Hell's Foundry Soft Dash - Hot Bike Baggers Magazine

Hells Foundry Soft Dash Install Installed

Hell's Foundry SoftDash inner fairing and Chrome Fairing Cap.

During today's less than ideal economic time more and more bagger owners are opting to spruce up what they have rather than buy a new bike. Thankfully there's an entire aftermarket parts industry that's ready to cater to every rider's style and vision. There's no rule stating you need to do a total makeover; most of us take years to get our bikes to where we want them, part by part, when the cash is available.

A good friend of ours has a '01 Electra Glide Standard that shows the miles and its age. The inner fairing is beat up and has a white finish mixed in among the black. Years of sun and the elements can do this. When riding, the inner fairing with its vital gauges is, other than the mirrors, the most looked at part of your bike.

We contacted Hell's Foundry to install the company's SoftDash inner fairing and to further dress up the cockpit area we added their Chrome Fairing Cap to cover the ignition and accessory switches. The SoftDash is based on OEM H-D inner fairings with faux leather material bonded on and comes with pre-installed rubber grommets for the clutch and throttle cables. Best of all for fit and finish is the fairing and cap are genuine H-D parts given the exclusive Hell's Foundry treatment. The material is marine rated and warranted against defects. The SoftDash is the first alternative to painting and has many benefits including low gloss, scratch resistance, a custom look, etc. The inner fairing comes in black, tan, or gray, and two finishes with carbon fiber are also available. In addition to fitting all '96 to present Batwing fairing FLs, the SoftDash is also made to fit '98 and newer Road Glides. Finishing off the fairing makeover we installed Harley's Fairing Bra. It does a great job of covering the scratches and bad paint and looks great with the SoftDash.

We headed over to Jim Naus' shop, Jim'Specialties, in Fullerton, California where Alan Crouse took us through the teardown and remake of the of the aged Glide and fairing.

(1.)This well-aged inner fairing is experiencing the skin condition found on many older hard ridden bikes; the black is scratched, faded, and has a white powdery appearance.
(1.)This well-aged inner fairing is experiencing the skin condition found on many older ha
(2.)Hell's Foundry SoftDash inner fairing in Midnight Black finish. The leather like, weather-resistant "Pig Skin" grain looks good and is a direct replacement fit.
(2.)Hell's Foundry SoftDash inner fairing in Midnight Black finish. The leather like, weat
(3.)The Chrome Fairing Cap replaces the flat black stock unit that resides under the ignition switch.
(3.)The Chrome Fairing Cap replaces the flat black stock unit that resides under the ignit

(4.)Alan removed the windshield, outer fairing, and light bar.
(5.)There's a maze of wires and connectors inside the fairing. We unplugged all of the connectors and lifted off the inner fairing. Alan didn't mark any of the wiring for reassembly; most of the connectors only mate to its specific partner. Besides, if there's any confusion the wires are color-coded.
(5.)There's a maze of wires and connectors inside the fairing. We unplugged all of the con
(6.)Alan methodically removed the enclosed gauges and wiring harnesses.

(7.)He placed each part in proximity to where it came from out of the fairing. This made it easy to...
(7.)He placed each part in proximity to where it came from out of the fairing. This made i
(8.)...reassemble each component back into the correct place.
(9.)In less than 15 minutes everything was back together inside the new SoftDash.

(10.)The finished bench test-looks better than new. Tip: if your speaker grilles and plugs under the gas and voltage gauges fade, give them a short shot of black spray paint. Wipe gently with a clean cloth and they look like new. We did it here.
(10.)The finished bench test-looks better than new. Tip: if your speaker grilles and plugs
(11.)Alan taped off the Fairing Cap to prevent scratches and then guided the SoftDash assembly into place.
(11.)Alan taped off the Fairing Cap to prevent scratches and then guided the SoftDash asse
(12.)Final installation was fast and easy. Each of the wiring connectors was plugged back in and routed to cause as little interference as possible with the outer fairing.
(12.)Final installation was fast and easy. Each of the wiring connectors was plugged back

(13.)Alan installed the weathered and scratched outer fairing and loosely mounted the windshield and chrome molding.
(13.)Alan installed the weathered and scratched outer fairing and loosely mounted the wind
(14.)H-D's Fairing Bra is a stylish and economical way to hide a beat up paint job or protect your nice paint on a long trip. It installs in less than five minutes. In addition it complements the leather look of the SoftDash.
(14.)H-D's Fairing Bra is a stylish and economical way to hide a beat up paint job or prot
(15.)A close-up of the texture and quality of the SoftDash. The chrome Fairing Cap dresses up the accessory and ignition switch material. Look at how great that dash looks, even the painted grilles and caps. Compare to Fig. 1. You'd never know this bike was such an old road dog.
(15.)A close-up of the texture and quality of the SoftDash. The chrome Fairing Cap dresses

Harley-Davidson
harley-davidson.com

Fairing Bra for Electra Glide
57800-00 - $89.95

Chrome Windshield Molding for Electra Glide
59213-96 - $41.95

Hell's Foundry
(866) 999-HELL (4355)
hellsfoundry.com

Midnight Black SoftDash, '96-07 FLH
HFSD-58497-96A-MB
$599.95 plus core exchange.

Chrome Inner Fairing Cap for FLH
HFFLHIFCC - $249.95

Jim'Specialties
(714) 738-3918
jimspecialties.com