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

Well, RD...

I agree with you on just about every point.

Style is subjective. I like the new screen... A bunch... And I think the old Touring Screen is, well... You know.

(and I mean that in the most humorous way... )

I like the flyscreen, too, which is why I have one. I also have a Bikescreens NZ screen, which mounts to the flyscreen mounts, but flexed and vibrated about too much for me... However, it had literally no distortion, too, which was a point you didn't comment on.

I, too, simply would not be able to tolerate an AirFlow screen...

To me (and this is strictly my personal opinion), if the "old" BMW Touring Screen is a

The AirFlow screen is a



Regardless of how wonderfully it functions. I'd most definitely get an RT before resorting to one of those, despite the cost!

Granted, none of them are cheap. As for this "new" screen, it is certainly not a 15 minute snap job to mount, but I like it so much I have no intention of taking it off, so that's no longer an issue.

I'm glad you like the Touring Screen, and I wish you many, many enjoyable miles with it.

Cheers!

Dallara

Thanks Dallara!

I thought the little piece in the middle was part of the mount, but I just wanted to be sure.

Biff

Just checked the pictures and have to say that is quite neat. I liked the fly screen but found on trips it was not enough. Now I have a larger ugly one fitted but like the look of that one.

Hey Dallara,

How do you feel about the Parabellum Scout screen?

http://www.parabellum.com/stores/showde ... 35&CatID=1

Hey, Jugs...

I was greatly interested in Parabellum's products, and last year exchanged quite a bit of e-mail with them discussing their various screens...

But one problem kept rearing its ugly head...

Their screens depend on the stock OEM bar clamp bolts for mounting...

With the configuration of the "Ricky" bars, and how Ricardo's bar clamps hide the stock OEM bar clamp bolt locations, there was no way to make any of Parabellum's stuff work. Even the folks at Parabellum agreed with that.

I didn't want to give up my "Ricky" bars, as they had cured my wrist pain and hand numbness, nor did I want to start machining away any of his beautiful workmanship in his clamps to take a chance I sould somehow make a Parabellum work...

Parabellum makes what looks like real quality stuff, and ol' Charly Perethian really knows his stuff. I used some of his "Rifle" shields years ago and was nothing but happy with 'em. They had great shop and customer support back in those days, too (though I don't know aboout now...), and we sold a lot of their product in my shop. Never any problems with it, at all, and they were alway happy to answer a phone call...

Cheers!

Dallara

Dallara,

Are you still liking this new windscreen after several weeks of riding time?

I'm seriously considering this unit for my '04 50R. I'd like to do a long trip (long for me anyway) before the summer passes and i really don't think I'd like (the inevitable) rain riding without a screen.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Dallara,
That looks like a really cool windshield...perfectly suited for the R aesthetics-wise. I'm almost as tall as you are (5'7"). I might just get one very soon.....or should I get the crashguards. Darn! Choices...choices.

Thanks for the writeup though.

-Promethean

Dallara wrote:That's the thing I like about it the most, Scotty...

The airflow is smmoth, smooth, smooth... I get no buffeting with this screen at all, whereas I even got helmet buffeting with my flyscreen (very little, but more than with this screen).

On the height note... I am short, at 5'8", but I am rather long torso-ed, having only a 29-30" inseam. I look *WELL* over this new screen, and the airflow off of it, as I mentioned, hits right about the height of my face shield when riding...

Now, one would think that if the windblast off a shield hit you right in the face shield, it would not be good, but again, the airflow is so smooth and controlled it is not an issue.

I just had a sudden idea how to perhaps tilt the screen a bit more upright, without bending the mounts... I'm about to head home, and maybe I can try it tonight...

Cheers!

Dallara

Hi, Dallara:

I have the Ricky bars too and I ordered a Parabellum Scout fairing/screen after talking to Genna of GadgetGuy (http://www.gadgetguy.net). His "real" business is making GPS mounts but as he is very creative with metal fabrication I asked his opinion, and he thought it would not be difficult to concoct a means of mounting the Scout hardware with the Ricky bars in place. Actually Ricardo ("Ricky") Kuhn had told me the same thing but he is apparently taking a few weeks off so was not available to rig something right now.

Of course, I am now getting into experimental territory, so you may read a sad posting from me in a month or so about how I have to sell my unusable Scout at a loss! Ah, the lengths we riders will go to.... Your new screen looks great too. Just thought what I'm doing might be of interest, since you mentioned the Scout. I actually posted a thread about it a few weeks ago but did not get a response. I will let you guys know how this experiment turns out.

Regards,

Elizabeth

Nice looking screen! I go back and forth between the sport and fly screen for winter and summer. If I didn't have so much invested, I might try that.

I have wanted to try the Ricky bars since I read about him on advrider.com but don't want to give up the heated handgrips. I get the numbness in the hands also.

To answer some questions and points about the windscreen (and "Ricky" bars)...

For wncbmw, who said:

I have wanted to try the Ricky bars since I read about him on advrider.com but don't want to give up the heated handgrips.

You don't have to "give up" your heated handgrips with "Ricky" bars. I have 'em on mine. That's one of the reasons the "Ricky" bars are pretty pricey. Ricardo Kuhn machines inserts to go in the ends of the tapered aluminum bars that allow you to snake the heated grip wires through the new bars and hook up your heated grips. It's all covered in the instructions. BTW, I cannot describe how beautiful and well-machined all of Ricardo's work is. He is a gifted craftsman.


For markfly, who asked:

Are you still liking this new windscreen after several weeks of riding time?

I love it. It has become a permanent fixture on R1150R. I thought I might be switching back and forth with the flyscreen, but I actually like the looks of the new screen so much, and it works so well, that now after nearly 1,500 miles on the new screen I can't think of a reason why I would switch back. One of the things I like the best about the new screen is its absolutely rigidity. It is rock-solid at all speeds, and never even quivers. It is also mega-stable in crosswinds. Where I live windy conditions are the norm, and we are always riding in headwinds, tailwinds, sidewinds, etc. Teh Bikescreens NZ screen I had (about the size of this new screen, but mounted to the flyscreen mounts, and was raked further back) was quite weird in strong quartering crosswinds, mainly because it flexed so much on the mounts. You could actually see it bend and twist in crosswinds, and often it would give a strange sensation through the bars and drift you where you had to correct your path... Very disconcerting.

If anything, the bike is now more stable in crosswinds...

Another interesting thing I discovered with the new screen after I put on my PIAA driving lights next ot the headlamp... They are just under the lower lip of the screen, and when they are on at night they make the entire outside edge of the screen gloq with a blue light! I know it sounds like it would be distracting, but it's not. It's very, very subtle, and to me actually looks quite cool. A buddy who rides with me a lot says you can even see it from a distance, which means that cagers can probably see it, too, which might even be an interesting safety feature. However, the edge doesn't do that glowing with just the headlamp on...

Hope this helps!

Dallara

Dallara - thanks for the info on the Ricky bars. I thought from threads on Advrider that the heated grips lost a lot of heating ability with his bars.

Great, another item to add to the wish list!

For Wncbmw...

I haven't noticed any loss of heating ability with the aluminum bars vs. the stock steel bars, though from a metallurgy standpoint that would make sense. Then again, here in South Texas I use my heated grips about six times a year, and for some reason my hands have never been that sensitive to cold (though my friggin' feet are... ). Perhaps there is some loss as the advrider guys have said... Ricardo is a straight-shooter so I would ask him about it.

The aluminum bars he uses are anodized, which may have a bit to do with why the heat-dissipating abilities are not as good as bare aluminum (hence, allow the heated grips to work "Ricky" bars to good effect), but I doubt that...

If you did get the "Ricky" bars and noticed a loss in grip heating efficiency I can think of a couple of quick, easy ways to restore that heating efficiency so it be a problem for you. Let me know if you want to hear about those.

Hope this helps!

Dallara

When I find some extra $$ laying around, I give them a try!

I ride year round in the mountains here, so the heated grips have been wonderful!

Funny, my feet have never got cold on an airhead or oilhead either.

Will the new windscreen work with GS type handguards?

PICBMW asked:

Will the new windscreen work with GS type handguards?

I don't see why not. The new windscreen doesn't come anywhere close to where GS guards are placed. Take a look at the links to the pics earlier in the thread and see if you think it might. If so, ifre me off any questions and I will take measurements, etc. to help you out.

Cheers!

Dallara

Dallara

Have you used the sportshield? If so, your opinion about both, please.

NEW vs Sport

Thanks for the information on the GS handguards.

Larry

I was thinking of getting a windshield and rag top for my bike.

Dallara,

I like that new screen. It looks great on the bike. That is what I was looking for when I bought my Vario. It has a similar shape to the Vario but it is one piece and CLEAR. I am very happy with the Vario but aesthetically I was really hoping to find a clear version. They don't make one. Thanks for sharing the photos.

NCRoaster

For PICBMW...

You asked:

Have you used the sportshield? If so, your opinion about both, please.

NEW vs Sport

No, I have not used the BMW "Sport" shield... Only the BMW "Flyscreen" and a Bikescreens NZ shield that mounted to those flyscreen mounts. I have also ridden an R with Parabellum shield...

So I cannot really help you with a direct comparison.

I do *LOVE* this "new" shield though, more and more each day I ride with it, and it has found a permanent place on my Roadster. I think it even looks better with this shiled on than the bike does stock or with the flyscreen, but of course, that is a personal taste issue... YMMV.

Cheers!

Dallara

This screen is an absolute pain the ass to mount! Be patient and get a third hand if available...which I didn't have.

I sure hope I like it.

Dallara wrote: For those of you unfamiliar with this "new" windscreen, it was shown at Intermot last year, and was posted about on the "old" http://www.r1150r.net board (ezboard). Here's a link to a picture:

http://www.bobsbmw.com/parts_accessorie ... ields.html

(scroll about 3/4's down the page, and look for "High Windshield 380mm for R1150R")

How's it work?

Well, as with most things, it has both it's good points and not-so-good points...

1.) Appearance - I think it actually looks great mounted. Evokes memories of 1950's road racers to me, and looks smaller on the bike than you think it will when you first take it out of the box. Very similar to the Bikescreens NZ screen that mounts on the BMW flyscreen mounts, but not raked quite so far back. You will have to decide for yourself if you like the looks of the bracing uprights or not. I do.

2.) Mounting - A royal pain. Makes mounting the flyscreen easy by comparison. You have to disasemble about half the front end of the motorcycle to mount it properly. However, the trade-off for this is the shield is wonderfully rigid in use, and does not move in any way no matter what the sidewind or speed. Bracket did line up perfectly, just like most BMW-made accessories. Took me about an hour to pull my flyscreen and mount this one, working carefully and methodically. One great thing is it does *NOT* use the usual BMW expanding rubber grommets to mount the shield. No sir... Hole in the shield take captured *BIG* rubber grommets, internally threaded posts welded to the bracketry come through these grommets, and large dished washers go over the grommets on the outside and big screws thread in on top holding it all together. No more windscreen popping out of the mounts!