There are several types of motorcycles available for sale today. Even non-riders can pick out a cruiser because the Harley-Davidson brand has made them very popular. Another very common bike type seen on the road is the sportbike. One immediately noticeable difference between a sportbike and a cruiser is that a sportbike has a fairing.
The Automotive Dictionary defines a fairing as being a protective piece of Plexiglas or other lightweight, strong material (often plastic-based) that houses headlights and other electrical components at the front of a bike.
Different kinds of fairing setups exist; some bikes feature what is called "bikini fairing," meaning exactly what you'd expect---the headlights are covered and that's about it. Others feature what's called "full fairing," which means that nearly everything except the wheels themselves has some sort of cover. Still others feature "half fairing," which also means exactly what it sounds like.
In addition to protecting headlights, electrical components and mechanical bits from the elements, larger fairing configurations can also protect riders from the elements. However, that only applies while you're in motion---at a red light in a rainstorm, you're still going to get soaked. Fairings can also provide aerodynamic benefits, which is the reason they're mostly found on sportbikes and sport touring bikes. Since standards and cruisers aren't intended for extreme speed, there's no need for them to have fairings.
Depending on whether or not you like doing your own bike maintenance, a faired bike may or may not pose some difficulty for you. Some fully-faired bikes may require you to remove a body panel just to change your oil. If you plan to do more intensive maintenance yourself (such as valve spacing), you'll have even more bodywork you'll have to remove before you can even start. On the flip side of the maintenance argument, fully-faired bikes are relatively easy to clean. Water (just like air) glides right off and drying them is similarly fast and simple. If you drop your bike, the fairing may protect the important parts of it from damage. However, it can be expensive to repair or replace damaged fairings.
One of the things many riders like about faired bikes is their potential for creative expression. With cruisers and naked bikes, there are plenty of things you can customize: clutch covers, exhaust systems, handlebars, mirrors...you name it. Faired bikes let you customize all that and more. If you're not happy with the fairing that came on the bike you purchased, you can have it custom painted. You can also look around for aftermarket suppliers who have kits available to fit your bike.
