I purchased a 2001 GS500 a month ago as my first bike. So far I haven't done anything to it aside from change the oil, clean and wax the chain and replace my grips.
I've noticed that when I hit about 70mph on the interstate I get some major resistance on my chest due to the lack of windshield.
I checked out the GS500 wiki and saw a few different ones, but wanted to get some feedback from you all as to what might be better (as those merely show names and photos). Of the ones on the wiki, I like the Spitfire and F-15 and F-16 models. I saw they had some on Amazon.com for 70 bucks or so.
So, any suggestions on what to get? I would probably leave it on all the time too.
I just bought one of the f-18s off of ebay for $25 brand new, but it was a mistake. the good news is that they honored it and I got a $70 windscreen for $25. I'll put some pics up soon. You might try the buell blast windscreen if you want something smaller and cheap.
It looks like the prices of the F-16 sport windshield aren't any better on eBay. I'll just get this one off of Amazon i think.
Anyone with this windscreen have any opinions of it?
one of the guys in tampa has the f-16. basicly it's a flyscreen, and yes, it will -just- get the wind off your chest.
i have a SV-650 flyscreen (OEM) and it also -just- gets the wind off my chest. flyscreens are great because they give your helmet clean air (not disturbed) that is smoother and quieter to flow through.
good luck :)
I have the F-15 sport fairing on my 97. The direct wind blast hits you about mid-chest. It also cuts the direct wind blast on the hands down by about 30%(best guess). I like it a lot, but I replace it with an old Plexifairing for cold weather riding. It's pretty good down to the mid 50's for my 35 mile freeway commute, but below that I need better protection.
There are a few nice ones by Givi that you might want to have a look at. I'm kind of partial to the A240 myself. Most of these have pics of the screens on bikes so you can get a better impression of size and how they'll look, which is tough when just looking at a studio picture of the windscreen itself...
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productlist/291/
also - hi everyone, first post. i'm new. :) :cheers:
Quote from: civilian.d on November 19, 2008, 01:58:28 PM
also - hi everyone, first post. i'm new. :) :cheers:
Welcome! Starting right out with the helpful info, I like it.
For years I used a Plexi 2 screen year round but I put a Spitfire on my GS for a June 02 trip to the Smoky Mountains and liked it. The line of turbulance off the top of the Spitfire hits me about neck high. Have done half a dozen or so 400 mile Interstate days at 75-80 mph indicated and like the Spitfire for summer use. I still put the National Cycle Plexi 2 on for the winter here in NE Ohio.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/summer-winterGS.jpg)
I'd leave the Spitfire on year round if I lived in Albuquerque.
I had an F16 touring shield on my 01 and I liked it.
Here is a link to their site.
http://shop.nationalcycle.com/perl/cycle/large_photo?mv_session_id=gcTYIKwd&mv_arg=N2524&search_model=su%2d022
Quote from: gmark on November 19, 2008, 02:42:10 PM
I had an F16 touring shield on my 01 and I liked it.
Here is a link to their site.
http://shop.nationalcycle.com/perl/cycle/large_photo?mv_session_id=gcTYIKwd&mv_arg=N2524&search_model=su%2d022
Yeah, this is the one I was thinking about getting. How does the wind feel when cruising on the interstate? does it do a decent job keeping it off your chest?
The other thing i liked about these is they mount to the headlamp... so you don't have bars coming off your handlebars that hold it in place.
Hi there,
I have a National Cycle F-15 Tour shield on my 1991 GS 500E.
I love it.
A photo:
http://shop.nationalcycle.com/perl/cycle/large_photo?mv_session_id=I36bFynp&mv_arg=N2522&search_model=su-022
Description:
http://shop.nationalcycle.com/perl/cycle/N2522?mv_session_id=I36bFynp&search_model=su-022%22
It offers good coverage, is pretty and it works well.
I still think it would be great to try the National Cycle Plexifairing GT model, with its larger coverage and sexy lines, but I'm not sure it will fit our GS500 bikes. I keep asking if anyone has tried one but have received no replies.
Good luck.
I've posted it on this subject before so do a search of the site and my posts for more info on these windshields.
Good luck,
Trwhouse
Thanks for the information guys. I've got a 02 GS500E and have been thinking about a windshield. I'm currently gravitating towards a GIVI A750 in gloss black to match my ride but this is all valuable information.
Bertman
got pics?
haven't found a frontal pic of a F-18 on a GS500 yet.
And do you like it?
Quote from: tripleb on October 30, 2008, 01:57:36 PM
I just bought one of the f-18s off of ebay for $25 brand new, but it was a mistake. the good news is that they honored it and I got a $70 windscreen for $25. I'll put some pics up soon. You might try the buell blast windscreen if you want something smaller and cheap.
(http://pktdo.com/GS500/paint%20(3).JPG)
Thanks!!!! :cheers:
You like it?
So the higher the windshield, the better the protection? is it safe to say that the buell sized screens will hit you somewhere around the shoulders and the larger / taller get the wind more over your head? I have been looking at the really small screens because they look good but having thought about it, I definitely would like to get some of the wind resistance down. I was looking at the ones on wild hair accessories:
This one to be specific: http://www.whaccessories.com/MotorcycleWindscreen.htm
The metisse in the bottom left corner. I just wonder how well something that small would perform.
I've got a F16 sport on mine and it works brilliantly, I'm also on the short side.
it's fine. the bike isn't fully faired so you have to expect to get some wind, but it it keeps the annoying stuff off of my chest.
and you're crazy if you're going to drop that kind of money on a small windscreen man. you'd be much better off going with a buell or ducati flyscreen off ebay if you want something like that.
Thanks!
Oh, I want the F-18 not the Metisse.
Quote from: tripleb on June 25, 2009, 08:20:43 AM
it's fine. the bike isn't fully faired so you have to expect to get some wind, but it it keeps the annoying stuff off of my chest.
and you're crazy if you're going to drop that kind of money on a small windscreen man. you'd be much better off going with a buell or ducati flyscreen off ebay if you want something like that.
Definitely. There's no way I would spend a ton of money on this bike. I just like the size of the metisse screen. I really like the ducati that I thin ineedanap has. But it seems more suited for duals which I have decided against.
if someone wants one of these generic cafe fairings, PM me, I've got 2 of them. One used for a couple months with brackets modified to hold it on much better IMHO:
(http://wiki.gstwins.com/uploads/Upgrades/EMGO_fairing_side.jpg)
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=48902.msg551724#msg551724
It did a great job of reducing wind without being too tall. Having recently replaced it with a slightly shorter one:
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e19/ecpreston/CIMG1423.jpg)
and seeing significantly less wind protection, I can say the "flyscreens" like the buell one probably do very little. The silver one takes some wind off the belly/chest I guess, but doesn't help out the head at all unless I tuck in.