The Fast Aire Story:
Fast Aire was formed in late 2001 by a small group of riding friends in Reno, NV....
It all started when John bought a FLHT sport windshield from a known eBay volume seller and it was a piece of crap ... delivered with rough edges and scratches. When John called the Seller and complained about the quality, the seller basically told him " what do you expect for $40.00 ? ". Well John was pissed but decided to hand finished the rough edges and bolted it on anyway.
Some of us were sitting around one day & BS'ing about buying parts on the Internet and eBay came up and John told his story about the windshield. Later on, I walked outside and took a look at the windshield then exclaimed "I can do better than that with a hacksaw! ... DO IT! I was told. After a good laugh, not much more was said about it that day.
Sometime later, we met to go riding. Before we took off, John says ... hey Jim, wheres that windshield ? I replied, "its on the bike". They walked over to take a look and to their surprise, there was this nice looking windshield with smooth edges and all, very nice. After a few minutes of them looking & feeling the edges and me telling them how i made it, I then asked, how would you guys like to go into the windshield business with me? I continued with how I had researched the idea and talked to a local company about making them with a laser and I had a general idea of the start up costs. The group kicked the idea around but generally agreed on the deal. On that day, Fast Aire was born.
During the material evaluation, I found out that hardness (rated at shear, tensile and psi ) is not always the best choice for a windshield. What a motorcycle windshield really needs is a combination of durability, flexibility and impact resistance. Also, a windshield should bend, absorb an impact but never break. It also has to have good UV protection (sunlight) built in to protect against yellowing or hazing. Many plastics have a higher shear strength but are more brittle or have little UV protection.
I spent the next several months reviewing material specifications, designing the shield so it looks great but controls air-flow too and talking to several plastic companies about manufacturing the windshields. The group tested / reviewed many different materials and designs before deciding on a design and I picked a Reno company to make them.
In April 2002, after having a few hundred made, I placed the first advertisement for the 8 inch Dark Grey on eBay. Fast Aire's windshields were an immediate success and they sold out in just weeks. We made more of them and they sold out as well..........
What started out as a casual idea among friends, is now a full time business.
Only in America can this happen.
Fast Aire started out as a garage business & it still is. I decided to keep it this way so I can personally handle each customer's email, phone call & order to make sure that you the customer is treated right.
I am a long time HD rider as well and Ive had all the issues you have had when dealing with various parts companies. I made a promise to myself that I wouldnt treat my customers like Ive been treated in the past.
I hope that so far, Ive succeeded ...
Update: Dec 2009
Fast Aire is now carrying the Freedom Wings brand of adjustable fairing wings. We had designed our own version but after a closer look, I decided that the Freedoom Wings, although less profitable, was an excellent design. Simply, I think they're the best on the market.
Update: Jan 2010
Fast Aire has designed our version of the Floorboard Extenders that will place the riders floorboards outward by 3/4". These are now available.
Update April 2011
Fast Aire is pleased to announce the " Polycarbonate Aero Windshield" is now in stock.
This is a Fast Aire unique design made just for us ! Many have asked who designed the Aero windshield well... I did. Designed in my head, drawned with a CAD program but tested on the road.
So ... go check it out on the Aero page.
Update July 2011
I have test fitted the Basic & Aero windshields and they fit the 2012 models with no issues.
Update Jan 2012
As I start a new business year, I want to Thank Everyone that stopped by the pages of this website.
I know there are many many choices out there for you to spend your money and I very much appreciate that so many of you decided to spend it at Fast Aire.
Fast Aire's pricing is kept low so the customer gets a true value for their money. Im not a multi-million dollar company masquading as a small business like some do. I don't have the budget to place big color advertisements in all the magazines out there. So, because of our loyal customers telling their friends about us, we had our best year ever in 2011. I do Thank You Very Much !
Jim Blackmon
Pres / Owner
Fast Aire Motorcycle products
TreyCo Concepts LLC
