Why the fuss over windscreens?

[stevecro]

I did 940 kms on my Suzuki naked (bike not me) on April 13th this year and actually liked the wind being distributed over my whole upper body.
Last big trip with a Givi screen in place, the buffeting around the helmet was far more fatiguing.
The RS screen seems to protect most of the upper body and leaves the head in the wind, but with the different angle of my body compared to the sit up and beg riding position of the Suzi, I don't find it at all bad.
Make sure the ear plugs are in and you might even need a scarf that tucks a little under the helmet. This further eliminates highway noise.
I haven't gone too far on the RS yet (new 10th May) but I'm thinking it might be about right.

[dolson]

I changed mine for rather sever buffeting and helmet lifting at 70mph and above starting at 65mph. Wind I don't object to.

With the stocker the rain was no problem. (yes it does rain in Oregon as Scottius knows) and I ride year round.

With the MRA's that I bought they have done what I hoped they would do and that is to smooth the air flow and remove the turbulence I was experiencing and removed the low pressure area over the top of my helmet which was causing the lifting. Also besides doing this the fit and finish are exemplary and in my eyes do not detract from the looks of the bike like others I've seen.

That's my reasoning, what I did and how it worked out.

Don

[1fastcat]

Ya know, I hate to admit it, but it may be an age thing: When I was riding in my teens and 20's, the most protection I ever had was on my FJ1100/1200. Wind never bother me, nor did tight ergos. But now I would rather hike 20 miles in a day (or ride 400-700 miles) and then take a nice shower in a comfy hotel room than sleep on the hard ground, and I would rather not fight the wind and elements on the motorcycle.

Dolson, I always appreciate your comments, but in regards to the rain and my experience - My bro and I got caught in a massive rainstorm in Texas for over 3 hours. The Sprint left me absolutely soaked, while on his FJR he was relatively dry except for his lower legs. My idea of windscreen protection riding for 3 hours in pouring rain is not having to tuck to the tank, but maintaining a comfortable riding position.

Once I got a chance to ride a bike with more protection, it made me realize how much I was fighting the elements on the Sprint, and how much nicer it was to enjoy the scenery and trip with protection when I wanted it.

Hopefully Triumph has paid attention to the electric windscreen movement. That is the best of both worlds - sport when you want and protection when you need.

[SpiderTex]

On 2004-06-24 10:44, 1fastcat wrote:
...stuff deleted...

Hopefully Triumph has paid attention to the electric windscreen movement. That is the best of both worlds - sport when you want and protection when you need.

Oh yes, storm rain + sprint = soaked.

And indeed, en electric windscreen would honour the "tourer" element of this bike...

[Redbike]

Funny . . . SpiderTex is tallish and reports a stable airflow with the stock screen, and I'm shortish - if I can say that - and find a smooth airflow directed toward my shoulders at highway speeds of 80mph or so. On a 260-mile trip on my RS (mostly highway) the weekend before last, there was no turbulence or buffeting to speak of except when a front was passing through, and then there was buffeting from all directions! But that had nothing to do with the screen.

[dmbikerguy]

I have owned bikes with no wind protection (Honda Nighthawk S and others), Some wind protection (Yamaha TDM 850), and more wind protection ('96 Trophy). I find the my Sprint ST with the Zero Gravity Double Bubble to be the best for me. Looks great too (dark smoke on a black ST). I am 6'3" just shy of 200 lbs. and never could find the right shield on the Trophy. I always had some head buffeting. Some Trophy owners I know are cutting the stock screens down.

I, like others have commented, like my helmet out in clear air and want the air blast in my chest to take the weight off my wrists and let my vented jacket do its job.

I hope they don't go to powered or even adjustable screens on the new ST. Keep the SPORT in Sport-Touring and save the added weight, complexity, and cost for the new Trophy replacement.

[NINETY4]

I'm 40 and my other bike is a duc monster i've ridden over 350m days on with no major issues. To me my ST is absolutely the very lap of luxury stock.

Well here in Iowa we dont have helmet laws and with a low population and very straight roads/top of the line Radar Detector I spend a lot of time in 6th gear at around 7000 rpms. Yea, really that fast. If you ride an RS you can guess how fast that equates too. I have the stock screen, no helmet, no earplugs and a pair of Curves glasses to keep my eyes from watering. Ive ridden 300 miles around the state in one day like that. So yes, Im thinking of getting the extended windscreen. Those of you that have never ridden in a state with no helmet laws...imagine what the wind does to your cheeks at those speeds. Think Im nuts?....My buddy rides the same way on his R1 which is much faster than my RS. Im a California native, but living in Iowa is awesome for motorcyclists!
Peace :-D

[AAA]

Putnam

I've always been riding where the legal requirement is using a crash helmet.

I've also tested one in anger.

On balance, I've decided that what the wind does to your cheeks at (my guess would be around 130-140 mph??) is nothing compared to what tarmac will do to your jaw at, say 50 mph.

As I was wearing a full face lid, I didn't have to find out.

Stay Upright!

[pa_hawkeye]

As an Iowa native (who now calls PA home), I'm sorry to hear they let a frickin Californian into the state. The so-called midwest-to-west "brain drain" was a covert plan to send the moral reprobates and intellectual derelicts to CA. :razz:

Anyway, Putnam, you have to be kidding. You're OK with putting an UGLY big-ass screen on your bike, but you won't wear a helmet? I hope your organs function better than your brain so that they can be used when they're harvested.