted, change direction, then repeat... It can get expensive, but not compared to some people who have twice the amount of money in their bike as I do. If you feel you want to go in that direction and have the money,... no brainer..

I am doing EXACTLY as you describe...haha...go in a direction, not be happy with it...then go in a different direction...and repeat.

o0norton0o · Jul 4, 2020

.... and after 42 years, I'm still not done.... I'm thinking about the CNW primary belt drive with the lightened clutch basket next. It takes 5lbs off the mainshaft...

The good thing is, It's not a sickness, It's a disease...

I look forward to see where you go with it.

*I got my fairing, mounted it with the headstock bracket that came with it so I could calculate the adjustments I wanted to make, then cut the bracket apart to completely remake it. You should expect a similar process.

Norcoastal · Jul 4, 2020

I’m talking to the guy now. Hoping to own it later today.

Norcoastal · Jul 4, 2020

Seat is bought!

cliffa · Jul 4, 2020

Norcoastal said:
I’m talking to the guy now. Hoping to own it later today.

Good, luck.

Here's one somebody prepared earlier.

Smoking: A homage to the classic John Player Norton

At some point in their career, every good custom motorcycle builder sees a client point at a bike in their portfolio and say; “build me one just like that.” It comes with the territory—especially if your work is as good as that of Union Motorcycle Classics. Union's Mike Watanabe and Luke Ransom...

www.bikeexif.com

A modern take on a JPN.

Norcoastal · Jul 4, 2020

cliffa said:
Good, luck.

Here's one somebody prepared earlier.

Smoking: A homage to the classic John Player Norton

At some point in their career, every good custom motorcycle builder sees a client point at a bike in their portfolio and say; “build me one just like that.” It comes with the territory—especially if your work is as good as that of Union Motorcycle Classics. Union's Mike Watanabe and Luke Ransom...

www.bikeexif.com

A modern take on a JPN.

That looks an awful lot like the one I’m talking about. It appears that this is a top half and missing the bottom half, but I like it anyway!

Norcoastal · Jul 4, 2020

When I get these, I think I’m going to take a heat gun and take the stickers off and try an compound the fairing and see if I can get the shine back.

NPeteN · Jul 4, 2020

The stickers are the best part!

Norcoastal · Jul 4, 2020

NPeteN said:
The stickers are the best part!

Haha, you may be right!

Fast Eddie · Jul 4, 2020

The JPN fairings back in the day didn’t have a Perspex screen over the headlights AFAIK.

You can buy JPN fairings and stuff new, might be worth checking it out first, unless the eBay one is cheap?

Here’s my bad advice...

You said you want a cafe racer. You said you want it white. It’s a Norton....

SO ITS GOTTA BE A JPN !!!

Simple when you look at it sensibly...

Fast Eddie · Jul 4, 2020

There may be more sources but this was the first I came across...

NORTON JOHN PLAYER SPECIAL ROAD RACE FAIRING, PARTS, SEAT, FENDER, COMMANDO

They do ‘Street’ made for the wide twin headlights. Or ‘race’ with no lights, which you could put a small LED light into.

Decision, decisions...

NPeteN · Jul 4, 2020

Fast Eddie said:
There may be more sources but this was the first I came across...

NORTON JOHN PLAYER SPECIAL ROAD RACE FAIRING, PARTS, SEAT, FENDER, COMMANDO

They do ‘Street’ made for the wide twin headlights. Or ‘race’ with no lights, which you could put a small LED light into.

Decision, decisions...

And it's cheaper....
No cool decals though

Gus Kuhn Fairing

Similar threads