Latest addition to the GSX1400

**burrowsclan** · 21-02-2012

When I bought the GSX1400, it when I was still a little unsure what bike I wanted and I was limited by the funds I had available. I found it for a good price and it was in very good nick for it's age/mileage. I wanted something that I could enjoy one-up or two-up, and that I could get some hard luggage for. After the test ride, I was blown away by the amount of torque and really enjoyed the solid feel of the bike. Having lived with it for a while now, I still love it but find it tiring on longer rides because of the lack of wind protection (well I guess you get that with a naked bike

). It's great fun on back roads, but just plain hard work to do any motorway miles to get anywhere, and tiring after a day out. With fatigue an ongoing issue for me due to medical reasons, I have contemplating whether I should change it for something else

. I'd love a MG Norge, but can't afford one right now...

Anyway, I thought I would try sorting the elements of the bike that were a little lacking. The little flyshield I had before has now been replaced by one of these...

It's a Givi Airflow screen. (there's a bit more gen on them here). I'm very split on the looks on the bike, but I don't have to look at it so much

. With two give panniers and a big top box, I've kind of lost the 'clean' naked bike look anyway.

I went out for a short ride today for the first time with it on and I am very impressed with the amount of protection it provides. I still need to play with the best height (the top part moves up and down on rails, with an air channel to reduce turbulence) to suit me but it certainly seems to work well. The only problem with it is that I found myself whizzing along at 80 when it felt like I was doing 50..

.

Anyway, here's hoping it will make any longer jaunts much more comfortable.

Cheers,

Ed

**Stridey** · 21-02-2012

Looks good mate. Hope to see you out on some rides soon when you fancy it?

**Bandit** · 21-02-2012

Since buying my wing, I have found that the screen has a problem that I have never encountered before.

When poodleing along at motorway speeds there seems to be a vacuum created between me and the screen, This means that I have to push slightly against the bars as I feel I am being pulled inwards instead of hanging on for dear life like on my Bandit (Naked bike).

Has anyone else experienced anything like this??

**Burger** · 21-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit

Since buying my wing, I have found that the screen has a problem that I have never encountered before.

When poodleing along at motorway speeds there seems to be a vacuum created between me and the screen, This means that I have to push slightly against the bars as I feel I am being pulled inwards instead of hanging on for dear life like on my Bandit (Naked bike).

Has anyone else experienced anything like this??

It's not a vacuum in front of you, it's force from behind you generated by the turbulence from the screen. Adjusting it up or down a little (can you do that on the 1500's?) makes a huge difference. Or opening the screen vent (if 1500's have one) will also help. It's perfectly normal for such a big screen which is why many after market ones have holes already cut in them.

Regards,

**jj2463** · 22-02-2012

Yep, used to get this on my GT; very common. People spend fortunes trying to sort it but you soon get used to it

**Bandit** · 22-02-2012

Well I would rather be pushing off the bars than hanging on for dear life!

**chrisjk** · 22-02-2012

Alan,
If you look at a GL1800's screen you will see a slot in the screen which is designed to let air through to prevent this "suction effect". It helps to a degree but doesn't eliminate it completely.

There is a multitude of after-market screens for the Wings and most cost a pretty penny but some folk swear by them. I always found the GL1800 screen very good and left it permanently in its lowest position.

It is often the pillion who complains about screen turbulence and it can be affected by things like "Baker wings" as much as any screen change.

motogp · 22-02-2012

This happens on my GS. I have just got used to it over the years.

**Zippy** · 23-02-2012

Yeah - same on my old Varadero and the GS ... tried Tobinators on the GS and they sort of worked, but ended up cracking the screen around the mounts.

Best solution I found for my old Varadero was an MRA Vario split screen ... MRA BMW R1150GS & Adventure 1999-2004 Adjustable Motorcycle Touring Screens

Not sure if they do something similar for the GSX or 'wing...

**burrowsclan** · 23-02-2012

Steve,

They do make a universal MRA screen for naked bikes, but I think it looks just as bad

as this one, is much smaller and probably wouldn't provide as much protection.

This screen works in a similar fashion. You can't see very well from the photo, but it is one screen on rails on top of the base one. This provides an air channel to equalise some of the pressure around the screen that is the cause of most turbulence - in this way it works in a similar fashion to the 'laminar lip' at the top of the MRA screens. My wife's Versys has an MRA screen fitted and it works very well, with very little turbulence. It seems that windscreens can be a very personal affair, and are all a compromise between protection, oops and turbulence. Unfortunately, if you stick something into an airflow, some degree of turbulence is the consequence - it's just a case of getting that turbulence to occur in the 'right' place rather than drumming on the top of your helmet!

Cheers all, and an interesting discussion,

Ed