Naked versus Screen

[Keystone19]

As some of you know I ride a VTR250. When I purchased the bike it had a Givi screen on it. I am currently thinking of upgrading my bike and decided to take the screen off to see what it's like to ride naked...

You see the suggestion was made that perhaps I consider an SV650 naked. Anyway, not having ridden the VTR naked I thought this would be a good opportunity to find out what it might be like.

Now I'm not the largest lass in the world, pretty average for a girl really weight wise so I wondered if the wind would be a problem without the screen.

First day I took it off I kind of liked it. Got that 'street fighter' kind of feel. By the middle of the week, the weather had packed in and the wind was blowing. Hmm, had a couple of moments when passing cars and trucks that caught me by surprise with the force of the blast.

Then yesterday I decided to give it a blat along some straighter roads if you know what I mean...

Well, after a certain point on the dial (around $115) life became extremely uncomfortable, extending up to down right miserable, as I had to use every muscle in my body just to hold myself on the bike, as well as trying not to let my neck break. Now as some of you also know, I have been known to ride a little faster than this on the track so I do have some inkling of what it is like to ride a little quicker, but this experience was just downright unpleasant.

So, in conclusion, the screen makes a huge difference to the wind blast on the VTR at slightly quicker speeds for a wee lass like me.

And as for an upgrade, if I take up bodybuilding and pile on some weight, perhaps the naked may be the way to go, but in the meantime, think I'll stick to something with a fairing.

[John]

thats why racers use the wind resistance to help brake stablise the bike eh?

[XTC]

Mmmm I like naked but a screen would leave a little to the imagination...
Get a bit of wind blast on the XT. Have considered fashioning a small screen for that.

[vifferman]

As some of you know I ride a VTR250. When I purchased the bike it had a Givi screen on it. I am currently thinking of upgrading my bike and decided to take the screen off to see what it's like to ride naked...

You see the suggestion was made that perhaps I consider an SV650 naked. Anyway, not having ridden the VTR naked I thought this would be a good opportunity to find out what it might be like.

A guy at work recently bought an SV650; he didn't like the faired version, so he bought the nekkid one with a Givi screen fitted to it. He's very pleased with it. BTW - his previous bike (some old GS650 thingy) had a fairing.

[dawnrazor]

Having had ago on both versions of the sv650 i subsequently bought a faired one, that little fairing makes a big difference to motorway cruising, the riding position is not very extreme, i might be wrong but i think the seat height on the faired is lower, certainly the riding position isn't as "sit up and beg", a little more sporty. I would have got bored with the unfaired pretty quick. But to be honest, it just looks like a far better bike with the fairing.

[Ixion]

Your riding position is wrong. I've done 100's of thousands of kilometres on naked bikes, cruising at around 80mph / 140kph in perfect comfort (as to wind anyway). In fact I think a naked bike is more comfortable than a faired one because you have no load on wrists/arms/back.

You need to set your riding position so that at cruising speed you are "sitting on the wind", the wind force just balancing your leaned forward weight. Such a position is tireless.

Was a time when unfaired bikes were unheard of , and open road cruising speeds typically a lot faster than todays (less plod presence). Never heard of anyone complaining about the wind.But we all spent a lot of time getting our riding position just right, changing bars etc.

Get the position correct and a naked bike will have no wind problems.

[steved]

Some people buy naked bikes to actually keep them slower. It can be a good deterrent to breaking 120 kp/h.

[eliot-ness]

Got a small 'Givi" screen fitted on the Bandit. After riding the naked 'Bonnie' there is a huge difference. Comfortable, with no neck strain up to 160kph. Still running in so can't say what it's like above that. Definitely worth the money.

[Ixion]

Some people buy naked bikes to actually keep them slower. It can be a good deterrent to breaking 120 kp/h.

Never deterred anyone before we had fairings!

[Lou Girardin]

I've found nekids Ok to 180 for short bursts, but much prefer a screen when doing serious distance.

[dawnrazor]

I've riden plenty of naked bikes in the past including bandits and aprillias, and I know how to ride "on the wind", my point was that i found the faired SV650s a more comfortable ride then the unfaired version, there is no weight on your wrists to speak of, and if you have leanings (pardon the pun) towards a sportier bike this is a perfect indruction to this class.

WRT a general naked verus faried argument, thats personal choice, but to be honest anyone here who says naked bikes are fine for long journeys and would choose them over a faired bike or one with a screen, must have the neck muscles of a bull.

[skelstar]

I once swore that I wouldnt get a naked bike again (after riding my first and only bike for about 4 weeks) but have changed my mind a bit. I love the look and convenience of the naked bike. No fairings to scratch/scrape), easy to clean, see all the motor etc, and the streetfighter look. Lower bars could be a go though.

I dont ride all that fast. Still on my L-plate so cant justify 120km/h+ speeds. Have ridden at 130km/h a couple of times and didnt find it any worse than 100km/h. I think the helmet noise is the biggest issue for me anyway. I think my next bike will be either a SV650 naked, or Hornet 919 .

[Ixion]

..
WRT a general naked verus faried argument, thats personal choice, but to be honest anyone here who says naked bikes are fine for long journeys and would choose them over a faired bike or one with a screen, must have the neck muscles of a bull.

See, this is odd because in nearly 40 years, I've never experienced any problems with neck on long rides (did Auckland to Wellington, and back same day once). Arse, yes, I've been so arse sore I couldn't stand up. Wrists , yes (more vibration though, turns them numb, they hurt once feeling comes back). Hands, legs, thighs , shoulders, back. Never had a sore neck . I think maybe it's a tourer vs sprotsbike thing. My bikes are always set up for touring (well, the ones I'll be doing long distances/high speeds on, trailies etc are obviously different). A naked sprotsbike , maybe not. Naked tourer, shouldn't be a problem. Tourers are very rare now though, so maybe that's why people feel they need screens. Got to admit though, screen is REAL nice when it starts raining!

[dawnrazor]

I think my next bike will be either a SV650 naked, or Hornet 919 .

Bit of a difference there fella, the SV is a pretty good "my first big bike", but the 919 hornet is a naked FIREBLADE

[skelstar]

Bit of a difference there fella, the SV is a pretty good "my first big bike", but the 919 hornet is a naked FIREBLADE

Sure, im sure ill work this out when i test the bike that i want next. thanks. i was talking about the style of bike anyway.