HD - I like the tinted screen. . I will say i've been considering getting the tinted screen, Both my helmets have the dark smoke, i run 5% on my car , so i really like tinted windows; my only concern was with running a tinted helmet visor then looking through a tinted windshield at night; Do you actually look through this visor or are you looking over it? Is it short enough to see over? Again, i'm only 5'4 so keep that in mind , would i be able to see over the windshield. When i see these guys that have shorter windshields and they're saying their not getting any wind buffering, I'm like how is that possible, i thought the shield had to block your face in order to block the wind, how in the world can your shield be shorter than your face yet you're getting now wind in your face?
I'd start with this $45 spoiler. My opinion is that you don't have to look thru the spoiler. If found they work better parallel to the screen at almost the same angle making it look like 2 layers. That way I can almost keep the screen 2" lower than otherwise. I've found it distracting to look thru the screen or spoiler. I'll check if this is available in clear as I prefer clear. Zee 2000 Triumph Thunderbird Sport 2015 BMW F700GS
My windshield is 14.5" from base of headlight, then about another 4" for the spoiler. The spoiler is adjustable for different angles. I agree with Zee, I would get the spoiler first and that may do the trick. I'm tall and I do not look through the windshield/spoiler combo but look over it.
On my '13 F700GS, I have a Madstad with an 18" screen at the lowest setting and angled all the way towards the rider, I get clear air till about 60mph. Above that speed, the buffeting starts hammering the sides of my helmet. I'm 5 9", 150lbs with a 33" in-seam. I started with the 20" screen and then exchanged it for the 18". I have a feeling I need to go even lower to keep my head/helmet in clear air at all speeds. I'm tempted to buy and try the MRA Vario touring screen which is about 13" tall without the spoiler. Alternatively, I might try cutting down the Madstad screen an inch at a time to lower the height.
Vasuvius - Appreciate the comment , have you found that the lower the shield the better it's putting the wind above your helmet? I guess i'm confused as to why you would move from a taller screen to a shorter one, i would think that a taller screen would help redirect airflow moreso than a shorter one at least.
Shorter seems to work better for me. I've tried the Madstad at various heights and angles and find that the lowest height and angled all the way in is the least noisy and my head is in clear air. Above 60 buffeting kicks in. The top of the shield is about 2" below my chin level. On some of my previous motorcycles, I've tried larger shields and always ended up with a short shield and kept cutting the shield till I got it low enough. The stock shield is 5". I'm guessing that something between 10" and 15" would be a good fit for me.
I recently bought an f800gs touring screen and cut the sides off to fit the stock mount. It works great. I had to ride over 200 miles to get it and yes, I did get beat to hell. I fit the screen on and return trip was much more pleasant.
In an effort to save money, I would get the spoiler and try that with your current setup. You can always use the spoiler if you decide to go with a taller shield.
'clear air' is the air that hits your helmet, neck, chest straight or directly. Wind that hits the shield, mirrors, fairing, etc and gets deflected first and then hits your helmet is what I think causes buffeting or a hammering sound/feel on the sides of the helmet. too many variables like how a rider sits on the saddle, head/neck lean angle, distance from the shield, helmet shape, etc makes a perfect shield a very personal choice. most riders tend to go with higher shields or a spolier on top a shield. for me, only shorter shields have ever worked. attached pic of screen height relative to helmet position
Vasuvius - thanks . The visual helps a lot. So I always imagined I should be shielded by the shield ; like the shield should be in front of me completely and I should be looking through it, similar to the windshields on a harley road king the big ones u see... but it seems to me the smaller ones are more to just angle the wind just over the helmet Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It's entirely a personal choice whether you want to look through the shield or use a smaller shield to deflect the wind. I ride in bad weather, looking through the shield is not an option for me. Hence the focus on smaller shields Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
I don't know anyone who buys a shield for one of these bikes to "look through"; even those on big cruisers usually buy a shield that they look over the top. A good shield creates a slip stream that aims the air over your helmet.
Good to know I guess I always thought u were supposed to be able to see through it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk