Parabellum Sport Windshield - First Impressions

[Motorcycle_Girl]

I give you guys credit for trying to find the perfect windshield...I am another rider that is in the no windshield crowd. I do have the little sport screen that my bike came with. Great for keeping the bugs off the instrument cluster. I plan to take it off this summer and see if there is any difference at highway speeds...

I ride long distances (two week long trip planned for this August as well as several weekend jaunts) My shortest rides tend to be at least 200 km...and have never had an issue not having a windscreen. (I guess it is just what you get used to) I am also quite short in the torso so I do not sit very high in the saddle which might also make a difference. I do tend to drive on secondary highways far more often than the main highway systems. If you saw the volume of traffic on the highways in my neck of the woods you would quickly understand why...

[craigleo]

I am a 'naked bike' motorcyclist. Shoe helmets are designed utilizing a wind tunnel. BMW motorcycles are also designed using a wind tunnel. Compared to 30 years ago, motorcycles slice through the air much better than they used to. For me the wind is part of the fun.
My personal preference aside, when you start to refigure a situation which has already been designed for the optimum wind resistence with a windscreen/fairing, you are going to develop some other wind related issue such as vibrations, wind coming from a weird direction, stale hot air behind the glass etc.
I usually ride until I get tired. Then I stop and either eat, nap,...eat.....nap...
well anyway after that I ride again if I have more time to do so.
Leo

[AncientMariner]

The 22" Cee Baily's windshield, mounted with the maximum available rake is working just great for me. As already pondered, I, too, suspect that part of the relief is from the extra air coming in at the bottom, ala the K75 factory shield, and part is from the angle of incidence. I believe the additional tilt it is helping to maintain the laminar flow until it gets past my head. Don't get me wrong, I still hear wind when I go fast, but I no longer need earplugs and I mostly ride with my Arai face shield in the upright stored position for takeoff.

I found the maximum available adjustment could be obtained by raising the front mounting bracket 7/8" using the now widely renowned aluminum Ferguson Block (for details and pix, search Ancient Mariner and windshield bracket). Since then one of the Don's has made available here on this site, a block made from nylon which is way more elegant and apparently works as well. I think he is asking for $20 and that includes the longer mounting bolts. You can't go wrong with that.

My stats are 5'8" tall with a 29" inseam. This works out that, sitting, I'm the same height as someone 5' 10" tall. I have the factory low comfort seat ( thank dog!). Although I am quite happy with my 22" windshield, I would love to try a 20" or even 18" for the summer. Love the idea but won't spend the money right now.

Hope this helps. See you in the wind!

Bruce

[redwing]

I got one form Don C and it came with bolts packaged like a GPS. Lost my torx wrench but having bought another... I'll be putting it on soon.
Hope it all works well for you jess.

Robert

[deilenberger]

The 22" Cee Baily's windshield, mounted with the maximum available rake is working just great for me.

Snippage

Don't get me wrong, I still hear wind when I go fast, but I no longer need earplugs and I mostly ride with my Arai face shield in the upright stored position for takeoff.

Snippage

My stats are 5'8" tall with a 29" inseam. This works out that, sitting, I'm the same height as someone 5' 8" tall. I have the factory low comfort seat ( thank dog!). Although I am quite happy with my 22" windshield, I would love to try a 20" or even 18" for the summer. Love the idea but won't spend the money right now.

Hope this helps. See you in the wind!
Bruce

Bruce,

Wish you hadn't said that.

Last night I was playing around coming home (had another R12R forum member coming by to go out to dinner - Cy Young from VT.. and we were going to be discussing windshields..)

I noted that at nice backroads speeds, I could eliminate almost ALL wind-noise (turbulence has been gone since I tipped my screen back), by ducking down 1" in my seat. Not huge, but noticeable noise level difference (and I like to ride with my faceshield in the "City" position - Shuberth C2.) I'm 5'7" with a 27" inseam (on a tall day.) And I have a low seat. So.. my head is likely very close to where your head is on the bike.

When I bought my Cee-Bailey collection, they didn't offer a 22" screen. I have a 16", 18" and 20".. right now the 20" is on. Meaning - the 22" would likely be nice and quiet. The 16" is nice and quiet, but in a different way - it lets lots of undisturbed air get to my helmet.. and it's nice in hot weather.

So - anyone have a 22" Cee-Bailey they wanna trade for an CB 18"? Or just sell outright?

BTW - dinner with Cy was good... his farkling of his R1200R is coming along quite nicely.. it got another farkle last night actually..

BTW-II - anyone besides Bill Webster gonna be at Square Route Rally this weekend? The weather forecast is actually improving! (It ALWAYS rains at SR..)

[jess]

My stats are 5'8" tall with a 29" inseam. This works out that, sitting, I'm the same height as someone 5' 8" tall. I have the factory low comfort seat ( thank dog!). Although I am quite happy with my 22" windshield, I would love to try a 20" or even 18" for the summer. Love the idea but won't spend the money right now.

It sounds like we're actually about the same size -- 5'8" and 29" inseam, and on a low seat. I'm hopeful that the riser block will make my 20" CeeBaileys tolerable, but it sounds like (from your stats and description) that there's hope in the 22" even if the 20" is still noisy.

I'll know by tomorrow, I think. My McMaster package didn't show up yesterday, so I'm hoping it'll be here today.