Screen or not

Mine came with a screen fitted,it was the first thing I removed.I know some like 'em some don't.I like mine stripped back to the basics,like to know what your preference is and why-in 500 words or less

I would say that screens are only needed for the guys that do a lot of 60mph plus highway miles

Without for local "A" road trips 50 mile ish, with for longer rides taking motorways, Half an hour and mine goes from naked to screen and bags fitted.

Screen always on for me,love them,great protection from wind and rain,if I could afford it would buy full screen.

I always think of cruisers as the ultimate in motorcycle 'cool'. Impractical riding gear but classy, dripping with bling /bugger the cleaning and never mind the wind, you never saw Marlon Brando or Steve McQueen behind a screen (yeah I know someone will find a pic and post it) I love the screens on my current bikes but when I went for a test ride on an 800 today, I felt a bit of a softy with the screen. Big headlight at the front - that's all I need. But if you want to tour on the Intruder, you probably need a screen. I suppose it's because I only ever wanted my Intruder as a town bike I'm a non screeny freak.

500 words exactly

Screen always on.

Fitted mine for first big tour a couple of years ago, and leave it on all the time now. I'm currently buggering around with some black leather to see if I can fashion an upholstered panel to sit low on the screen, to hold a pocket for phone, maybe spex & other odds & sods. What with double 12v socket, satnav mount, and screen brackets, I've no room on my bars left for anything else, so it could be handy.

If if it ever gets made and is passable I'll post a pic here

On the other hand, if it looks shite........

Still craving one...
If I could afford one, I'd get that Falcon Slipstreamer one....
big ass screen...and would probably make the whole bike look less attractive but can't fault the "no wind" comfort when touring..especially now with my wife always tagging along.

MarcinG wrote:

.especially now with my wife always tagging along.

You can't beat the Mrs on the bike with you, you never have to give any excuses as to why you've been out so long.
I've been looking into a National cycles chopped or shorty screen lately, they only take seconds to fit or remove, but fuck! they're expensive.

simbo wrote:

MarcinG wrote:

.especially now with my wife always tagging along.

You can't beat the Mrs on the bike with you, you never have to give any excuses as to why you've been out so long.
I've been looking into a National cycles chopped or shorty screen lately, they only take seconds to fit or remove, but fuck! they're expensive.

Sim, be careful with the chopped screen bud. I had a 16" screen fitted before I bought the Slipstreamer and it buffeted my head so much it gave me double vision at anything above 60mph. It was just at the right height to channel all the wind on to the top 3rd of my helmet and I guess thats what caused the escessive buffeting. I'd rather do without a screen than fit one like that again.

Twojobmick wrote:

be careful with the chopped screen bud. I had a 16" screen fitted before I bought the Slipstreamer and it buffeted my head so much it gave me double vision at anything above 60mph. It was just at the right height to channel all the wind on to the top 3rd of my helmet and I guess thats what caused the escessive buffeting. I'd rather do without a screen than fit one like that again.

Cheers Mick I'll experiment by cutting the one I've got down to 15" and see what it's like before taking the plunge.

Most of the info I have seen on this shows that the majority of times the riders get head buffeting is as because of the wind that comes under the screen rather than over it. Thats where the lowers come in to play, just found this on google images

Interesting. Does this mean head buffeting is at its worst with no screen or with a screen and no lowers? I remember riding fast with no screen on the Intruder and feeling the massive push on my chest but not much head buffeting. Not sure here. I have done a lot of experimenation with the screen on my DL and the overwhelming cause of head buffeting has been the angle of the screen and the shape of my helmet. I now have a raked back modified screen and a sports helmet and no buffeting. On the Volusia I rode yesterday I noticed the screen sits very upright. I wonder if this is what is causing some of the problem. As smaller fly screen may be just as effective. Lowers are probably the answer but I can't say they look good at all!

I can kind of put up with the head buffeting, but hate that feeling with no screen where you feel you could almost be pushed off the bike by the wind pressure.

Also, even if we all had the exact same screen, each one would be fitted differently... different height, different rake, etc.... add to that some folks are taller, some are wider, some are taller and wider (hello).

Everyone would get a diiifferent experience of what is the same!

I messed around with mine for ages... had it too tall initially.

bigmal wrote:

I can kind of put up with the head buffeting, but hate that feeling with no screen where you feel you could almost be pushed off the bike by the wind pressure.

Not sure. head buffeting and double vision is most annoying and probably dangerous - depends how bad it is. A touring bike with good slipstream(fairing and adjustable screen) gives the best ride at speed. I sometimes wonder if cruisers are better ridden at lower speeds anyway. Still if you own a cruiser, you should not be prevented from going fast even if they look a bit bulky kitted out to solve the problem. The important thing with any bike is to get it set up so that it suits the rider. Comfort is paramount, especially on a long, fast road.

[quote="Bluesman"]

bigmal wrote:

I sometimes wonder if cruisers are better ridden at lower speeds anyway.

I have always considered cruisers are for the more laid back style of riding which is riding at a more sadate speed. But hey you buy a bike to do what suits you best.

simbo wrote:

Twojobmick wrote:

be careful with the chopped screen bud. I had a 16" screen fitted before I bought the Slipstreamer and it buffeted my head so much it gave me double vision at anything above 60mph. It was just at the right height to channel all the wind on to the top 3rd of my helmet and I guess thats what caused the escessive buffeting. I'd rather do without a screen than fit one like that again.

Cheers Mick I'll experiment by cutting the one I've got down to 15" and see what it's like before taking the plunge.

I've still got the 16" screen c/w mounts which you can borrow and try if ya like mate. I don't want to get rid of it as I'm planning to put it back on the bike IF I ever sell it but you're welcome to take it and try it for a while bud

Twojobmick wrote:

I've still got the 16" screen c/w mounts which you can borrow and try if ya like mate. I don't want to get rid of it as I'm planning to put it back on the bike IF I ever sell it but you're welcome to take it and try it for a while bud

Cheers Mick I'll pm you about picking it up mate

Bluesman wrote:

I always think of cruisers as the ultimate in motorcycle 'cool'. Impractical riding gear but classy, dripping with bling /bugger the cleaning and never mind the wind, you never saw Marlon Brando or Steve McQueen behind a screen (yeah I know someone will find a pic and post it) I love the screens on my current bikes but when I went for a test ride on an 800 today, I felt a bit of a softy with the screen. Big headlight at the front - that's all I need. But if you want to tour on the Intruder, you probably need a screen. I suppose it's because I only ever wanted my Intruder as a town bike I'm a non screeny freak.

500 words exactly

Smart-arse

Made my own windshield lowers. Took about a hour to make and cost about £15 if I remember right.

Oh deary deary me, you've gone and done it now bikerdave. We want the info and pictures in the Aftermarkets done section asap. You are not alowed to say you have done something here we need the ins and out Please

Will do a write up with info and materials used later. Suffering with Man Flu at the moment so will try and do it in the next couple of days. But if you look on my photos in "the show room" section you will see them fitted.

Hi, Dave I'd be really interested to see how you have made your lowers, will look forward to your write up and photo's.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Motorcycle-Lowers-low-deflectors/ALLSTEPS This is the webpage I used to make my lowers. Photos and a complete step by step guide to how to make them, tools used and materials used. Time to get back to my night nurse and whiskey. sniff sniff, cough cough

Will take some photos of mine at the weekend if anybody is interested.

Excellent news. By the way, your night nurse sounds very enticing :)

bikerdave wrote:

Will take some photos of mine at the weekend if anybody is interested.

If you would please Dave I've got plenty of the lexan and wouldn't mind making some lowers, I've read the "how to" but picture's speak a thousand words.