To all the windshield Guru

[nixdsg]

Ok, just for gigges I took off my Ztechnik windshield and went for a ride. 60 mph, 75 mph, in both directions.

I found it more enjoyable then with it installed! Sorry I spent the money. Quieter, no turbulance, and wind blast is minimal and very acceptable compared to the turbulance and noise with the windshield installed! I was wearing ear pugs with the wind shield anyway, now I can wear them and have no turbulance.

I will be removing the bracket and going "naked" again.

Nic

[thepeacebullgrunt]

@nixdsg
Ah ah !

I am just scare to start thinking about any type of windshields... to much headache If I can put it that way
Unless I found a company that will convince me of its reliability and precision with a custom service.

[AmostThere]

Since I got zero interest in my effort to sell the tall Parabellum, I'm going to cut it down to about 15" and then compare with the CB 16". My intention is to protect the surface with some blue tape then just cut the same profile with a power scroll saw. Anybody here have any experience cutting their windscreen with a power saw?

[deilenberger]

Since I got zero interest in my effort to sell the tall Parabellum, I'm going to cut it down to about 15" and then compare with the CB 16". My intention is to protect the surface with some blue tape then just cut the same profile with a power scroll saw. Anybody here have any experience cutting their windscreen with a power saw?

Fairly fine tooth metal cutting blade - at low speed. If you push it too fast - the plastic heats and melts making a general mess. When done - finish with a belt sander, then finer grades of paper. Some acetone can be used to give it a polished edge look.

[TPE3B]

So what's the verdict - all ZTechnics are useless?

Hi everybody, I'm new here coming from a tourers world (LT....). I will be an owner of a new R1200R next week, and my dealer agreed to absorb costs of a ZTech windshield - I must chose between 18.5 x 18.75 or 21.5 x 21 wide and respond very soon with my decision...

BTW, are ZTech mounting brackets easily removable?

[deilenberger]

So what's the verdict - all ZTechnics are useless?

I've met a few people who liked them.. but only a few. Most people have problems with turbulence from them.

Hi everybody, I'm new here coming from a tourers world (LT....). I will be an owner of a new R1200R next week, and my dealer agreed to absorb costs of a ZTech windshield - I must chose between 18.5 x 18.75 or 21.5 x 21 wide and respond very soon with my decision...

BTW, are ZTech mounting brackets easily removable?

Yup - sorta. Of all the brackets the ZTech ones are the most difficult to put on and take off - but it's not a biggie. It's reported that it helps to have two people (one to hold the bars up while you slip it under them, or out from under them, depending on if it's on or off..)

I'd see if the dealer would be willing to do a BMW Touring shield mount.. that opens you up to any of the CeeBailey R12R shields, or the CalSci shield. None of those IMHO are perfect either, but they are alternatives, and the different heights of the CB shields lets you match it to some degree to your size on the bike. I'd skip the actual BMW Touring Shield - dunno anyone who has been that happy with it.

[famousperson]

I'd see if the dealer would be willing to do a BMW Touring shield mount.. that opens you up to any of the CeeBailey R12R shields, or the CalSci shield. None of those IMHO are perfect either, but they are alternatives, and the different heights of the CB shields lets you match it to some degree to your size on the bike. I'd skip the actual BMW Touring Shield - dunno anyone who has been that happy with it.

I am 6' with a 31" inseam and I love my BMW touring windscreen. I am comfortable at 80 mph with the wind hitting me in the chest. No buffeting. The only thing I'd trade it for would be something like the sail I had on my Harley--full coverage, no wind. That would defeat the purpose (and gorgeous lines) of my naked bike, however.

[TPE3B]

I am 6' with a 31" inseam and I love my BMW touring windscreen. I am comfortable at 80 mph with the wind hitting me in the chest. No buffeting. The only thing I'd trade it for would be something like the sail I had on my Harley--full coverage, no wind. That would defeat the purpose (and gorgeous lines) of my naked bike, however.

How tall is your touring windscreen? My ZTechnic will be free, but i must chose between 18" and 21". I haven't dealt with windscreens for quite a while (had an adjustable one on my LT...), so I cannot visualize how really tall the 21" one is. I absolutely don't want to be looking through the screen. I'm 5'11" with 32 inseam.

[famousperson]

So you are comparing oranges to oranges, exactly what do the ZTechnic measurements of 18" and 21" refer to? Top to bottom, height above triple tree, something else? Interesting that nobody has defined that.

Also, when people refer to the "touring" windscreen, do they mean "tall?" Anybody?

If you'll let me know, I will measure when I get home and get back to you.

[celticus]

BMW only makes two for our bike. The sport and the touring. It is taller than the sport but shorter than many aftermarket windshields.

Mark

[ScottSuff]

I'll give you my 2 cents worth as a new guy to the R1200R as well. I had a 21" V-Stream and the helmet buffett was crazy for me at about 6' and a 31' inseam. However my 5'6" friend took it for a spin and thought the shield was great. No buffett, quiet. I guess he was under the bad air. I will say the shield does look good and it's well made. The install is a 2 man job because the bracket is a pain to slid under the handle bars by yoursef. Not anything you want to change out often. Hope this helps. I'm in the process of putting on a Scout Fairing, and I'll give my 2 cents on that when I get it on.

[TPE3B]

So you are comparing oranges to oranges, exactly what do the ZTechnic measurements of 18" and 21" refer to? Top to bottom, height above triple tree, something else? Interesting that nobody has defined that.

Also, when people refer to the "touring" windscreen, do they mean "tall?" Anybody?

If you'll let me know, I will measure when I get home and get back to you.

Yes, i do compare oranges to oranges - I have a choice between (free) 18" and 21" Vstreams. I know how they measure (it's on ZTech website) - it's from the top of the headlight housing. But i don't know how hight 21" really is in relation to the actual sight line. I don't want to look through the shield.

I guess my best solution would be to go with the tallest available (21") and then if I don't like it, start cutting it shorter and shorter. That's the paradox i learned on previous bikes - the taller shield does not necessarily provide the least buffeting.

The reason i was asking here, I though maybe someone has already gone through the selection process with the new VStreams. The difference between them is not only in hight, but width too. They are almost square: H:18.50" x W:18.75" and H:21.50" x W:21.00"
http://www.ztechnik.com/products/index.html

[TPE3B]

I'll give you my 2 cents worth as a new guy to the R1200R as well. I had a 21" V-Stream and the helmet buffett was crazy for me at about 6' and a 31' inseam. However my 5'6" friend took it for a spin and thought the shield was great. No buffett, quiet. I guess he was under the bad air.

Is it possible to change the angle of VStream?

[deilenberger]

Is it possible to change the angle of VStream?

Not without heavy metal bending (or perhaps adding spacers behind the shield mounts..)

[gibbo111]

The 21" will be hot in summer. Ihave the 18" ,am 5'8" with 32" inseam and it is noisy and turbulance is something i'm learning to live with!! Wont ride without earplugs.

[DMM]

Hello, all. Not sure if I can be of help, since I prefer to ride without a windshield. However, elsewhere on this site I read a post about someone adding two rubber washers/spacers (one to both the right and the left upper-most bolt/screw attachment sites on the windshield) to adjust the tilt/angle of the windshield. I believe that this required slightly longer screws/bolts.
I am not sure if this would work for your situation, but it is a relatively inexpensive option and may fix the problem.
Good luck and happy riding!

[famousperson]

I understand that you are committed to the VStream. But just to let you know--the windscreen height of the BMW touring screen, which causes the air to hit me at chest height without any buffeting, is only 14". Hence I have knowledge of how an 18" or 21" might behave.

[icecave]

I would rather have the "air blast" as feedback to the riding environment. After a few long rides, you don't notice it and I get a little exercise to boot. 30 mph+ head winds are problematic since the road is rarely into the wind for long periods of time. If need be, I'll assume to low position hiding behind the sports screen. This is very effective for short bursts (10-15 minutes).

My sports screen AKA bug screen for the instrument cluster does a great job for those folks that have a bug problem. Cleaning up is a couple minute task.

Is a big screen effective in a locus/cicata/other swarming bugs? I suppose one hides behind the screen till visibility approaches zero and then stops.

[deilenberger]

I would rather have the "air blast" as feedback to the riding environment. After a few long rides, you don't notice it and I get a little exercise to boot. 30 mph+ head winds are problematic since the road is rarely into the wind for long periods of time. If need be, I'll assume to low position hiding behind the sports screen. This is very effective for short bursts (10-15 minutes).

For short rides - the sport screen is wonderful. For slab rides @ 80mph of 5-8 hours, it would be impossible for me. My hands wouldn't be able to hold on that tight or that long.

My sports screen AKA bug screen for the instrument cluster does a great job for those folks that have a bug problem. Cleaning up is a couple minute task.

Is a big screen effective in a locus/cicata/other swarming bugs? I suppose one hides behind the screen till visibility approaches zero and then stops.

It's better than not. My bug line on my helmet is directly related to the screen I have on. The 16" Cee-Bailey puts it mid face-screen. The 18" puts it right above the face screen. The 20" puts it over the helmet completely.

[icecave]

Something I do to counter "blowing off the bike feeling", is use my legs and stomach muscles to tilt my upper torso into the wind, e.g. lean into it, while keeping the back straight and relaxing the arms.