I am bored with my Strom's poor wind deflection. It is a K3 model, the type with a non-adjustable screen. I have so far looked at the madstad system, Givi tall screen, suzuki tall screen, Rifle screens, MP cycle shields, the windstrom manta and more.... But they all look like crap (just being honest) and I have no confidence in them without having tried them. Also it is only during high speeds that I have the noise/buffeting problem, and I get the impression that some reviewers are just pottering around the village, not mentioning different speeds in their reviews at all.

I'm still in the dark. So far, the windstrom sounds great for my model bike from a practical perspective, but it really looks like it was made for a completely different bike, the way it 'tacks on' to the frame - horseshit design in terms of looks, and my bike is kind of ugly but noble at the moment, not completely hideous.

One other point to mention. Living in a city where people steal EVERYTHING that isn't nailed down (London), I don't want to put in place any adjustable system, madstad et al, but rather a fixed, higher screen. It will draw less attention to itself, and maybe last a few more months before some crack heads nick it and put it on ebay.

Please, fellow travellers, can we share experiences about these screens? In ridiculously geeky detail? There are so many half baked comparisons out there - but people on this site are the ones doing the serious miles! What do you like/dislike? Can you compare more than one screen, having used two, or several?

Many many thanks in advance..... Got a ride to barcelona coming up soon so need to buy something.
A

I have played around with the screen on my bike quite a bit ,admittedly it's a K5 and not the same as yours ,but the principle is the same .

Part of the problem is that the screen is a long way forward of the rider and too upright .
As the bike moves forward the air is pushed aside and a partial vacuum is created behind the screen .Air then spills around the sides and top of the screen and creates the turbulence [buffeting ].

If you lay the screen back towards you ,you can then a] fill part of the vacuum with your body and b] direct the wind over your head .

I managed to do this on my bike with a longer screen [Givi - but I don't think it matters which brand you use ] and a stack of washers on longer mounting bolts .I have since added a Madstad bracket but all it achieves is easier adjustment and is a bit of a failure in so much as it vibrates quite a bit when you take the bike over 100mph .

I reckon that I look over the top of the screen by about two inches and I can ride with my visor up quite comfortably .
I like to cruise at about 80 mph when road conditions allow and there is virtually no buffeting .

Although it does piss me off a bit ,I will keep the Madstad ,only because at slow speeds on bad terrain ,I can quickly adjust the screen out of the way to give me a better view of the trail upclose .
But I've got to stop the vibes at high speed ,maybe a chunk of rubber or a spring wedged in somewhere ?

I'm not sure what is available commercially for your bike ,but if you can fabricate a bracket or be a bit creative with the screen mounting you should be able to achieve the same result ,maybe a windscreen shop can fab up a longer lexan screen for you ,if it's too long you can saw it down to a suitable length .

I haven't bothered with any of those laminar lip contraptions ,because they look so bloody awful and won't be easy to see through when the screen gets dirty ,they might work but I doubt it .

I can't see that the Windstrom would work any better than any other long screen ,it's wider at the base but I can't see the advantage in that ,you need the width all the way up AND THEN when you lay the screen back ,your handle bars/mirrors would foul a wide screen .

__________________
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"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Hey Get,

There are many solutions out there. I'm partial to the stock screen, Mad Stad and a Laminar Lip. The Lip is great as you can take it off (it's held on by a velcro like attachment system, the ones from 3M are quick).

You can take the Lip off when leaving your bike on the street or more importantly when riding off highway and you want to see in front of you, in particular if you are up on the pegs.

It's a matter of personal preference though. Good luck with your search.

Hi both, and thanks for the input. Yes, there are many solutions out there, but as we've already found, some of them are not so good. Take the madstadd issue - it bounces around when you go over 80mph, and one reviewer said it should be made of thicker steel to counter this problem. I know each rider has his 'own way' and there are different solutions to any problem. But at this point I'm just after real Strommie owners' reviews of their own tall screens - particularly whether they work at 80mph - 100mph, or over.

I'm 6'2", or 187cm, so I'm not Andre the giant, but pretty tall. The stock shield doesn't so much create proper turbulence, but just isn't tall enough. The wind hits me square in the face. I do understand your comments about the way turbulence is created, though - this may be the case when I do put a taller shield on, and I will make sure that a small amount of wind can get in at the bottom to release this vaccum pressure, if this is the case.

washers and longer bolts - noted.
laminar lip - noted. I think, however, that because the stock screen is so much shorter than what i need, adding a lip would not be enough.

The windstrom is a bit taller than the givis I've looked at, by the way. Am I wrong? Ideally I want something that works as well as the windstrom but looks and fits better for the bike... Too tall an order, so to speak?

A

any experience with california scientific?

Suzuki VStrom DL650 / DL1000 Windshields

Never mind. California Scientific say they don't make one for the K3, only 2004+ models. A little silly, if you ask me.

This is turning into a one-man conversation. Any more opinions please?

OK, well, thanks anyway

Eagle Screens Perth Australia. I have just purchased and tested one of these touring screens on a K8 DL1000. Best result I have seen so far. I am 6'1" and was nearly getting used to the standard buffeting but this screen has made a big difference for me at least. Can now cruise at 140k plus with my visor up on a Nolan N102 without any disturbance at all!!

I have mates who have tried different Madstad or laminar lip solutions with mixed results. At least worth checking out their website.
Eagle Screens Australia - Motorcycle Screens

cheers

Ausvstrom

Thanks Ausvstrom - do you have a link to a photo of your screen? Eagle screens has a good list of screens on the site but no photos... How much did you pay, while we're at it?
Ta,
Alex

Hi Alex

No photo yet. Payed about AUS $200 delivered from Perth to Canberra. If you email them they send a link to numerous photos. I opted for what they call the large touring.

cheers

pm

Hello Alex:


I rode my recently purchased K6 1000 from Georgia to Alabama with a stock windshield, GIVI trunk and a small (Joe Rocket) tank bag. It was January of this year and I was freezing my ass off!!!! Also the bike was buffeting so bad I was scared that I was going to be smacked down any moment by a car or truck. I almost turned around and went back to Georgia. In Alabama I found a Suzuki store that had a tall GIVI windshield for $100. I changed windshields and then continued to New Orleans. Less cold wind but the same or worse buffeting. There was freezing rain in New Orleans so I put my tank bag in my trunk. WOW!!! No more buffeting, or at least much less at less than 65mph. I could not explain it, however for some reason the tank bag changed all of the aero dynamics, and caused the bad buffeting!!

Continuing south, through Mexico, and Central America. In the mountains of Costa Rica I encountered fog and drizzle. The tall Givi windshield fogged up and would not clear. It was too tall to see over so I ended up riding blind for the whole day using the yellow lines on the side of the road to navigate. Very scary!!!!

In Medellin, Colombia at the Suzuki Super Store, they had some metal brackets that attach to the front of the bike and the windshield. I think they were about $100. These brackets allowed the windshield to be tilted at any angel and raised up and down. After trying many positions, I now have the stock windshield back on the bike and tilted at an angle of about 15 degrees back from the original position. This produces the least amount of buffeting at higher speeds. Up to about 80mph, everything is good. At speeds from 80 to 90 it is manageable. Over 90, well lets not go there. I do get a constant stream of wind from my shoulders up.

I have also noticed that different helmets cause different wind effects. I am in Cartagena, Colombia and it is always humid. I have an open faced helmet from HJC that resembles something from NASA. A little weird looking, however very visible. I use this helmet around town. It gets a lot of buffeting at speeds over 45. My full face HJC is very smooth and is much more comfortable at higher speeds; however I get very hot and sweaty.

In Panama I was robbed and the little brown devils got my tank bag. I found it very handy while driving in town. I never figured out why it was causing so much wind disturbance. I talked to a lot of other riders and no one else reported the same problem. One of life’s mysteries.

When I ride with no trunk, no bags or luggage the bike responds the best. Handles well and is a pleasure. As soon I start adding volume/weight every thing changes.

I may end up heading south to Argentina some day, perhaps in March. I think when I get into cold weather the tall windshield will be very important. I am not really sure how I am going to bring it with me but when I need it I will be very happy to have it!!!

My bike is at the Suzuki shop. When I go back, I will take some photos of the brackets for you.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions please feel free to email or pm me.

Martin

National Cycle V-Stream Windshield - 2004+ V-Strom: Adventure MotoStuff LLC

LOVE this shield. Great wind / rain protection.

Only down side is if i sit normally the top edge of the shield is right in my sight line. Adjust to full upright to look over screen in demanding driving and slouch to look below top in normal driving. Either riding position you are protected from wind. The wind / rain really shoots up and over.

I had an '02. I tried several screens. I used to hang out on one of the big Vstrom boards and I can tell you screens are subjective and what works for one may not work for the other. Trial and Error is about the best way.

I tried Stock (I cut mine down and only used in very hot weather in Summer), Givi (no good), Stock with Laminar Lip (better but no Cigar), Cee Baily. BINGO! I did about 50,000 miles with a Cee Baily. Fantastic for me, but I'm only 5'7". Other big guys rode my bike and liked it. It's quiet in most situations for me.

Cee Baily make various heights, for you, get the tall one. Good luck.