Triumphrat

herbkell · 02-12-2010, 10:30 PM

I wish I had done more research into a suitable windscreen for my new (to me) 08 America. I paid almost $350 for the OEM Roadster before seeing a number of negative comments on this board. I fitted the screen yesterday and took it our for a short test spin last night and it seemed fine but I never got above about 45 mph. Today I rode about 25 miles at highway or near highways speeds and the buffeting was awful. I tried all sorts of riding/ head positions but nothing improved the severe helmet buffeting that I was experiencing. I seem to get reasonable protections in the chest area but it's pretty bad everywhere else. Frankly if I had to take a long ride tomorrow at highway speeds I would take the damn thing off.

I have now found a couple of threads which discuss this problem but I am a bit perplexed why Triumph would make an OEM screen that doesn't work at all well for a six foot tall guy.....?

Oh well more money to be spent. There is a few recommendations for the Clearview screens which fit on the OEM brackets. Anybody else have a Clearview and if so which length, do you have an upper recurve etc etc?

As I said I am six feet tall and would very much prefer to look over the top of the screen than through it.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

Mark Savage · 02-12-2010, 11:55 PM

Try www.windvest.com. Yes why would Triumph make this??
more research = less $ (grin)

slowgator · 02-13-2010, 12:20 AM

...wish I had a better handle on this issue. Been riding my 07 T100 3 years now naked but am planning a cross-country ride in August and am gearing up. Windscreen? Too many posts like this give me 2nd thoughts on windscreens. I ride with a full-faced helmet so riding Bonny naked works well for me. But cross-country?

Mark Savage · 02-13-2010, 12:55 AM

u could always dummy one up out of 1/4 ply and a cuppla bits 3/4 by 3/16 alloy strap if u just want to get an idea of height and width that works 4 u.But not to look thru offcourse on account of that would b dumb..ha ha

LennyT · 02-13-2010, 07:07 AM

After market windscreens, I'm over them. I've recently come from an '06 Triumph Tiger to an America. With the Tiger I tried three screens including the tallest Eagle screen they make for a Tiger and cut it down in increments to try and get the thing to work properly. Nothing worked. I did research after research. Bought an MRA Vario screen, ho good either, for me.
So, when I bought the America I decided to just go naked with it. However, after reading good reports on the Dart Flyscreen (a relatively inexpensive option), and speaking with a guy who had one on his America, I decided to give it a go and put one on. It lasted 30 minutes. The buffetting was awful compared with the bike naked. I took it off and am happy with the bike as is.
BTW, I have installed a Utopia backrest which gives great support to my back as speed gets up. This certainly helps with the wind pressure and is great for long trips. So, windscreens don't work for me. It seems they do for others, though. Good luck.

oldroadie · 02-13-2010, 08:36 AM

I gave up on windscreens. I tried full sized National Cycle, then Windvest, then fly screen and the end result was always the same: buffeting, low frequency thumping and general misery.

I find with my America a full face modular helmet gives me the best result. Next on my list: trying a Nolan N43 Trilogy.

skromfols · 02-13-2010, 10:29 AM

When I bought my America I got $500 in Triumph merchandise free, so I ordered the Triumph Summer Shield along with other goodies. While the shield might work for someone shorter, at 6'3" I felt like a rag doll at highway speed, so the Triumph shield lasted less than a full day on my bike.

I tried going without a windshield, but I like to listen to my Ipod while riding and the wind noise at speed is fairly loud. I also ride at 70 or 80 MPH when I'm in a hurry and I was always fighting against the wind on my chest.

I did some searching and found that the National Cycle Plexifairing fits the America. Since I had previously had a Plexifairing on my V-65 Magna and liked the way it worked I decided to try one on the America. It took some time to adjust it to suit me, but now works very well. The top of the shield is a couple of inches below my eye level, yet directs the wind over my helmet. It keeps the wind off my chest at speed and gives me very good protection. Just my two cents worth.

Norm T · 02-14-2010, 03:19 PM

If some one finds the answer I'd like to hear about too!! I got an America for both the wife and me and the Roadster screen was the biggest dissapointment of the bike and times two..she gets as much buffeting as me..

We have added a laminar lip to the screens which serves to move the buffeting up a couple of inches but does not take it away..

I have had some luck in the past with Cee Bailey on a Kaw Concours and it was magic how it solved that bikes' issues..

You call them and send your plastic screen to them with your directions and they will build a new screen to your request which uses the Triumph mounting hardware. The price quote to me was 1/2 the cost of the oem Triumph screen.

This will be my next attempt to fix the problem..just got to wait a bit for the bucks, Euros, Pounds or whatever as the holidays have wiped me out..

uscgmac · 02-14-2010, 05:59 PM

I use the HD-O windscreen by Slipstreamer on my 09 America and am very happy with it. At first I was wary about the low price but the quality is pretty good for about a hundred bucks and comes right off in 30 seconds. It is the mini police windshield originally made as aftermarket for harley sportsters I think, but is a universal shield. Its not overly large and not too small. I dont get much buffering and takes all wind off the chest. I too am six feet tall and am able to look a couple of inches over the top. I ride with full face in winter, and half in summer and have tried some other aftermarket shields and this one works the best for me so far. I didnt want to spend a fortune and this shield looks great to me. Gives the bike a true cruiser look. The brackets attach to the handlebars which was ok but I do like the fork mount type better but after the same trouble everyone else seems to be having and me not wanting to spend four hundred on something that might not work this was a cheap alternative which worked out. Take a look, it doesnt hurt. I came to the conclusion that wind and some buffering is just a way of life.

danf_florida · 02-15-2010, 05:42 AM

My windscreen has been laying in the garage for over 3 years now.