BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

OK, I know it has been brought up before, but I still haven't figured out from the previous messages which windshield do I buy to give me the most protection and least amount of wind buffeting (2003 R1150R)?

well, a big ugly barn door gives the MOST protection...but your roadster will hate you. Seriously though this is a highly individual thing, but the calsci website has some pretty good info about what shield height/size to choose.
Since I live in GA where it's hot and humid most of the time I like a short screen that just takes pressure off my chest so i'm not hanging on too hard at interstate speeds, and I get full slipstream on helmet unless I tuck down toward the tank. Up north there you may want a taller one so you don't freeze to death but I don't have much experience with the taller touring screens.

combustor777 wrote:well, a big ugly barn door gives the MOST protection...but your roadster will hate you. Seriously though this is a highly individual thing, but the calsci website has some pretty good info about what shield height/size to choose.
Since I live in GA where it's hot and humid most of the time I like a short screen that just takes pressure off my chest so i'm not hanging on too hard at interstate speeds, and I get full slipstream on helmet unless I tuck down toward the tank. Up north there you may want a taller one so you don't freeze to death but I don't have much experience with the taller touring screens.

How do you deal with all the drag and buffeting ? I have the touring screen on there now because the with Sport screen the air hits me right in the chest. My usual commute is about 20 miles so the fatigue is not too great, but I'd hate to go any distance like that. You also get zero rain protection from those short shields. Where I live, getting rained on is fairly likely 9 months out of the year so that's an issue with me.
The touring screen has some buffeting too, but I much prefer that to having the air hit me in the chest and push up under my helmet.

Well I used to have no shield at all, and that was OK except for rain which I get soaked. High speed interstate travel was tiring after a while too. So I have one of the BMW screens on there (not sure which one, maybe 380mm?) and the wind hits about the middle of my face shield. As long as its not a torrential downpour I stay dry except for hands/arms/shins (helmet gets wet but it just blows right off). The BMW screen has very little buffeting to me, but I havent tried anything else besides totally naked. It still provides adequate airflow for high temps.

combustor777 wrote:Well I used to have no shield at all, and that was OK except for rain which I get soaked. High speed interstate travel was tiring after a while too. So I have one of the BMW screens on there (not sure which one, maybe 380mm?) and the wind hits about the middle of my face shield. As long as its not a torrential downpour I stay dry except for hands/arms/shins (helmet gets wet but it just blows right off). The BMW screen has very little buffeting to me, but I havent tried anything else besides totally naked. It still provides adequate airflow for high temps.

Ok, I understand the need for airflow in those hot climates. My situation is somewhat different, but Easterm WA gets extremely hot so I have experienced the "hot behind the windshield" problem. In spite of that I can't see taking the fatigue and bug hits like you certainly have to with small screens or none at all.
I ride in the rain all the time. I go to work in it, I come home in it. I won't get wet because all my gear is water proof, but riding at highway speeds with no windshield ? Can't see it. I believe I would rather wear one of those Bohn armor mesh things and keep my windshield than just hang out in the airflow.

Airman wrote:Ok, I understand the need for airflow in those hot climates. My situation is somewhat different, but Easterm WA gets extremely hot so I have experienced the "hot behind the windshield" problem. In spite of that I can't see taking the fatigue and bug hits like you certainly have to with small screens or none at all.
I ride in the rain all the time. I go to work in it, I come home in it. I won't get wet because all my gear is water proof, but riding at highway speeds with no windshield ? Can't see it. I believe I would rather wear one of those Bohn armor mesh things and keep my windshield than just hang out in the airflow.

Bug hits? The only ones I notice about are the once that manage to hit me in the neck between my helmet and the top of my jacket. Ouch.

I did not like the look of the touring screen. I realized this when I had it on the R and I did not want anyone to see me. Sooooo, back to the tinted sport screen. Then, before a long touring ride, I installed the Laminar Lip - it does well to throw the airstream up, just enough. Then I added the Aeroflow Tank Wings. Another good improvement. Now I'm both sporty, and toury (word?) at the same time.

Go with the Cee Bailey's 14 inch windscreen. I'm 5' 11 and this windshield is the best I've owned for this bike. It's way less buffeting than the BMW touring screen I had on before. It ships with the BMW mounting bracket set (in case you didn't have it before), so you can always get a backup BMW touring screen later. The Bailey's screen comes in several colors (I have the dark gray for my black R1150R) and really looks great on the bike. Yeah, I may get a few more bug hits with this screen, but that incessant buffeting is gone and I'm much less beat up after a long ride.

The windshield thing is so subjective. It depends on your size, riding position, riding speed, and aerodynamic preferences. Also, because of the cost, and different mounting brackets that are a pain to install, it is almost impossible to do direct, A-to-B comparisons.

I have tried the BMW fly screen, BMW touring screen (with and without the Laminar Lip), and MRA Vario screen. The fly screen is the best looking but does not offer much protection. The MRA screen looks good, too, but the wind flow was not right for me. I am currently using the touring screen, without the lip. I did not notice any difference with the lip.

I am 6' with a 33" inseam and I have been using the Aeroflow Screen. It is the most costly option but I have been very satisfied with the money spent. See www.aeroflowscreens.com

klrstix is absolutely correct.

klrstix wrote:I am 6' with a 33" inseam and I have been using the Aeroflow Screen. It is the most costly option but I have been very satisfied with the money spent. See http://www.aeroflowscreens.com

There is only one windshield on the market that I know of and it is an AEROFLOW.
The rest of the toys are just windscreens.

Good Luck.

rdsmith3 wrote:The windshield thing is so subjective. It depends on your size, riding position, riding speed, and aerodynamic preferences. Also, because of the cost, and different mounting brackets that are a pain to install, it is almost impossible to do direct, A-to-B comparisons.

+1.

I started out with a touring screen and it blocked way too much air for me. I ended up with a sport screen that seems to be a nice balance for the kind of riding that I do.

We need pics people. I will dig up some of mine. I would like to see one of the Cee Bailey's 14".

My $0.02.
I started with the touring screen. It was OK, but the one mount always came loose, and there was a good deal of buffeting. I switched to the sport shield, and really liked it. I did several days of around 800 miles on the Interstate, and everything was fine. Just a little buffeting. Then I switched to the best looking shield, the BMW flyscreen. It takes the wind off of my chest, and provides enough protection for me. I have done several 500 mile days with absolutely no buffeting.

Getting wet is completely dependent upon your rain gear.

IMHO, The Aeroflow is hideous to look at, and I would suggest getting a RT before getting the Aeroflow.

I agree with Biffs R, it's a naked bike, go with the fly screen if anything, and wear a well sealed 'Stich. I really regret selling the one I had. I have wasted lots of money trying to find a screen that will create the ever elusive pocket of still air. I have only gotten my teeth rattled and my head painfully shook by the sport screen with and without a laminar lip and saeng edging. Recently had a Cee Bailey (see link) http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww16 ... before.jpg
with the laminar lip. I am 6'1" and this setup puts the air right at the top of my helmet. But the damn screen is right in my face and even though it's well built and uses the OEM mounts, shakes like hell in a cross wind. It is now off the bike while I am replacing the slave cylinder and has been added to the growing pile of failed wind screens in my garage.

I agree with Jeff about the look of the Aeroflow too. I have never tried the flyscreen but would like to buy one if I could buy one used. Right now I have a Parabellum Super Tour medium cut down by my Dremmel. It looks better than it did and works better as well.

I was completely in agreement with Biff's R on the look of the Aeroflow Screen at first. I was put off a little because of the looks. My instinct went with function over form and I am really glad I did. What I did not expect was the compliments I got over the years on the looks of the screen. Only proves beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.

In the end which screen you go with is determined by what the user experience preferences are. I wanted more wind protection (as someone referenced earlier "RT" type of protection...) while others are completely happy with no screen at all. So let you instincts guide you in this decision...

My experience was different I guess. I did not want a barn door, but I figured out the BMW touring screen was a bit too high and sloped back toward me too much. I went with a 14 " Cee Bailey with 10 mm spacers on the top mounts to move it forward. The Aeroflow/Parabellum look to me to face a bit more forward than the BMW. Like seats, I really think the bike mfgs. design screens to fit the lines of the bike. My old eighties standard bikes had screens that worked for just about everybody, but they were farther away from the rider and pretty much stood straight up.

I keep reading posts referencing a "fly screen". Is that the same as the BMW Sport Screen? BMW's accessories website lists, for the R1150R, the "Speedster", "Sport", "Touring" and "High Windshield 380mm" screens; I don't see anything labled "flyscreen".

I went with a 14 " Cee Bailey with 10 mm spacers on the top mounts to move it forward.

So did you just put the spacers between the windshield and the mounting bracket?
Where did you get 10mm spacers?
Also, do you have to loosen the screws on the lower mounts to accommodate the change of angle? Otherwise, aren't you stressing the lower screws and mounts or the screen by bending it back at a different angle?