What is your opinion?

Bike 1 is the Victory Cross Country - stock. Bike 2 is the Victory Cross Roads with aftermarket fairing

Delta, I would have to modify a quick disconnect bracket to the fairing so it would be pushed fordward a little more covering more of the headlight. I am leaning towards #2. On my current bike I took my windshield off last week because it was hot and humid. The wind was nice. So with a permanent fairing I couldn't do that. So I am starting to think, do I really want a permanent fairing? First, both bikes are practically the same. Same frame, engine, transmission, etc.. about 90% the same. Now, the fairing on #2 is aftermarket but not quick disconnect. I could easily hack some quick disconnect hardware from something else - like the Memphis Shades quick disconnect fairing. The 1st bike has a full touring fairing. Stereo, all the gauges, etc... The stereo has wires to integrate with the ipod and garmin zumo 660 gps so you can control them from the thumb controls. The ACE Fairing is just a shell with an option to house speakers and plug an ipod into it. The stock speedo on bike 2 has all the same functionality as bike 1 except bike 1 spreads the display over 4 gauges and bike 2 only has one gauge. So not a big deal. Another big bonus, if I base everything on MSRP prices, even with the aftermarket fairing bike #2 is $2.5k less - so that's a bonus. There are other minor differences between the bikes that aren't big issues. Like for the 2011 models bike 2 has a thinner passenger seat and no passenger floorboards. Whoopty do - easy to replace those if I wanted to. Bike 2 has traditional engine guards, bike #1 has those angled bars which is now an option for bike #2. So with those minor differences the choice is really do I want a permanent fairing or not. Both fairings fit the style of the bike well. The first one is an angled design that fits the lines of the tank and style of the crash bars. #2 has a nice rounded look that fits the curve of the tank and saddlebags.

Here's the 2011 version of #2 stock with the new soft saddlebags and angled crash bars http://0.tqn.com/d/motorcycles/1/0/z/B/0/-/2011-Victory-CrossRoads_Custo...

Rau, I don't like the cherry color either. But luckily there's a pic of the same color from the same angle so it is easier to compare.