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Dart or Triumph flyscreen?

45K views 67 replies 44 participants last post by  tauzero 
#1 ·
I see Triumph sells fly screens that match the T120 colors. Is there much difference between the Triumph flyscreen vs the dart? A silver from Triumph would match a cranberry/silver T120 perfectly but I didn't know if there was much of a difference between the two.
 
#2 · (Edited)
I’ve had both... I’ve seen on this forum how everyone goes bOnKeRs for a Dart Marlin... So I’ll quickly just type from the other side of the spectrum.

From what I have seen from Dart, they don’t offer color matched short screens. I prefer the color matched screen because it sort of “cleans up” in front of the gauges and “completes” the look, to me, ascetically. So that’s all looks over function in my case. But I like it a lot.

Also, the way the Triumph screen mounts are behind the headlamp ears of the bike, with 2 or 3 screws that mount “from the inside”... While the Dart (while still nice, so relax everyone), typically mount from the outside of the headlamp ears using the one large headlight aim bolt, and utilize a metal tab that presses against the bike’s headlamp ear so the wind from riding can’t push the shield all the way back to make contact with the gauges... So, ascetically it isn’t as much of an integrated look as the Triumph.

The shorter Triumph body colored screens obviously only offer minimal wind blocking. If you don’t want the screen for that nice clean look, and would actually want it for taking wind off your chest, then you would need to buy one of those giant police riot clear things that stick up 20 feet in the air, obviously... Since you sit more “on” a Bonnie, rather than “in” a bike like an American cruiser style bike.

Lastly, some of the Darts give the bike a sort of Triceratops look with its shape. Vs the traditional “cafe” look that I can only assume the OEM body colored ones are shooting for, and do well.

To recap... If you are looking for more of a FUNCTION over form, I would recommend the Dart.

If you are looking for ascetics as the primary reason while changing the wind slightly towards more comfortable, then I would choose the Triumph. This recommendation is only when comparing a Dart to a Short Triumph screen.

Lastly, Triumph offers the short screen in body colored, clear, or dark-tint, as you probably already know... While I believe they also sell a medium height and a Tall height screen as well, but just clear so you can see thru them... I have seen the tall clear on a T120 in person... And it mounts nice and clean, and surely must give a much noticed relief in wind. Any bigger of a shield and girls would make fun of you at stop lights... And no one wants to see that. Not on a Triumph #Chips
 
#4 ·
Oh... Well, not sure which of the two are better for imaginary Latino partners, or fictional Wah-Wah pedals. Maybe others can chime in on those subjects... Ride safe. Cheers.
 
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#8 ·
I've just picked up a Triumph clear tall screen (which is similar to the Dart classic).

I wanted a tinted one, but was told that they're not available any more – so I'll try the clear and then, if I don't like it, I'll get it tinted.

I went the Triumph over the Dart because (1) they're about the same price in Australia (in fact, the Triumph is cheaper than the Dart dealer's online prices) and (2) I much prefer the neater brackets inside the headlight mounts that the Triumph uses.

The video mentioned above also put me off the Dart a little.

The Triumph screen is a really nice piece.

I plan to mount it at the weekend so I'll post some pics.
 
#9 ·
I went with a Dart Classic flyscreen for my Street Scrambler, and I haven't had any issues. with it. Does the job for me just fine. Got it in the midnight tint.

However I wanted the Triumph one in the Matte Khaki Green option to match my bike. The only reason I didn't pull the trigger on it was because they sell the mounting hardware separate. At first glance it was it wasn't much of a price difference. $129.95 for the Dart, $150.00 for Triumph's. Would of rather had the matching Flyscreen, because you know, matching. However then I found out you had to by the mounting hardware separate for $50.00. My only intention was to use it when touring, so Dart it was. Looks alright enough.

 
#10 · (Edited)
@SirBones
The reason one would have to buy the mounting kits separate, is because the headlamp ears they integrate with are shaped differently on, for example, the Thruxton 1200 or Street Cup, compared to the Street Scrambler or Street Twin... So each Kit has a slightly different shape & mounting hole locations... But yeah, $50 is a little steep for just that. I purchased my Mounting Kit waaaaaaay back in 2015. I seem to recall they were closer to the $30 or $ 35 range back then. Regardless, one would hypothetically purchase them once. Guess it’s a matter of how much you really like it, or how much you are willing to allow Triumph to thin your wallet... I saw a Matte Khaki Green that someone rode in while I was at the dealer. And it had the Matte Jet Black short screen on it. It matched the Matte Black side pannels and engine & the matte Black headlamp ring the Triumph headlamp grill comes with. Looked pretty cool, if I do say so myself. So I did that on my Matte Black Thruxton. I like it. Cheers.
 
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#11 ·
I've been going back and forth myself. Finally decided to go with the Triumph in Cranberry to match my Street Twin. It's more expensive, but I have an idea.....once I get it in, and mounted, I'll post so everyone can decide if it worked....lol
 
#15 ·
I did an experiment last weekend. On Saturday I rode my bike for 30 miles with he dart marlin I had on since the day I bought the bike. I particularly made mental notes of where the wind hit me, noise etc at various speed.

On Sunday I removed the screen and did the same route completely naked. (Hmm).

My conclusion was not what I thought it would be. The ride on Sunday was better! I can only explain that the wind whilst still there just seemed not as focussed towards a single point, more spread out and therefore less noticeable. Usual speed was about 50mph but took it to 70mph.

But I like a screen. I may switch and try something like a dart classic or the triumph short, or even something like this (if you read my my getting rid of the plastic thread): https://sw-motech.com/en/products/protection/customizing/4052572048962.htm
 
#28 ·
John, I am so glad that I read this. I ordered the Dart Marlin before I took delivery of my ST and living with wind blast to the face has been a bummer. I followed your lead this week and tried without the screen and truly had a much better ride, even on the highway.

On a side note, when I sat down to dinner, my wife noticed several bugs on my shirt.... but they were dead. I guess there is a trade off going sans bug screen.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Very nice indeed, just for info of anyone interested in something different, I've seen the Mid sized Triumph screen, the one which uses the same fittings as the short fly screen available in a tint option as well as the clear finish it’s usually listed in.
It’s about the same size as the dart screen. Just need to find that part number again...
Came across it whilst deciding on what I wanted on mine but went for form over function with the tinted Triumph fly screen, just couldn’t visualise what the competition green one would look like.



edit - as previously mentioned :Darn the tinted tall summer screen is no longer available - it's dropped off the site where I'd previously seen it listed
along with the Triumph front mudguard extender :frown2:
 
#26 ·
I agree. Be nice to have a screen that easily clips on and off. If I'm city commuting there's no real need for a windscreen, but on the chance I'm on the freeway for good bits of time, I prefer the comfort of a windscreen. I do appreciate the aesthetics of a bike without a windscreen.
 
#24 ·
I have the Triumph color-matching flyscreen on my ST. It provides minimal wind protection and generates slightly louder wind noise for any speed above 75 mph (5’-7” rider). It’s better than riding without one IMO.
How do I gauge wind noise? Without the screen, I can hear my stock exhaust up to 80 mph. With the screen, all I hear is wind noise above 75.
 
#25 ·
Is it really worth having a flyscreen? Wind on the highway at 80 is a bit annoying, but the screen itself completely kills the look of the Bonneville IMHO. I was set on getting a screen until I got attached to the "naked" look of the Bonneville. I just feel it totally ruins the classic look as soon as you put a screen on.... With a big touring screen it looks like you have front row tickets at a hockey game. :laugh2:
 
#27 ·
Is it really worth having a flyscreen? Wind on the highway at 80 is a bit annoying, but the screen itself completely kills the look of the Bonneville IMHO. I was set on getting a screen until I got attached to the "naked" look of the Bonneville. I just feel it totally ruins the classic look as soon as you put a screen on.... With a big touring screen it looks like you have front row tickets at a hockey game. <img src="http://www.triumphrat.net/images/TriumphRat_2015/smilies/tango_face_smile_big.png" border="0" alt="" title="Laugh" class="inlineimg" />
Aesthetics is all personal. The look of the double instrument ‘pod’ on the T-120’s, Thruxton, etc. does not bother me. The ST on the other hand with the large single instrument ‘pod’ above the headlight I think looks awkward. It needs something to conceal it. The smallest screen I can find to dress it up and not divert too much wind to the head is the Triumph fly. Anything bigger than that amplifies wind noise for me. I even tried a screen from Puig and removed it after one testing.
In the end, it’s all about what works for each individual rider.
 
#30 ·
I have tried the Dart fly screen and the Marlin on my T120. Both direct a channelled concentrated wind blast to either the throat or visor and they are uncomfortable and noisy. As there is far less concentrated wind blast with a naked bike, I have found the bike is far more comfortable to ride without either model fitted. Just my pennies worth !
 
#31 ·
I've never had a lot of luck with any sort of screen from the point of view that at my diminutive height (nearly 5' 8'' first thing in the morning. ah-hem !) every bike I've had some sort of screen on, whether fairing or fly-screen, the wind has always been directed at my head with consequent higher wind-noise levels (and I do wear ear-plugs). However, despite my experiences, I did recently purchase a Triumph fly-screen for my newly acquired Street Twin. I wanted the one with a slight tint as my fuel tank is silver in colour and I thought the half tint screen would tone the best. However, Triumph have stopped supplying the half tint, so I got the clear screen. It's described as 'tall', but it is a similar height to the fly-screen shown in SirBones picture on this thread.

I fitted the screen, and it looked really neat with the mounting brackets going in behind the headlamp support brackets. Then I went for a test-ride......... It only took the one short trip to realise that I should have relied on my prior experiences. The screen moved the wind-blast from my upper chest straight onto my crash helmet with consequent higher wind noise and also buffeting at higher speeds and this higher wind focus point was also sufficient to try and lift my crash-helmet at motorway speeds. Needless to say, at the first opportunity I took the screen off, so I'm now £100 poorer and nothing to show for it ! I can cope with a wind blast hitting my chest much better than noise/buffeting with a screen, so it will be naked from now on (apart from the crash-helmet that is!).
 
#33 ·
good to know because I've had similar experiences with any type of wind shield on previous bikes, unless I cut them down to tiny: Big increase in level of noise and more buffeting. I'm 5-9.

Last weekend, did 400 miles from Sacramento to Los Angeles, that stretch is a 75-80 miles/hour freeway, so I was pretty worn from sitting in the wind (and the central valley was also hot). I got second thoughts about the value of a windscreen, despite my past experiences, so that's why I'm on this thread. But seems like I keep my T100 as is given that the screens are far from an unambiguous success. Yes, plenty of bugs on my jacket (needed to stop to clean the visor every hour, too), but not hard to clean.
 
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