Screens on Cruisers - Yay or Nay?

[johnnyflash]

Well put JF - but didn't know you could ride that beast for 500-800 kms without the screen on one tankful.

around 2-3 refills for that sort of distance, but I can fill up in 3-4 minutes and on the road again, infact one trip to Wgtn was exactly that, didint even have a coffee, but then it was a rush trip :-) and No way would I ride those distances without a screen.. I want to arrive in a reasonable state, not aching and stuffed

[johnnyflash]

I ride my virago without a screen...... I don't mind the wind hitting me full force. I am just used to it.

Now I did borrow a screen off scorpygirl's virago for about 3 weeks about 18 months ago. It is one of those screens that you attach onto the bike.
I tried it at different heights over those weeks, in the rain, the wind out on the open roads and in the city.

What did I find: yes I didn't get wet on my front, but my arms still did get wet.
It did keep the wind off my front, BUT my head took the full force and it caused my helmet to get shaken around a lot more (no matter what height I had the screen at).
Open road: Going around the bends it seemed to catch the bike a heck of a lot more on the side of the bike than normal and it pushed the bike all over the road. I found that I wasn't comfortable with that.

.

That is a very true statement, unless the screen is fitted and adjusted correctly its not worth a pich of poo.. needs to be the right shape, height and angle, and that varies from rider to rider as well. and until you ride one with a proper setup to suit your height you will never know the comfort, believe me sitting behind it at 80kph or 160kph is like cruising at 50kph on a non screened bike as far as pressure on body is concerned.. (err, yes ofcourse the test at over the limit was on a private track with airbags, foam at the end of the runway, parachutes & ambulances standing by )

[Badger8]

err, yes ofcourse the test at over the limit was on a private track with airbags, foam at the end of the runway, parachutes & ambulances standing by

Aren't all the backroads like that?
Perhaps i have been misled by all you naughty biker types

[KoroJ]

The Intruder was OK up to about 500Km but after that, without a screen, it got a bit uncomfortable between the shoulder blades.

I put a Spitfire screen on and it didn't detract from the looks but made riding alot more comfortable, especially punching into a headwind on the likes of the Napier-Taupo road.

I shudder to think what it would have been like to do a Grand Challenge without a screen.

[McJim]

I put a screen on a VTR250 (okay, it ain't a cruiser but it is a 250) and saved a whole lotta fuel and went a bit quicker. Wouldn't have a 250 without some sort of nod in the direction of aerodynamics. You need a bigger engine to punch an ugly lump (rider) through the air.

[scumdog]

Indeed, but hard men ride in the rain with no screen, no gloves, white singlet, and black stubbies Did someone say something about tassles?

Hell, thought you were talking about me until I saw the 'white singlet' comment.

But yeah, in rain it's Warehouse overtrousers and parka (lightweight nylon ones), bread-bags over my fingerless mittens and a bandana over my neck-muff if the weather is chilly.

[Jiminy]

My 250 Eliminator had a bikini fairing that I sometimes miss in heavy Wellington wind.

I wouldn't like the look of a screen on my M50. I 'enjoy' the wind blast, and it keeps me at reasonable speed (100-120). I've found that the air pressure really becomes uncomfortable around 135+ on my bike, which is way more than I usually ride.

However, I'm wondering if a mini-deflector on the speed block would reduce the pressure on the helmet so I could keep the visor open at 100kph? Currently, I usually close the visor at about 90-100kph.

[Badger8]

Hell, thought you were talking about me until I saw the 'white singlet' comment.

But yeah, in rain it's Warehouse overtrousers and parka (lightweight nylon ones), bread-bags over my fingerless mittens and a bandana over my neck-muff if the weather is chilly.

Oops, sorry Scumdog, what colour singlets do they wear down there in toothless country?

And surely it'd be better to invest in some handgrip warmers to preserve that fingerless glove look without having icicles for fingers at the destination? Bread bags and tassles clash like anything...

[caseye]

Well having ridden big bikes for many years in rain and shine. Now that I have a good old fashioned big bike with a screen I'm waiting to find some rain to see if it's true that a screen protects enough to be an advantage.
Back in the saddle for just two months and ridden most weekends and midweek and still no rain, beginning to think I live elsewhere than Auckland.
Will try it tomoorw and report back, if I get half a chance and it does rain like they say it's going to.
Definitely helps with wind buffetting at speed.

[johnnyflash]

My 250 Eliminator had a bikini fairing that I sometimes miss in heavy Wellington wind.

I wouldn't like the look of a screen on my M50. I 'enjoy' the wind blast, and it keeps me at reasonable speed (100-120). I've found that the air pressure really becomes uncomfortable around 135+ on my bike, which is way more than I usually ride.

However, I'm wondering if a mini-deflector on the speed block would reduce the pressure on the helmet so I could keep the visor open at 100kph? Currently, I usually close the visor at about 90-100kph.

Ah but a raked back short screen as per the m109r looks sweet :-)

[johnnyflash]

Well having ridden big bikes for many years in rain and shine. Now that I have a good old fashioned big bike with a screen I'm waiting to find some rain to see if it's true that a screen protects enough to be an advantage.
Back in the saddle for just two months and ridden most weekends and midweek and still no rain, beginning to think I live elsewhere than Auckland.
Will try it tomoorw and report back, if I get half a chance and it does rain like they say it's going to.
Definitely helps with wind buffetting at speed.

Dont knock the weather :-) if it pisses down now, we are blaming you and then, why aint you been out on a cruiser run then huh :-)

[Badger8]

Rode to work this mornin and of course, as i live in dorklund, got caught out.
Was fine when i rolled her out of the garage and turned her over. overcast, but not too threatening. Sure enough, throw on basic gear and jump on, make it to the end of my street and the heavens open.
Get pissed on from a great height through herrendous traffic on what is usuallly quiet side roads. Pants absolutely soaked, even boxers were saturated (left cordura over-pants hangin in the garage, wasnt raining when i left!). And of course, it stops raining as soon as i pull in the gate at work! *&@$!!!!!

Point being, it wasnt so much the rain on my chest that bothered me (although open rd it may have been more of a problem). Twas more the satched pants (guess who spent the day in overalls once he got to work? ) and the rain on the arms running down inside the gloves that bothered me. Also, being a tall sod, i fear the screen may just cause more helmet buffering for me (and if i'm real unlucky, a concentrated spray of rain in the face)
Seems the main protection offered by the screen aint my real concern. Think i'll live without a screen at this stage, but a test drive could yet change my mind Plus i'm a pretty buff fulla, those little girls with sore shoulders dont scare me *tries to look tough, and falls over laughing*

Thanks for all your thoughts and comments, greatly appreciated. Hope to see you all on a ride somewhere soon!

[Badger8]

Well having ridden big bikes for many years in rain and shine. Now that I have a good old fashioned big bike with a screen I'm waiting to find some rain to see if it's true that a screen protects enough to be an advantage.
Back in the saddle for just two months and ridden most weekends and midweek and still no rain, beginning to think I live elsewhere than Auckland.
Will try it tomoorw and report back, if I get half a chance and it does rain like they say it's going to.
Definitely helps with wind buffetting at speed.

Dude, she peeeeeessssssed down on the pay to work this mornin. Did you catch it per chance? How'd she fare?

[woodboats]

Yep, use a Spitfire screen also. Love it.
For any that are having problems getting their screen adjustment right I find it helps to tape a strand of wool vertically in the center of the screen.
Have the length just about reaching your helmet when in riding position.
Try this a different speeds to see what screen adjustment is needed to correct the air flow.

[Skyryder]

I've done a couple of 800+ a day rides and without the windscreen I'd have never gone the distance. I'm way past the stage of being worried about biker looks poofy or other wise. Anything that reduces stress is a plus for me. I've ridden with the screen off and on.................I prefer it on.

Skyryder