GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

I've had my bike now for about 2 months but before I venture out on any extended road trips, I'd like to install some wind protection. I find the wind buffeting at speeds over 50 m.p.h. very uncomfortable.

I was looking at the F-series Windscreens available from National. (http://www.nationalcycle.com/catalogue/sportShields.html). I think they're attractive but I'm uncertain which one to get. Logically, it would seem that the larger the windscreen the more protection and therefore I was leaning toward the F-15 TOUR SHIELD. However, I think the F-16 is a bit more attractive. They even have one in a double bubble form. Any thoughts on what I should go for? Are the smaller screens sufficient?

I've been using my F-15 Tour shield for a couple of months now. Works great. Had to 'adjust and ride' a few times to get the angle right. There is quite the range thankfully. I had to adjust the thing to pretty much the most vertical setting. Anything lower and the wind blast gets directed AT your head. I can't see how anything smaller will do anything for you in terms of protection. Even at a high angle you will find there is still some wind and you will have to duck down behind the screen to get out of that. There is a nice quiet pocket behind the screen. Works really well on a long tour - head propped up on the tank bag and fist or arm. Real comfy.

I get a lot of wind noise when sitting upright though. I think its the wind going around the screen and slapping the side of the helmet. I do wear ear plugs most of the time anyway. Not sure if that would happen with other screens  :dunno:

I rode for 1.5 months without the screen - yeah that gets really tiring on the highway really fast. Especially the neck when riding into a headwind. Would never go back to totally naked.

I have noticed a small crack at one of the four attachment screw locations. Stress crack no doubt from the wind pressure but its not getting any bigger. The wind pressure is greater than you think. I had to pull off the road to reset the angle and tighten the bolts to the point of being afraid I would snap them off.  They didn't - and it hasn't moved since even under the 'top speed' condition  :roll: . They were really tight in the first place but they still slipped.

There is one weird thing that happens with an upright screen angle - the actual bottom of the screen rotates out in front of the headlight just a smidge. The problem that it creates is the light from the headlight tends to reflect off the backside of the screen at me. Not noticeable in the day but more so at night. I ended up putting a piece of black cloth tape on the backside of the screen at the worst reflection location - a bright spot just above the bottom edge of the screen. It did reduce the reflection.

After saying all that - I certainly believe it was a really good investment bought through a local dealer ($75.00 CAD - don't know why their website lists it much higher). Reduces wind, rain, and cold.

Ride safe!
Dandy D

I just got my windscreen installed last night and what a difference it makes. I have the F15 and I don't think I will regret it for one second.

It has drastically improved my highway riding although I have to agree with the wind noise around the helmet. I also wear earplugs (a must IMO!!) but you can definately hear the wind........I have the same setting at the highest rake angle.

Great add-on and clean looks!!   :thumb:

I wonder if the experiece w/ the redirection of the wind toward the head is different for people w/ clip-on style bars?  I would suspect that the lower riding position allows the air to travel above your helmet instead of right at your face.

Anyway, I have been considering the F15/16 and was worried when I read about the wind issues.  Then I thought that the clipons would be nice and might help w/ the wind problems.

Chris

My bike came with a little screen, it was ugly so I took it off.  Didn't make a noticeable difference.

Like ggeiger I'm looking to start taking this thing on longer trips, so I'm back in the market for a real screen.  Those National Cycle ones go on and off so easily, I think I'm gonna get the biggest and ugliest one they make, the Plexistar 2.  Kerry's site has some pictures of one on a GS:

(http://www.bbburma.net/FujiFotos/Plexistar2/FrontRight.jpg)

Now that's a screen.  

jeff

Quote from: Jeff PNow that's a screen.

Yep!  And even though it was 31 degrees on the way to work this morning, my hands still weren't complaining too much because of the mesh uppers on my Joe Rocket (warm weather?) gloves.  Let it drop another 5 or 10 degrees and I'll start pulling my windproof mittens over them.  :roll:

Click here (http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9591&highlight=f15)  & scroll down for some pics I posted a while back about this topic. If you do a search on "windscreens" or "F-15" or "National Cycle" you will find plenty of comments by yours truly and others who either like/dislike the F-15 Touring shield.

mawonline (http://www.mawonline.com/national.htm) had the cheapest prices when I bought mine several months ago. You might have to wait a little longer for shipping though.

I like a big screen, mine is a "Turbo" Spitfire, (see avatar) not quite so quick to remove & refit if required as Kerry's, a bit cheaper, but I find I leave mine on all-year. (Origionally I thought maybe Summer-Winter) If you are going to do long rides or ride in all weathers I would go for a big screen, in the wet not only does it deflect a lot of water over your head but also keeps it off your hands which is a real boost in wet/cold conditions.

Here is the windscreen I have installed for my 2002 GS500.  

http://store1.yimg.com/I/azmotorsports_1820_878763

I haven't seen that fairing before. It looks good. Who makes it please?

   Jon Neet

Feel cheap?
Wanna do it for next to no cash?

Grab a set of Virago mounting brackets, and make your own screen!
http://www.sportbikes.com/wwwthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/662473/an/0/page/0#662473

I had the screen on for this entire season, and it served me real well, up until I put the Tomaselli bars on. Now I have the screen just sitting around. But it did work well :)

the best one i've seen (and still provide protection) is the giviA750...some perfer the A755...check out that guy who's doing the burnout...he have a A750...

but if you want just protection...get a BIG one

QuoteHere is the windscreen I have installed for my 2002 GS500.

http://store1.yimg.com/I/azmotorsports_1820_878763

I was thinking of the MBD one, but this looks really cool!  Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything else about it.  Where can I buy one and how much was it?

Thanks! :cheers:

Quote from: Jeff PMy bike came with a little screen, it was ugly so I took it off.  Didn't make a noticeable difference.

Like ggeiger I'm looking to start taking this thing on longer trips, so I'm back in the market for a real screen.  Those National Cycle ones go on and off so easily, I think I'm gonna get the biggest and ugliest one they make, the Plexistar 2.  Kerry's site has some pictures of one on a GS:



Now that's a screen.  

jeff

i've been searching very hard for a less expensive BIG screen...but no luck...if anyone knows where i can find one...help a brother out...

<hijack>

Did I read something wrong or has

GSRider really posted 17393 messages on the SportbikeS.com forums in 2 1/2 years?
YOWZA!  That's nearly 20 posts a day - EVERY day! :o[/list:u]</hijack>

Yeah, sportbikes.com is sorta like my home away from home. Though I try to keep it to a minimum around here  ;)

Quote from: juno

QuoteHere is the windscreen I have installed for my 2002 GS500.

http://store1.yimg.com/I/azmotorsports_1820_878763

I was thinking of the MBD one, but this looks really cool!  Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything else about it.  Where can I buy one and how much was it?

Thanks! :cheers:

I bought mine from AZ motorsports.  It is the GIVI model 770.  Its a piece of cake to install and it really looks and functions very well.

//www.azmotorsports.com

Thanks for the link lpmedic

Do you have stock bars or lower like Suburban Machinery and Srinrath?  It looks like it may look better with stock bars, but can't really tell. Could you post a pic of it on your bike?

Thanks again for the info.

Help.  I cannot for the life of me figure out how to post pictures of my bike on here. Any suggestions.

:(  :dunno:

Quote from: lpmedic39Help.  I cannot for the life of me figure out how to post pictures of my bike on here. Any suggestions.

1) Copy the picture someplace on the web where folks can access it with a URL.  There are various FREE hosting sites but I'm not up-to-date on the best ones.  Someone will be along shortly with a recommendation.

2) Determine the actual URL that will let someone see the picture if they type it directly into their browser's "Address" control.  Don't use a hosting site that requires your viewers to create an account / log in -- that's yucky.

3) In your GStwin post use the following syntax:[/list:u]


[img]TYPE URL HERE[/img]



Quote from: junoThanks for the link lpmedic

Do you have stock bars or lower like Suburban Machinery and Srinrath?  It looks like it may look better with stock bars, but can't really tell. Could you post a pic of it on your bike?

Thanks again for the info.

Sorry it took so long..   Here is pic of my bike.

Looks good!

Unfortuneately, my 18 year old National Cycle N2590 deflector screen has developed cracks where the pivot mounts to the shield and will be replaced with a Slipstreamer S-06 Spitfire this Christmas.

Hi lpmedic

Thanks for the pic.   :cheers:

The bike and fairing look great together.  I think I will be going with this one.  :thumb: