With or without a screen?

[bradley j]

Hi all, just a question i would like your opinion on. Does anyone prefer doing long trips on a motorcycle with no windscreen? and if so have you gone from a bike with a screen and found that you prefer the whole wind in your face, more visibility etc?

The thing is i have now a Yamaha Tenere XTZ660 that i am going to do an around Australia trip on, this is the first type of bike i have bought with a fairing and screen on it, i bought it as it seemed to be kind of bike you do a big trip on, i saw it and i thought great, bassically it is all ready to go, big tank, nice seat, decent rack for top box and panniers, good on and off road capabilities, and on a little test ride i went great.

What has come to bother me is the buffeting, i have made two screens taller than the origional, one about 30cm high which made no difference, then i added extra peice of perspex on top it to make to about 45cm, at that hight i did notice less wind force but the buffeting was still there. I then took the sceen of all together just to see what it would be like without it, and straight away i thought this is HEAPS nicer, no buffeting, nice cool smooth air (it is summer here in Australia so if felt extra nice), i could keep my eyes open when i opened the visor as there was no turbulence in my eyes, sure i did feel alot of wind blast, but i am so used to that from riding trail bikes it did not feel uncomfortable.

To me if just feels like how riding should be...bassically the whole wind in ya face kind of thing, you know? But i have only ridden trail bikes in the past and have never done a big trip before.
I feel right now that i would like to do the trip without the screen, but am unsure if it is a wise choice, as i see so many pics on this site and out on the road of bikes which most seem to have a screen on them, i'm thinking it must be pretty important to have one, and i'll regret not having it as the wind blast, bugs and dust will get to me after a while. But at this point in time i can't see the importance of it, it just feels right to me without one.

So to extend my question, do most of you have screens on your bikes because wind blast, bugs, dirt etc really do get to you on a big trip? And does it justify loosing that traditional 'wind in ya face' biking feeling, and tolerating buffeting (if you have that problem).
Thanks for your input.
Brad

[Caminando]

Hi there

I certainly use a screen and wouldnt go on the road without one. The wind is either going to bounce off you or a screen - its better you get the protection. Off road I cant say. Its also very tiring to fight the wind at high speed - why do it, for the reason above. I admit an unfaired sports bike looks better without one, but my AT looks better with the one Mr Honda designed.

Best wishes

[oldbmw]

Like most things, it really depends on your type of riding conditions.
I can only tell you my experiences and why I did what I did.
I started motorcycling in the early sixties in UK. At that time I was in the forces, and a considerable part of my motorcycling was going from whichever base I was stationed on back to Cornwall most weekends. I found that at speed over 55mph I tended to slide back the dual seat whenever i hit a bump. the constant buffeting from the wind was both chilling and tiring. Rain and hails hurt. So I fitted an avon touring fairing to my Tiger cub, and that was excellent. for the most part kept me dry also except if i had to stop. Later I had a similarly equipped speed twin and Tiger 100, Lastly in the 70's 80's I had Triumph Trophy tr6r.. again with the avon touring fairing. These days I ride a bmw r80rt which also has a full fairing. If you could see the squashed bugs splattered over it you would not ask should you have a screen. also it has stopped a few bits of gravel thrown up by traffic. I can pass through rain without getting too wet. I can ride in cold conditions. I would always try to avoid a long road trip without a fairing. Be aware a frame mounted fairing is in my view better because it transmits buffeting to the frame which you absorb with your knees as opposed to a handle bar fairing which is controlled by your arms. knees cope better. My experiences are influenced by the riding i did and still do. Almost exclusively tarmaced road trips in UK and France often of 2-400 miles. Offroad i used a naked 350 enfield. The fairing need not cover you lower body much, just be mounted there. In hot climes, i guess apart from the bug thing there is less reason for a fairing, but I see a fairing as a safety and comfort feature.

[MountainMan]

Bradley,

Screen all the way. In addition to the weather and bug issue mentioned, I find the wind blast is quite fatiguing over long distances. As you mention, the feeling of wind in your face is what you want for short rides and it's the exact opposite for longer rides. It is much more tiring to ride with no screen. I went on a few half day/ day trips this summer on a cruiser with no screen and really noticed the difference to previous multi day trips with screen.

There is a lot of ways to modify the screen to find a compromise between wind force and buffeting such as MadStad brackets, etc. Do a bit of searching on this site and others and you will see some great solutions that people of figured out. As an example look at the Vstrom posts as they are notorious for having a non effective stock screen and the solutions suggested make a huge difference.

[mollydog]

But it can be done.

[outthere]

Hi i ride with no screen on my DR650, i also use a pudding/harley type helmet, googles and ear plugs. For me here in Africa traveling i find it fantastic. i can see all hear all and its real easy to take photos and be with people with out having to go through the pulling of helmet. In saying that if wanting to make miles say more than 400ks a day id go for a full face helmet. The problem ive found people have with screens is in a fall it can hurt more when it hits u. Each to his own. regards Brian B

[steveindenmark]

I find the big bugs can hurt when they hit you. A screen prevents all the bug debris and gives some protection from wind and rain.

[Stephano]

Originally Posted by mollydog

The Brit guys posting here may not really grasp just how hot really HOT weather can be... A big screen is a dangerous nuisance.

Conversely, Brit guys posting here may grasp just how really HOT weather can be.


I fitted an AeroFlow screen to my bike, a very reliable BMW, to cross Iran from the south one July. At that time of year, the area around the Persian Gulf meets accepted definitions of extremely hot and humid. The screen did what it was intended for to reduce wind noise and buffeting and it was in no way a dangerous nuisance.

Stephan

[mollydog]

Humidity in the Iranian desert?

[ukKev]

Rode round OZ in 96/97 22000miles on a HD sporster had my luggage as back support which helped . A screen might have made it easier but i did enjoy the cool breez when it was hot . Have just come back from a 8500m ride round N/W Africa on a BMW 1100gs i added a bit of perspex to make the screen taller for the long & cold road sections & this worked to & was great at high speeds . Dont know if thats any use to you . Have a good trip & if i can help with any info just ask .
Kev

[oldbmw]

Originally Posted by mollydog

The Brit guys posting here may not really grasp just how hot really HOT weather can be. To them, 80f is hot. To me, 110f is hot,
Patrick

We regularly get 45c here (Ex Brit now living in West France) in the shade in summer, two years ago it was in excess of 50c for several weeks. True not the high humidity. But no way would I choose to ride on tarmac with an unfaired bike. Mind you I like the heat, it is the cold I can't take. Even I was flagging in the 50c+ haymaking. Not so much the making of the hay, carting the bales up a ladder (12 bales high) in a tin roofed barn was a somewhat sweaty affair Because i ride a faired bike it allows me to ride with an open faced helmet ( forced on me because I have never found any other type that allows me to use my glasses). Offroad I think I would choose a naked bike. So I guess we are mostly in agreement

[mollydog]

Living in France?

[Stephano]

Patrick
As OldBMW says, we are basically in agreement: on road: faired, off road: not.

However, your dangerous nuisance comment was in the following paragraph:

“The Brit guys posting here may not really grasp just how hot really HOT weather can be. To them, 80f is hot. To me, 110f is hot, now add 90% humidity, something that doesn't exsist in the UK. I know Oz has both, extreme temps and humidity. In hot humid weather air flow is vital. A big screen is a dangerous nuisance.”

The paragraph is about climate not road conditions so forgive me for misunderstanding your point. I quite agree that a tall screen off-road could be a dangerous nuisance. I found that out on a ride-out at the Lumb Farm HU Meeting in 2004.

On road, in high heat and humidity it did not exhibit any life-threatening qualities and served its purpose.

The Persian Gulf, which I referred to, has very high humidity in the summer. The Encyclopaedia Britannica calls it ‘notoriously unpleasant’. You are very welcome to come out and visit the wonderful scenery around here; better to come in the winter months though. As you know, there is a very active off-road riding scene here which I think you would enjoy.

Below is one of my favourite photos recently taken by Lars (ontheroad | Lars auf Abwegen) when he visited.
Stephan

[bradley j]

Thanks for the replies guys, you have given me some things to think about. I reckon i will keep the screen off for a while and see how it goes, i will be doing a 350km ride soon and i see how i like it then.
My XTZ660 has a pretty decent fairing anyway and that alone seems to give a wind break about to my shoulders without the screen, but yeah it will see how this ride goes and take it from there. As mentioned i will play with the screen angles next if i eventually feel i need it.
But at this point it time i am really enjoying it without it there!.
Cheers guys.

[beddhist]

I'm currently touring without a screen and wouldn't want one. Don't need it, either, I just ride a little slower. Back in NZ I have a K100RT. My ex-girlfriend sat behind that in complete quiet and comfort, but me being rather tall there was no way I could modify the screen to make it high enough for me, so that I didn't HAVE to wear earplugs above 60 km/h.

I believe there is a fundamental problem with modern screens: too flat. Fairings and screens have to displace and redirect air. Flat screens direct the air upwards, so you get more and faster air onto your head. A rounded screen should direct the air mostly sideways where I don't care too much if it makes a few turbulences or noise.