Help me diagnose my windshield problem

[tvlawyer]

I'm running a Cee Bailey's 16". The airstream is flowing just over the top of my head with lots of noise and turbulence.
Yesterday, while traveling about 50 mph, I stood up on the pegs to stretch my legs and I found incredibly smooth and quiet air. In light of that experience, I have three thoughts on how to improve the noise and turbulence. What do you think?

1. Cut down the CB 16", one inch at a time, in an effort to lower the height of the smooth airflow.
2. Cut a couple of vent holes into the windshield to put a bit of air behind it and fill in the low pressure area somewhat.
(1 and 2 combined is another possibility)
3. Try another windshield. If so, what is your opinion for a 5' 9" rider with 30" inseam and an OEM low seat?

Your comments and advice are appreciated.

Larry in ATL.

[deilenberger]

My opinion - use search on "windshield" - it's pretty much been discussed a BUNCH. And certainly cutting it down is an option (someone has 16" and 18" for sale in the for-sale section here - cheap..) but of course you loose protection. I've thought about doing the Cal-Sci holes in a CB, and even thought about buying the 18" that's for sale to try it with (although I already own all 3 CB shields..)

The cleanest air I felt on the R12R was with the BMW sport shield. Problem was holding on at 70MPH.

[matty26]

I had the same problem with the Cee Bailey's on my '06 F650GS. I was used to the relatively smooth airflow of the standard windshield. When I got my CB, I swore I'd be deaf after a few weeks of riding with the noise. It was like a deep rumble on my head from the disturbed air coming off the top of the windshield. I tried noise-cancelling earbuds, but that didn't help enough. While the pressure on my chest was definitely reduced by the CB screen when going 75mph (downhill with a tailwind of course), it wasn't worth the noise. In talking to their customer service guys, I would have needed a 20" or 22" to get the air quieted down since I'm 6'1". That tall of a windshield was just too weird looking for me to want to ride around on, so the deal was broke.

I returned the windshield to CBs and they gave me about 85% of my money back.

- Matt

[TT RDHS]

With all the discussion about windscreens, I have not noticed if anyone has had Laminar put a "lip" on their BMW "touring screen"...
I am thinking about sending them (Laminar) my BMW "touring screen" to have them fit one to it.
If anyone here has done this already, I would sure appreciate your insight on this. Another option would be, to fit a "lip" from MRA.
(maybe I will have to be the "guinea pig" for this)

[Trout]

Same stuff, different day

Windshields have been discussed second only to oil, and maybe tires. I've been in the middle of it for years, looking for the solution.

A very short shield, causing the airstream to hit you in the chest, will put your helmet in clean air.

A very tall shield, causing the airstream to go way over your helmet, will put your helmet in calm air.

Anything between the two will cause a certain amount of excessive wind noise and buffeting. You can try to compensate with laminar lips, neck gaiters, shield vents, different ear plugs, better helmets, AeroGuards, etc., but the noise and buffeting will remain, to a certain degree.

If you start whacking off the Cee Baileys an inch at a time, it'll be a shorty before you get into clean air. You may as well get a sport screen or cut off a stocker.

I have 5 screens right now and continually swap them on and off the bike. It's all a compromise.

[TT RDHS]

Same stuff, different day

Windshields have been discussed second only to oil, and maybe tires. I've been in the middle of it for years, looking for the solution.....

You can try to compensate with laminar lips,....

I have 5 screens right now and continually swap them on and off the bike. It's all a compromise.

Do YOU have a screen with a "Laminar lip"? (within your collection)
If so, what do you think of it? (for this application)

[Trout]

Same stuff, different day

Windshields have been discussed second only to oil, and maybe tires. I've been in the middle of it for years, looking for the solution.....

You can try to compensate with laminar lips,....

I have 5 screens right now and continually swap them on and off the bike. It's all a compromise.

Do YOU have a screen with a "Laminar lip"? (within your collection)
If so, what do you think of it? (for this application)

I do have a screen with a Laminar Lip. Although not for this application

I also had a Laminar Lip for my R1150R and sold it.

The Lip (in my application) is a strange beast. It smooths the airstream considerably, but increases the volume (noise) substantially. I don't get any of those little head slaps from turbulence, but I cannot escape the "noise noise NOISE" (RE: The Grinch when talking about Christmas in Whoville).

The Lip on my R1150R (Touring Screen) really did not make much of a difference that I could ever tell. It looked ugly, so I pushed it.

The screens I use the most are the sawed off stocker and the really tall aftermarket screen. The screens in the middle just end up pissing me off.

[TT RDHS]

Thank you for your reply, Trout!
It's the NOISE, that's the problem for me...
The sport screen is fine (for what it is). But when I want a little more protection, the "touring screen" works well, but the NOISE IS HORRENDOUS.
I guess I'll just resign myself to it and always wear my earplugs, while the "touring screen" is on the bike.

[cswett]

Trout, does your collection include an Aeroflow screen? If so, what do you think? I can live with it altering the naked bike look if it offers better wind protection and noise reduction.

[qgaex]

Hi Larry

From my experience it really seems to be a three way optimization problem between protection, noise and buffeting.
I run my R in three ways:

1) Naked in hot Summer. Quiet. No buffeting. No protection. Great in the twisties but somewhat tiring on tour.

2) With the BMW touring screen most of the time. Some protection. Quite some noise. No buffeting.

3) With the GIVI screen in Winter. Good protection.Not very much noise. But some strange buffeting occasionally pushing my head.

The alternative of a screen so high that I would look through the screen is not acceptable to me. I want to see the road.
So I have accepted that nobody (here on earth ) is perfect. So I swap.

So you might also end up swapping screens which at least is very easy on this bike.

Cheers

qgaex
+mostlyshielded+

[Rrider]

I have a Laminar Lip on my 20" ZTechnik Vstream windshield. It really does help with the buffeting, but wind noise hasn't changed. That's not so much an issue because I'm used to wearing ear plugs. Even though the Lip is not very attractive, it makes enough difference to keep it on.

[MrPMS]

Has anyone else tried the Givi screen? I saw one at the MOA Rally and thought it was one of the best looking of all the options. I'm 5-8, 29" inseam, and ride with a "tall" seat.

[Trout]

Trout, does your collection include an Aeroflow screen? If so, what do you think? I can live with it altering the naked bike look if it offers better wind protection and noise reduction.

I do have an Aeroflow in my collection, although they do not currently make a shield for the R1200R.

The Aeroflow is probably my favorite. It's not perfect, but as qgaex mentioned, everything is a compromise. The Aeroflow does a great job of wind protection and noise reduction. It's a little warm on the 90+ degree days, but a majority of my riding is not on the hot days.

In May of this year, I did a 2300 mile trip just after I bought the Aeroflow. Two weeks ago, I rode 1400 miles in 3 days with my chopped off stock shield. Comparing the two, the chopped shield was cooler on the hot July days, and my helmet was in fairly clean air, but I noticed a lot of upper body muscle fatigue by the time I got home. I can ride almost endlessly with the Aeroflow and not get tired from the wind pressure.

Again, it's all a compromise and what works for one guy won't necessarily work for another. We all have different definitions of excessive wind noise, pain, comfort, buffeting, etc. We all present a different aerodynamic profile based on size, weight, jacket style, helmet, etc. In my experience, you usually have to try several solutions before determining your own "best compromise."

[Shortpower]

After viewing all the posts on R1200R windshields, I have come to a conclusion: (1) Use the sport shield (which is the best looking shield anyway) and stay below steady speeds of 70 mph. (2) Get an RT. Apparently, nothing else works.

[AmostThere]

After viewing all the posts on R1200R windshields, I have come to a conclusion: (1) Use the sport shield (which is the best looking shield anyway) and stay below steady speeds of 70 mph. (2) Get an RT. Apparently, nothing else works.

That was my idea but where I ride it is impossible to stay below 70mph and that means hang on with everything you've got when running the sport screen.

[tvlawyer]

I lopped 1.5 inches from my Cee Bailey 16". I was initially inclined to go only one inch. But I surmise that getting rid of the "flip" is a good idea. So, I went another .5 inch. We'll see what the results are this weekend.

[celticus]

Has anyone else tried the Givi screen? I saw one at the MOA Rally and thought it was one of the best looking of all the options. I'm 5-8, 29" inseam, and ride with a "tall" seat.

I've got the Givi screen and use it for longer trips in the winter. In the summer I use the Sport screen. I have no problem hanging on above 70 using that screen and it is the most visually pleasing to me. The Givi screen works OK but has like most of the rest talked about here turbulence to the helmet at speed.
I'll stick with the Sport Screen untill I can afford a Wudo "S" c@ckpit.

Mark

[qgaex]

Has anyone else tried the Givi screen? I saw one at the MOA Rally and thought it was one of the best looking of all the options. I'm 5-8, 29" inseam, and ride with a "tall" seat.

You can see the GIVI screen on my bike in the calendar thread. (August image)
It certainly looks very good on the R.
Everything else as in my post above.

Cheers

qgaex
+screenswapper+