Hi, I've been riding for 4 months now. I'm riding a naked 08 gs500. First I love everything about the bike, that is until I put the MRA windscreen on. Everything and I mean everything has changed. I know its not a gixxer, the front end is really soft but the wind resistance made it tolerable. I haven't had any problems with cornering and countersteering since I put on the windscreen. Now It feels like I'm going to lose the bike from under me on medium lean angles with smooth pavement........... and the bike steers f*#king really fast too. At least before with out the windscreen it felt like I had a steering stabilizer on it. Just wondering if it is the bike itself or effects of the windscreen.
Yes yes all I have to do is test drive it without the screen again but it was rather a pain to put it on right and I'm not entirely interested in changing the front springs and thicken the oil just yet. I got the bike for a crazy ass deal and am going to get my money back in a couple of years should I choose to change it.
I put the screen on so that I could ride with a bit more comfort on the highway.
And if it is in fact the screen does this mean that a bike with a full fairing typically reacts the same way. If so naked bikes are in my future.
PS. got about 3/4 in of chicken strip left.(http://[img])[/img]
Thanks.
Rocco
an insteresting situation. If you are going at slow speed.. below 30 maybe and no wind... and experiencing the same problem..then more likely its not your windscreen. I cant see how windscreen MAY take affect at 80 plus.. and lots of wind blowing at you.. just not enough to really really affect your cornering ability. This could be one of the mythbuster idea show on discovery.
I use a big National Cycle Plexi 2 windshield in the winter now on my 02 GS500. With the rear of the bike lowered a bit increasing the steering rake it makes the steering feel a bit floppy at low speeds but has no effect on handling as speeds pick up. I had this same shield on my 97 GS500E previously and had it up to 110 mph indicated with no handling problems. You would not feel the floppy effect of a heavy shield on a fully faired sportbike since the fairing and shield are carried by the frame and not mounted to the handlebars as on a naked bike.
In the summer I put a smaller Slipstreamer Spitfire shield on which looks like it might be closer to the size of the MRA shields I've seen. There are quite a few different MRA shields and you didn"t say which one you are using. Anyway I don't find the Spitfire shield has any effect on the handling of my 02 GS500 and it's enough shield to make all day interstate travel comfortable at 70-80 mph indicated speeds. I wouldn't leave home without it.
My Plexi 2 in upper left and lower pics and the Spitfire in upper right pic:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/winter-summerGS.jpg)
Its the smallest MRA screen they got and frig it. It's coming off. I love the street ride better without it. I use the highway to get to the other side of town faster. Not a big deal. I'll put the screen on when I do an out of towner.
Thanks.