R 1200R Newbie - Windshield Question

[CharlieR]

I got the BMW "tall" (which MUST be the short one!) windscreen when I bought my R1200R last week and hate it - the airstream is actually cleaner with it off, whether on the highway or around town. I'm 5'7" with 29" inseam.

[celticus]

Nope, That is the tall one. The short one is much less annoying.
Mark

[mrider]

Okay I need some serious advise here please. Have had the R1200R for about a year now. Like it a lot but I'm having a nightmare time with windshields. (I'm 6.1 - 32 inseam - normal seat). Started with the BMW touring, that was awful. Wind protection was actually acceptable but the level of noise was deafening. Next was the Cee Bailey 20". Like someone already posted, noise was Ok up until 60mph, but after that the buffeting was so strong (say at 90mph) that my head was shaking hard enough for me not to be able to read the signs on the freeway. number 3 was the Parabellum 24 inch. I figured that thing is so huge I'll be having some quiet time finally. This screen is actually a bit too high for me as I find myself looking through it sometimes. However the buffeting noise is worse than what It was on the Cee Bailey 20". And I always wear earplugs under my helmet.

To make things worse I rode my buddy's new GS with a stock windshield, and that bike is really quiet.

So, many of you talk of the benefits of a windshield on your R12R. I cannot believe that I'm the only one experiencing high level of noise beyond acceptable. Are your really just accepting the noise as a trade off for wind protection?

I finally removed my shield and have a lot quieter ride. I'm bummed cause I can't really go on a longer distance trip though, please advise

[snag]

I am about the same size, 6'2", 32" inseam and have the regular seat (sometimes with an Airhawk) and have been going through the same issues. I have the BMW Sport, Touring and 20" Cee Bailey. I find the Touring noisy, but calm and the buffeting from the Cee Bailey is wearing on a long ride. I thought the next step was the 22" Parabellum, but it sounds like it's worse than the Cee Bailey for buffeting. If I slouch down with the Cee Bailey and put the lip of the screen on the nose of my helmet, all is calm and quiet; I was hoping that another 2" from the Parabellum would be the answer, but it sounds like it isn't. Any comments on the 22" Parabellum would be helpful.

I picked up some earplugs from earplugsonline.com after talking to a satisfied customer on the ferry last week. They are made of beeswax, cotton and lanolin and they work very well. If you have trouble getting a consistent seal, these will do the trick. They have a NRR of 34 rather than the standard 28, so they're pretty quiet and solve 1/2 of the puzzle. In search of tranquility!!

Doug

[celticus]

Have you tried the sport shield? I have been using it for almost two years now and although I am always looking around I have come to be fairly satisfied with it. I listen to books on tape on long rides.
If you like I could loan you a Givi windshield for a trial.
Mark

[deilenberger]

Anyone interested in trying a Wudo (umm.. really made by a German company VRA? I think.. I emailed with them a lot) VarioShield - if you want to pay the shipping both ways - you're welcome to try it.

I modified it so it would go onto the stock BMW tall shield.. (put 4 holes and grommets into it), I also have the VarioShield mounting. It is adjustable from roughly a Cee-Bailey 17" to a 20" - I found it noisy and caused buffeting at all heights (5'7" 27" inseam).. so it's sitting in a box in my garage. If you like it enough to buy it - $125 + shipping paypal'd to me works. It does look nice on the bike, and in theory should work (has a slot between the two halves for air to flow up inside the upper shield.. which doesn't actually help..)

Dunno what the answer is.. (I'm using 3 different shields as noted above..) there is the French dude in Florida who I never got around to talking to who custom makes shields.. Joe Finn (ChiTown) loves his V-Stream, other people hate'm. I kinda doubt if there is one answer.

One thing I've noted on the GS screen - it's adjustable for angle, and even fully forwards it's angled further back than the BMW R12R touring bracket allows. That may be a big part of the reason for it being quieter and less turbulent - air slides off the top instead of tumbling off. On the VarioShield - I didn't try it with the mount that came with it, that allows it to be tilted.. dunno if it can tilt back as far as the GS screen due to the instrument panel position though. Guess mebbe I should try sometime.

[celticus]

If a fellow had GS headlights on his bike he could fit a GS windscreen too.
Mark

[mikeintexas]

I just installed the Cee Bailey 18" in place of the sport screen. I am 6', 32" inseam. From everything I have read so far, what windscreen is going to work for you any individual is a function of your personal measurements, what you are looking to accomplish and personal taste. For me, the 18" Cee Bailey got the job done perfectly for me. My main complaint with the sport screen was that the wind blast was directed at my chest. On long rides this caused a lot of faituge from fighting the wind. There were a lot of climate factors to consider too. We generally have a wind from the South here from 5-20 MPH. It's no fun headed into that wind going 70! The 18" Cee Bailey directs all the airflow outside my shoulders and over my helmet. At highway speeds, I have not encountered any of the buffeting that I have read about in this and other forums. However, the wind noise is MUCH higher. I ride with earplugs, so its not such a huge problem, but it is noticeable. Frankly, I am thrilled with the 18". A 20" would probably eliminate all the extra noise, but I don't think I would like the look of a windscreen that tall or having it so close to my line of sight. The only real answer is to experiment with what's right for you.

[Mattlock]

I own a 2007 R1200R with the tall windscreen. The screen works reasonably well around town and in the twisty's. The highway is another story. In fact I am considering a replacement screen myself but have yet to find the right one. The Cee Bailey 18" screen looks like a good option and you do not have to change the hardware.

I would like a little more wind protection on the highway but don't want to detract to much from the naked look of the bike. It is very hard to get it all. I would not reccomend the sport screen. It looks great but that is about it.

I am also considering trading in my R1200R for the new RT. I was thinking more comfort better wind protection and not that much additional weight. 436 Lbs dry vs. 505 Lbs. I am hoping that this does not turn out to be a big mistake since I really do love this bike with the exception of the lack of wind protection.

Since you are going from the RT to the R I would appreciate your thoughts vs the two bikes.

At the end of the day I have concluded that we all need at least three bikes. My dream garage would have a 1200 GS, my 1200R and the RT. Just have to sell the idea to my wife.

[daveyator]

I'm EXTREMELY picky about windshields. I have a ZTenchnik V stream that came already on the bike. Its the best most quiet handlebar mounted windshield I've ever had. Doesn't seem all that noisy, gives adequate protection, and looks great on the bike. I'm 5'11 with a 32" inseam. The shield is 19" tall.

[ka5ysy]

FWIW, several of our riders have discovered that the air holes in their helmets let in small wasps at inappropriate times, and have added small patches of plastic screen material to avoid repeats.

[moxnix]

What about this on a BMW touring screen?

[ka5ysy]

Here is my solution, after going through the BMW screens, the CeeBailey 18 and 20 inch screens....( I think the buffet from these screens is a "stall buffet" caused by the upturned lip on them - pilots will understand this- due to the angle of attack change) This is the CalSci tall screen and keeps off the buffeting, gives good protection of the shoulders, and in hot weather, is not terribly hot due to the two holes in the bottom of the screen which vent air behind the screen to defeat the buffet caused by the low pressure area behind the screen when running. Finally, a quiet screen !

FYI : I am 5'11" 29 inseam, the seat is the BMW stock torture rack with an Alaska Leather pad.]

[Bheckel169]

Had the 06 1200 Rt and bought the 08 black 1200 R. Purchased the Vtechnik windshield and like it's look and window protection is just right.
Bruce

[ShinySideUp]

Okay I need some serious advise here please. ... (I'm 6.1 - 32 inseam - normal seat). ... number 3 was the Parabellum 24 inch. I figured that thing is so huge I'll be having some quiet time finally. This screen is actually a bit too high for me as I find myself looking through it sometimes. However the buffeting noise is worse than what It was on the Cee Bailey 20". ...

You don't specify whether you trialed the Parabellum shield or the Scout mini-fairing with attached shield. I think the answer MAY be the Parabellum Scout with the proper height screen. As shown in messages after yours, the increased angle of the shield helps control turbulence and the Scout has a very pronounced angle. I'm also 6'1", with a 30" inseam and a tall Russell Day Long saddle and use the Parabellum Scout with a 20" shield and experience NO turbulence at any speed up to 100 mph. The airstream hits me just about mid face shield and if I slouch down a bit, I can peer through the screen and the wind noise drops considerably.

On the Scout, even with the optional 10" screen which I use for temps over 90F, there is no turbulence and the considerable wind stream (about mid chest) is very clean and smooth. I believe Parabellum offers a 30-day trial period.

[ScottSuff]

I'm wanting to join the R1200R club and been doing some research on wind protection. Glad to see someone report on the scout as I like the way it looks and the different shields that you can go with. (For a fee of course) For your info several riders must like the scout as well because there is a 15 -20 weeks, yes, I said weeks, backlog of orders. Got the info from the company in an email this week. Order now for summer.

[lewellen]

I'm wanting to join the R1200R club and been doing some research on wind protection. Glad to see someone report on the scout as I like the way it looks and the different shields that you can go with. (For a fee of course) For your info several riders must like the scout as well because there is a 15 -20 weeks, yes, I said weeks, backlog of orders. Got the info from the company in an email this week. Order now for summer.

Unfortunately ... It's gonna depend on many factors both objective (screen height, angle, lip geometry, helmet, etc.) and subjective (how bothered you are by wind noise / buffeting, riding style, goals for shield performance, importance of appearance vs. functionality to you, etc.), so you're not necessarily going to get a definitive answer even if someone has the same body dimensions as you.

The solution seems to be, Try many different shields until you find one that seems to work.

That being said, based on what I've read, I'd start with the ZTeknik, then move on to the Cee Bailey (as you need the BMW mounting bracket for it, but it's cheaper than the BMW Touring screen), then the BMW screens.

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[Graf]

I am 5' 10" with 30" inseam sitting on the standart seat. The zTechnic screen looks nice but is not working for me. The screen is 18.5" and gives very good protection.....but the buffeting, the noise is very overwelming for me. I'll keep on looking but like people said here you will have to try different shields to see which one will work for YOU......

This said, anyone interested in zTechnic vstream shield + mount + hardware....used for about 1 hour?....$140 + $20 shipping
I'll post this in the for sale forum also.....

thx,
alex.

[deilenberger]

This said, anyone interested in zTechnic vstream shield + mount + hardware....used for about 1 hour?....$140 + $20 shipping
I'll post this in the for sale forum also.....

thx,
alex.

No. I will not buy another windscreen. 5 is enough. No. Don't do..
Of course SWMBO bought a new coffee table last week.... hmmm..
No. I will not buy another windscreen.. No. Don't do..

[celticus]

"This said, anyone interested in zTechnic vstream shield + mount + hardware....used for about 1 hour?....$140 + $20 shipping
I'll post this in the for sale forum also....."

This is tempting but....... I just got laid off and I really should be saving my money for a Wudo c@ckpit. I can't beleive none of you others are going to take the first plung and buy one so I can see what it looks like. Not even Don Deilenberger. Sigh.
Mark