Triumphrat

05-06-2007, 05:26 PM

When I replaced my Kawasaki ZR-7 with a 2003 Tiger last Christmas, I expected improved wind protection because the Tiger has a factory fitted half-fairing and screen.

Unfortunately my first trip on a motorway demonstrated that Triumph hadn't paid any attention to the aerodynamics of their screens: any speed at and above 70 mph caused so much turbulence around my head that my vision just became a blurr and the low frequency buffeting was intolerable even with ear plugs. This was a huge disappointment to me and I seriously wondered whether I would be able to keep the bike given that I do so many long motorway trips.

So, I searched this site for information on replacement screens and found that MRA's Vario-Touring Screen got some favourable commentary; so I took the plunge and bought one. It arrived this week just in time for a trip to London (I live in Southport, Mersdeyside) and so has now had a proper test over 400 miles of high speed biking. Overall, the screen performed marvellously: it was every bit as good as the Triumph screen at keeping the air-blast at bay, that is so tiring on the arms on a long run, and more importantly, completely removed the head buffeting I had been experiencing.

Admittedly, the air-flow around my head was still more turbulent than without a screen but this is generally true of all motorcycle screens - there's an inevitable trade-off between removing air-blast on the body and the amount of noise generated around the head by screen-induced turbulence.

It's now possible to cruise comfortably for hours at any speed without feeling any discomfort, provided of course, that ear-plugs are still used.

So, if any of you are having trouble sorting out your Tiger screen and you're about my size (5'10"), I'd thoroughly recommend the Vario. It's a bit pricey (£96 devlivered) but compared to the cost of getting another bike, for me, it was worth it. It also looks good too.

Details available at the URL below.

If anyone wants more detail about my experiences, feel free to email me at the address below.

Cheers.

triumphforum@syberad.co.uk

MRA Vario Touring Screen - Retailer Site

Tigerfeet · 05-07-2007, 09:34 AM

Also available cheaper here:
http://www.triumph-online.co.uk/inde...&productid=726

DAGAD · 05-09-2007, 03:20 AM

I bought one for my '06. Couldn't get on with it :???: Now it's for sale.................... £45 plus post, anyone interested?
Roy.

matchbox · 05-09-2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

On 2007-05-09 01:20, DAGAD wrote:
I bought one for my '06. Couldn't get on with it :???: Now it's for sale.................... £45 plus post, anyone interested?
Roy.

I am interested in your screen for my 06 Tiger which I have just bought. I bought the genuine Triumph taller screen hoping this would improve the buffeting but it doesn't - removing the black rubber trim did help a bit as advised by the dealer.
In what way can't you get on with it? There seem to be plenty who do find the varioscreen works so I'm willing to give it a try. Thanks.

What's the best way of making contact with you??

[ This message was edited by: matchbox on 2007-05-09 12:50 ]

ww · 05-10-2007, 04:22 PM

I've bought a sportscreen but that is also not everything.
I would like to know 'what size you are?' ; e.g. length etc
I have been thinking about buying a MRA

thanks

matchbox · 05-10-2007, 06:00 PM

DAGAD
I would like to buy the screen and seat please but can't get hold of you.
Please reply to this - thanks
Matchbox

JRO · 05-10-2007, 07:38 PM

If you are serious about gettting the wind off of you, you need a CeeBailey's. They make both a taller, and a wider & taller windscreen. I'm 6'1", and I opted for the largest they had - 8"taller 6" wider. It does limit me to 120mph for top speed, but I can even smoke behind the thing. You also have the added benefit of being without that geeky, spaceman-spoiler on your windscreen, or any hardware blocking your view through the screen.

Sorry guys, but it's time somebody pointed it out - that thing just looks ridiculous - a 'spoiler' on your windshield? Aww, com'on. What's next, a 'warp coil'?

WIDGIN · 05-10-2007, 08:06 PM

Quote:

On 2007-05-10 17:38, JRO wrote:
If you are serious about gettting the wind off of you, you need a CeeBailey's. They make both a taller, and a wider & taller windscreen. I'm 6'1", and I opted for the largest they had - 8"taller 6" wider. It does limit me to 120mph for top speed, but I can even smoke behind the thing. You also have the added benefit of being without that geeky, spaceman-spoiler on your windscreen, or any hardware blocking your view through the screen.

Sorry guys, but it's time somebody pointed it out - that thing just looks ridiculous - a 'spoiler' on your windshield? Aww, com'on. What's next, a 'warp coil'?

The MRA is low enough to be below your line of sight unless you're only 5' tall.

I personally don't like looking through a bug splattered, distorting piece of plexiglass at all times. I also can't imagine riding down a forest road with a large guillotine one foot from my neck while I'm standing on the pegs.

Soooo, what's truly ridiculous is looking THROUGH your geeky CB "Barn Door".
:razz: In my opinion, large CB's are for "pavement-bound" Tiger's who may be happier on Goldwings. :hammer:

JasonS · 05-10-2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

On 2007-05-10 17:38, JRO wrote:
If you are serious about gettting the wind off of you, you need a CeeBailey's. They make both a taller, and a wider & taller windscreen. I'm 6'1", and I opted for the largest they had - 8"taller 6" wider. It does limit me to 120mph for top speed, but I can even smoke behind the thing. You also have the added benefit of being without that geeky, spaceman-spoiler on your windscreen, or any hardware blocking your view through the screen.

My take on the buffeting and the reduction the Cee Bailey provides is the stiffness of the screen. On my ST, it really helped to give me a smoother ride ( 6'4"), but what I noticed is that the whole cockpit was less subject to flexing because the CeeB was stiff it self. I can't recall the shape of the Tiger cockpit, but the ST has these plastic projections to hold the screen and they are just plain floppy. my keeping the whole cockpit from flexing, the buffeting mostly goes away.... now semi's ( lorries) are another story...

JRO · 05-12-2007, 02:07 AM

Quote:

On 2007-05-10 18:06, WIDGIN wrote:
The MRA is low enough to be below your line of sight unless you're only 5' tall.

I personally don't like looking through a bug splattered, distorting piece of plexiglass at all times. I also can't imagine riding down a forest road with a large guillotine one foot from my neck while I'm standing on the pegs.

Soooo, what's truly ridiculous is looking THROUGH your geeky CB "Barn Door".
:razz: In my opinion, large CB's are for "pavement-bound" Tiger's who may be happier on Goldwings. :hammer:

I've had a German-made windscreen, before. It had more distortion the funroom mirror at an amusement park. I don't look through my windscreen, I look over it. But if I hunch down and look through it, there's zero distortion from my CeeBailey's.

If you're really riding off-road, you don't need serious wind protection - that's a highway preference. For real dirtroad/offroad use, a windscreen is a bother.

I saw my first MRA Vario, on an FZ1 or 6, parked outside my daughter-in-law's gradeschool. Little kids admiring the bike thought it was 'cool'. They'd never seen a windsheild like that...
Then a twelve-year-old walked up, took a look, and told them it was 'dumb'. Opinion consolodated - "Yeah, you're right. It really is dumb looking."

I only wish my Tiger was pavement bound. If I could stay out of the pasture and off these excuses for dirt roads, it would be, but the County doesn't seem to be cooperating.