The wind issue

[notoriouskeef]

Ok,  I wasn't planning on keeping the windshield on the bike when I got it so I ripped it off.  I like the looks better.  But my buddy said he had to take his windshiled off on his katana for some repairs and he couldn't beleive the wind difference on the interstate, he couldn't stand it.  He said I would be insane to drive on the interstate w/out a windhsield.

How bad is it?  Like some views from people w/  and w/out the windshield.

I got a fullface helmet.

Matt

[yamahonkawazuki]

if you are goin interstatin', or general, semi-high speed ridin, keep the shade on. the wind will beat the crap out of you at speed. ive got one coming., seriously, use it. you'll appreciate it. better yet go for a decent length ride. around 50 or so miles, without it. on the interstate. and you'll see what im talkin' about :dunno:

[notoriouskeef]

well I'll be making a LOT of 350 mile trips this summer, thats one way.  

Just curious,
Matt

[Kerry]

If you will be making THAT many trips, I suggest that you try it both ways - with and without the shield.  (I predict that you will prefer doing long rides WITH the shield, but why take MY word for it?  Find out for yourself!)

I did a 3,800-mile round trip without a shield, but only because the mounting hardware didn't arrive in time.  I got to know my tank bag really well, because I would lay down flat when I hit a straight stretch of road and watch the miles slide past (out of the corner of my eye) at an indicated 80-90 mph.  I got some humdinger cricks in my neck as a result.

When I sat upright when doing 70+ (with no wind) the buffeting got pretty tiring.  When fighting a headwind it got old REAL fast.  But with a brisk tailwind it wasn't bad at all!

A lot depends on the size and design of the shield itself.  The only one I have experience with is a National Cycle Plexistar II, which most folks find unacceptably large (as far as looks).  All I know is that on my first test ride with the shield I felt almost like I was being pushed forward at high speeds because the familiar chest blast was GONE ... non-existent.  In fact, my jacket does balloon forward slightly at high speeds because of the eddy effect.

For long trips, especially those without a shield, consider buying a throttle lock or making a "throttle retainer".  It's bad enough to have to hold on with your throttle hand continually for hundreds of miles a day - but even worse to have to do it when you're lyng flat on on your gas tank and/or tank bag.  It puts your elbow and wrist at an awkward angle.  With the "throttle retainer" I was able to rest my right hand periodically by tucking my thumb into the top of my boot.  (Same for the other hand, of course - I traded off.)

One last suggestion for long trips, whether you use the shield or not: EARPLUGS.

EDIT: Changed links from sisna.com to bbburma.net.

[ashman]

I bought my GS without any sort of w/s and eventually got a F-18 which is a smaller sporty kinda style. I was a big critic at first not seeing any effect from it. But the longer distances I went the more I was glad to have it, be it tiny and near useless. I still am able to get down on the tank and be protected a lil bit. Any protection is a god sent after a long enough ride.  

-ash

[JLKasper]

I've become a believer in having some wind protection on highway travel.  Since you like the looks of a nekkid bike, you could select a type of fairing that is easily removable without tools, giving you the best of both worlds.  Some National Cycles units (and I believe Kerry's Plexistar) can be installed and removed in a few minutes; usually without tools.  Some of the smaller Nationals mount by using the headlight bolts; it's more or less a permanent situation.  

[Earndd]

I just ordered the f-16 for mine. The wind is way to much at highway speeds (80mph).

[b1k3r 3li+3]

ash, im thinking of getting the f18 i like the looks better than the f16, does it help much if you dont tuck?

[ashman]

Its only helps keep some wind off your chest. Which is nice but the shear coming off the top kinda knocks your helmet around some. So best off laying down if you want any real effect. I'll say this tho, once I got my bike up to 115 and man, did it ever make a difference.

-ash

[pensebete]

i was thinking about buying a new windshield, too... my bike came with this silly "street fighter" fairing, which barely covered the guages and made the bike look like a goofy grinning newt. still, i want some wind protection. what are the options?
- buell blast windshield
- ducati monster windshield
- the ones you guys mentioned above
- the targa fairing
what else?

i really don't want this to be too expensive (like the targa one), or too big and unsporty looking. also, is it possible to put a newer sv650 front end on the gs500? mmm, fairing mounted mirrors...

[Redline]

Around town you don't need a wind screen but it will help prevent wind noise in your helmet which is a plus.  On the hwy, no screen no thanks.  I can't imagine long trips without one.  It's nice to be able to ride with one hand and know you won't be blown over and in the winter you can ride all year with an ample screen.  Yeah it might look less atractive but fuctionality has value too.

Let it rip!!!

[Ed_in_Az]

It does seem like 80 mph is the magic number here. I've got no wind protection and yes, over 80 is not fun. I'm wondering how much help the Givi A750 would be. I believe that's the non-bulbous, smoothish one. Anybody use it?

My previous two bikes were laid back cruisers with windshields. In the easychair position, I had to have one. Otherwise, even at 65 mph it wasn't fun getting shoved back in the seat. With the somewhat leaned forward position of the GS, 65, even 75 mph is fine with me, since the wind takes any weight off my arms and leaves me quite comfortable. After a 100 mile ride(even at 80, with bursts to 90) I'm just as realxed getting off the GS as my former Virago or Harley. I was very impressed and surprised by this.

One other concern mentioned already is helmet buffeting. It was pretty awful at high speed on my cruisers. Very annoying. Shieldless on the GS it is non-existent. So there's the rub. Getting a good looking sporty windshield that protects without annoying buffeting. Is there such a thing? :dunno:

[notoriouskeef]

Kerry,  I was wondering where you picked that windshield up at.  Although it is mighty ugly, it appears to be very versitile and easily removeable.  If i'm going to get a windshield for long trips I might as well make it as good as possible.  That one looks like it does the job well and I may be interested in picking one up for myself.

Thanks,
Matt

Also, how much time it take to install/de-install?

[Kerry]

I got my Plexistar 2 back in 2001 from MAW.  I don't know if they still have the best price - I would shop around.

The National Cycle part number is N8372.

====================

Ouch!  I see that the price has gone up over the past 3 years...

From National Cycle: $139.95

From Chaparral: $123.99 (Part #355-2372)

From MAW Online: $99.95 (Part #00445)

Huh - looks like MAW might still be the best source after all.  But you may want to CALL your order in and make sure that the mounting hardware comes with the shield!    (My order got fouled up along with several other folks', but it turned out to be National Cycle's problem, not MAW's.)

====================

Installation was not bad.  The hardest part was pushing the ball ends of the support rods into the sockets on the shield.  You need a soft, horizontal-ish surface for this, so you can use all of your weight but prevent dinging/scratching the shield.

The first time you mount the shield it takes some fiddling to get the best angle, and position of the hardware on the handlebars and forks.  But from then on, you just spin those 2 knobs at the handle bars and the two thumbscrew thingies at the forks to take the shield off - no tools required.  (See the pics on my Plexistar 2 page.)

Having said that, I have NEVER taken the shield off.  I originally figured I would put it on for long trips and winter riding, then take it off for commuting and summer riding, but I guess I just got used to it being there.

EDIT: Changed link from sisna.com to bbburma.net.

[Kerry]

Before you spend $100 on the Plexistar 2, consider gsJack's just-posted "dissenting opinion" from the thread Just got my GS500:

I travel interststes at 80 mph all the time with a small $50 windshield like the Slipstreamer Spitfire. All you really need. Like one in sigpic below.

[You'll have to follow the link to see the signature picture.]

I guess you gotta make sure that you know what you want.  I wanted protection from the cold on long winter rides as well as wind protection in general.  Think about what you're after before you make your move....

[gsJack]

I used the Plexi 2 for years, but like the Slipstreamer Spitfire type now on the GS500.  Or the National Cycle Street Shield type.

The Spitfire is shown in pics 1 & 3 of sigpic below.  About $50 and I can travel all day at 80 mph with reasonable comfort.  Less bothersome in high cross winds than the old Plexi 2 was.  Plexi 2 is better in rain and cold winter weather and I kept one on the old 97 GS.

[gsJack]

Before you spend $100 on the Plexistar 2, consider gsJack's just-posted "dissenting opinion" from the thread Just got my GS500:

I travel interststes at 80 mph all the time with a small $50 windshield like the Slipstreamer Spitfire. All you really need. Like one in sigpic below.

[You'll have to follow the link to see the signature picture.]

I guess you gotta make sure that you know what you want.  I wanted protection from the cold on long winter rides as well as wind protection in general.  Think about what you're after before you make your move....

Kerry, before I totalled and restored the 97 last summer; I had it set up with the brackets for both the Spitfire and the Plexi 2 for summer/winter use.  With a hard rain or temps below freezing there is nothing like the old Plexi 2.  It's easier now with 2 GS's.  

[Kerry]

Kerry, before I totalled and restored the 97 last summer; I had it set up with the brackets for both the Spitfire and the Plexi 2 for summer/winter use.

Good idea!  I'll have to think about that....

======================

notoriouskeef, according to the Application Chart on the Slipstreamer website, the following models fit the GS500E (without an additional clamp kit):

S-06 Spitfire
S-09 Cobra
SS-10 Viper
SS-24 Hellfire

You can see pictures of these shields HERE.

[Ed_in_Az]

The Spitfire looks good, and $50 bucks. We had a 10% chance of rain today that's turned into 100%, so I'll probably be wishing I had one of those on the way home from work today.

[notoriouskeef]

unfortunately gsjacks sig pics dont show up on my computer.  Don't know what the deal is on that.  I can't seem to find any pictures that work with it.  Was wondering if someone could provide links of pictures and where to buy this.  Kinda hard to pass up 50 bucks and a personally recommendation.

Matt