Front screen on adv bikes?

**Padmei** · 2nd February 2008, 08:38

Kia ora llittle kbers. I'm looking into getting an adventure bike (well trying to talk the wife around- she likes the look of Harleys). As with most newbies unsure of what to get but won't get into that debate as I can see there are other threads on that, however I have 2 questions:
What are the small screens/ fairings like on adventure bikes? Do they direct much air away from the rider? I have a little GB400TT which is uncomfortable in windy highway conditions & wondering if the ride would be better on a more upright bike but with a screen.

Secondly does a 650 handle long distances ok? Once again the little 400 will sit at 120 but not much more than 130 for overtaking. Do people replace the front sprockets for bigger to get longer legs? is it needed?

ok probably more than 2 questions but help would be appreciated

**Transalper** · 2nd February 2008, 09:23

Once you have read some of the other 'which Adventure bike' threads you'll probably have answered your own questions.
Also it might be time to make yourself known to Nordieboy and Warewolf who are also in Nelson and been doing the Adventure thing for a fair while now.. one DR650 and one KTM.

The word compromise you will see often when talking Adventure, you will need to find a balance that works for you, but it may not happen with your first choice of bike.
I came from a CBR1000F to the Adventure genre and it was quite a change.
Today on my 3rd adventure bike I have found the mix that suits my current focus of about 50% road, 50% dirt road/track/or worse.
Today I am on a DR650 with a bit of a home made windscreen which works fine for me. I can ride sitting upright all day on the highway (you know, those 1000km day sealed road rides) with enough wind deflected off my chest to be happy.
Secondly.. also answered that one in the first answer... 1000km days... comfort is a subjective thing though. I am more comfortable mixing dirt with seal as I take the weight off my ass more often when mixing it up.
Third question.. I cruise at about 108km/hr and the DR650 will wick it up to 140km/hr quickly enough and pull a bit higher if you haven't finished.
As for sprockets, I have gone one tooth down on the front to give it shorter legs. (actually went two extra teeth on the rear but it's the same thing). I already had more than enough top speed for what I am doing but wanted a slightly lower 1st gear.
F650s (just for another example, I had one and actually don't like them so much) are even better on the highway and have even longer legs again, but remember that word compromise.
Transalps are great too, had one of those after the F650. The Transalps have a bit of a fairing and IMO do both on AND off road better than a F650GS (note the differences between F650GS and F650 Dakars), the trouble I had with the Transalp was it's height and weight become more noticeable to me as i moved my focus toward slightly harder tracks... I am after all just a little guy.

**steveh** · 2nd February 2008, 12:34

Padmei, I have some recent windscreen experience that might be useful. My split of sealed/metal roads is about 75/25, and I want to encourage spousal participation (as a passenger to begin with), so a proper screen was important to me.

After a day looking at the choices and several beers worth of measuring imagined screen heights and widths on the bike, I ended up with a screen from a US company called Cee Bailey's.

The quality is flawless, and it makes a huge difference in the riding experience. I even threw away my earplugs...

What puts Cee Bailey above the other makers, IMO, is their background producing windscreens for light aircraft. I'm taller than average, so went with the tallest of the 3 sizes available (in my case, for an F650GS) in a light grey tint.

Here's some samples...

F650
http://www.ceebaileys.com/bmw/650gs05ws.html

DR650
http://www.ceebaileys.com/suzuki/dr650z400ws.html

KLR650
http://www.ceebaileys.com/kawasaki/klr650_08_ws.html

steveh

**GaZBur** · 2nd February 2008, 15:34

I was given a road bike with a small GIVI screen by my brother. I took one look and assumed I would be ripping that screen off pretty soon as I didn't like the look. However the screen while small was fantastic!! It created a negative pressure in front of the rider. A fair bit of wind would miss the screen and push my sholders but this was negated by the suction caused by the screen. The faster I went the the more wind on sholders and the bigger suction from the screen. The result was that at any speed you could sit upright with no pressure on the wrists and no need to hang on with the hands - perfect balance. I have even ridden one handed sitting upright at 180k with no drama. So if you looking for a screen - bigger is not better!!!
As for what bike to get - you are asking for a very long and involved online arguement/discussion asking that on here. Not to say people on here are opinionated and biased. Well OK most people on here are very opinionated and biased!!! Best read all the other threads and then test ride everyting you are considering. Good Luck!!!

**Padmei** · 2nd February 2008, 19:38

Cheers for that guys. From the sounds of it a 650 willl be the right size so I guess it will be riding a few & see what fits. Great coverage of the dusty butt transalper!!

Speaking of which - The transalp is a bike I like the look of - how does it handle off road?

**offrd** · 2nd February 2008, 19:49

My F650 has been to the moon and back and still goes sweet, cruise at 100-120 no problems, wind it up to 170

no problems....
Had a huge vibration over 100k when i got it, was so bad i thought i bought a lemon

It was so bad i would see double at 110km/hr! Not nice

I worked out it was the wind off the top of the screen!

I tried another helmet and the problem was a bit better... but still no good really

The second day i had it while cruising at 110 i pulled the top of the screen down and bingo! no more vibration! but... BANG. Split the screen!

I did some trials and glued it and shortened it and now no wind head milkshake vibrations

different height people need different height screens i believe!

Cruising in the wind is awesome! even the rush of a passing truck is only minor compared to the DR, no arm pump from hanging on in the wind either!

**pete376403** · 2nd February 2008, 21:06

Don't overlook the '08 KLR650 - has a good fairing / screen combo that works very effectively while cruising at 120-130k.
KLRs don't have a huge following here (Given Kawasakis crap advertising and the decided lack of interest in them by the bike magazines it's amazing any are sold here at all) however they have almost cult status in the US with a huge array of aftermarket accessories available. Apparently there is a taller screen , as well as a gel seat and soft panniers sold by Kawasaki but I wouldn't hold my breath about these being available in NZ.

(the picture's crap, and cuts off the bit that was being asked about)

**JATZ** · 3rd February 2008, 18:23

Me and the missus both have f650's, good on rd, o.k. on gravel, adequate of rd. cruise about 110-120, standard screens good for us, both over 6ft but I got a bit of a buffeting riding her bike last w/end 2 up, taller after market screen may have fixed it but we don't ride 2 up very often so why bother.
Test ride as many as you can

**nerdneh** · 3rd February 2008, 20:19

Originally Posted by Padmei

Cheers for that guys. From the sounds of it a 650 willl be the right size so I guess it will be riding a few & see what fits. Great coverage of the dusty butt transalper!!

Speaking of which - The transalp is a bike I like the look of - how does it handle off road?

A mate & myself have done lot of expirimenting in this dept on dr 650s & v/strom & have fairings/screens we fit in winter. We are in Motueka if yuo want look.

**Skinny_Birdman** · 4th February 2008, 07:36

Originally Posted by Padmei

Cheers for that guys. From the sounds of it a 650 willl be the right size so I guess it will be riding a few & see what fits. Great coverage of the dusty butt transalper!!

Speaking of which - The transalp is a bike I like the look of - how does it handle off road?

I've done about 2000km on the Transalp now, including the Dusty Butt and one or two much easier rides, and I'd rate it as significantly better off road than the BMW Funduro I used to have, mainly because it has the magical 21" front wheel. It's not quite as grunty (mine's the 600cc model though - I daresay the 650 is a bit better) although being a twin it's way more torquey, and is very predictable and easy to control on gravel. It suffers when the going gets very rough, as TA hinted, because it is rather heavy (I'm not small, but not strong either), and if I do drop it I bet it'll be a bastard to pick up.
It's probably the best two up bike I've ever had handling and comfort-wise, and it will go quite happily up to about 130kph, and reluctantly up to about 150kph. I'm running Mitas E07 tyres front and rear, and they seem to do the business both on and off-road. A friend who hasn't ridden for 20-odd years borrowed it to ride to Timaru a couple of weekends ago, and he found it easy to just get on and ride.
The only complaint I have heard about the 650 Trannys is that they are a bit thirsty, (perhaps TimG can confirm or deny this) but I've got no such worries with the 600.
She's a hard road finding the perfect adventure bike....

Cheers
A

**Taz** · 4th February 2008, 08:16

Don't rule out the humble XT600. Plenty of cheap low K 2nd hand bikes out there and remarkably capable and reliable.
I mounted a universal screen on my XT600 for the longer road rides and it made a huge difference to riding comfort on those 600km days. Cost 25 bucks off TM. Then I bought some perspex and made a lip for the top to deflect the buffeting from my helmet. And made some spoilers for my handguards. Just use a heat gun to form the perspex, works great.

**timg** · 4th February 2008, 17:34

Originally Posted by Skinny_Birdman

The only complaint I have heard about the 650 Trannys is that they are a bit thirsty, (perhaps TimG can confirm or deny this) but I've got no such worries with the 600.
She's a hard road finding the perfect adventure bike....

Cheers
A

I got in excess of 300km out of a tank when new - ave 48 mpg. The 650 suffers from the Euro emissions junk on it and runs very rich standard. With a few easy mods, disconnectiong the PAIR module, removing the exaust sub-chamber, opening the air box + K&N filter and rejetting results in more Hp particularly at low rpm and better economy (sounds better too

With the exaust and airbox mods mpg went up to ave 54. I havn't calculated the figures for it after the rejetting & Dyno but the experience of others is that they get up to 62 mpg.

I'd love to have a wee ride on yours with the E09's sometime Alex. Have E07's at present but don't like the thrumy vibration on the road. How smooth is the ride with the E09's? Will be due new tyres soonish and I'm undecided which way to go. Cheers, Tim.

**Padmei** · 4th February 2008, 17:36

well I have to say if this is my introduction to adventure biking then I think I picked the right pasttime. Thanks everyone for your input & I think I'll have to get out & bug dealers etc for rides. I'm down in Christchurch this week & have found it hard to find new adventure bikes as they seem to sell so fast!!

I'm still really unsure whether or not I get a more road orientated type adv bike for the long trips & a small old 250 for the odd laid back tail rides or short trips. Damn I wish they only made one bike you were allowed to buy then I wouldn't have to make decisions!!

**cooneyr** · 4th February 2008, 19:28

Originally Posted by Padmei

I'm still really unsure whether or not I get a more road orientated type adv bike for the long trips & a small old 250 for the odd laid back tail rides or short trips. Damn I wish they only made one bike you were allowed to buy then I wouldn't have to make decisions!!

Given what you wrote here I would have to turn you around a few times and point you at the DR650 or KTM 640e or adv if you are looking to buy only one bike. If you didn't mention that trail ride word then a Transalp, KLR, BMW Dakar etc etc would probably be better. The trail thing tends to require a bit better suspension and lighter although the TA, KLR, Dakar etc will do it it is just easier and more fun on the DR and 640.

If you want I'll sell you a reasonably set for up adv riding DR650 for $14k so I can the KTM 950 adv I'm dreaming about

Cheers R