Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories To Screen or Not To Screen?

I ordered the summer windscreen as part of the $1,200 bonus accessory offer with my '07 America. It hasn't come in yet, but I'm having second thoughts about whether or not I need one.

I've been riding nearly every day including recent days where the temperature has been about 32 and really haven't felt the need for it. (heated vest and gloves) I haven't been buffeted around, but I haven't done much riding above 60 mph either. I think that the look of the bike is better without, but others may feel differently.

Thoughts?

I tossed up about screens for a long time before I got mine, but since then I've loved being behind it. Yes the bikes looks better without one, but it rides better with one. Did you buy your bike to be looked at or to be ridden?

They make you soft I took mine off when it went back to Hinckley, but it will be going back on, especially on the motorway at speeds of around 70 to 80 mph I miss it..

I have to admit that I bought my bike to be both looked at AND ridden. I love the Triumph for this reason, as wherever I go I get some comment on it, and have not purchased a windshield yet to this end. However, whenever I travel over 60, I begin to question whether or not I should get one. If they made one that was easily removeable, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Fact is, 99% of all the riding I do is in town anyway, and is less than 60 mph, so it's just not that much of a priority. If I did more highway riding I'd probably break down and get one anyway. I have thought of ways to rig up a removeable version, but don't have any ideas yet (judging by the posts online I'm not the only one who likes that idea), but will keep thinking.

I ride all over, from state to state and 300 to 500 mile rides with in my state on a Saturday. I have never had a windshield and never will, if I want a windshield I'll get in my truck. Only time I even consider the merits of one is when it's raining buckets or freezing rain cause that hurts but then I remember I'm a man and just put my leather face mask on and grit my teeth.

I have a small screen and have to silently apologize to the Triumph every time I stick it on that fabulous work of art.

Very cold or long rides I put it on. The bike deserves me to be stronger than that. Sometimes I am just a rider, too soft to be a biker. I think it comes with age. Dog is right

There are a lot of us that have allergies to:

Wind
Water
Diesel Grit
Bugs
Cold
Heat

You know, the normal be a man things

Thats my opinion but only applies to me.

Dog about summed it up...................In the wind means just that!!!!!!!!

I agree with Ian and Dutch - there is a lot to be said about the
" purist " merits of being in the wind . It's a price to pay - whenever I ride it's like being in a pillow fight . I put one on Derinda's Sportster , and it's nice , but somehow I cherish form over function . I suppose that a less obtrusive ( Memphis ) windshield would be a viable compromise . Sometimes we are in a group of 25 or so bikes and I am the only one " out in the wind " . It's just like running boards or pegs , pillion or single - like the Triumph slogan invitingly states - " Go Your Own Way " .

I admire the dog's thinking, I was just like that for 25 years. He's right, of course, a real man toughs it out. But after one particular ride (28 hrs nonstop, 22 in the pouring rain, 55 degrees, leather jacket only) my potatoes shriveled up and I bacame a hollow shell of my once tough as nails self, and have been mostly riding behind a smallish police style shield ever since. (Oh the shame, the shame of it! AU GGGGGGG!) Ride on, dog, ride on!

You guys crack me up! I wasn't putting down guys who use them. I just never will. Longest non-stop rain was on my way to Laconia 2 years ago. From here in NE PA to the northern end of Vermont in such driving rain I couldn't see the tail light of the guy in front of me. Temp was in the 40s and all I had on was my leather jacket, brown jersey gloves,leather face mask and leather jacket with T shirt under it. I was frozen and soaked to the bone. Was one of the best trips I ever took, Great friends, lots of laughing , I still have shots of all our clothes hanging around the stove in my room. I also have a pair of boots I still wear riding with the inside of the tongue melted from being in the oven! I would do it again tomorrow!

I've had all three screens. In the winter I run a "summer" screen, just to take the edge off (no heated clothing). In the summer, I run the fly screen because it just looks so fly...

Ha! I guess that makes me really a wimp... I'm selling my Harley because it would be way too much of a pain to put a fairing on it. Cant' even find one to fit it. Looking for a sport tourer...

Suprisingly, I didn't get much buffeting when I rode my Speedy without a shield (70-80mph) or even behind semi's. I got way more with a shield. But it makes a huge difference with cold and rain... and dirt, rocks, bugs, pieces of road gators and other assorted objects that seem to be attracted to motorcyclists....

I guess you dont' ride with earphones, either...<G>
Mary

Earplugs? Always.

what?

When I had my Hardly Road King, that big ole screen seemed so right. But when I got my TBA I couldn't wait to remove the windshield (which is how I met Big Poppy, by the way).
A fly screen and a lot of adjusting its angle solved the wind on the chest buffetting while ear plugs cut the noise to a dull roar.
After a year on the TBA, I'd never go back to a windshield although the occasional bug in my mouth is a bother.
SteveB

After a couple of months with my Memphis Fats 17" screen, I find it is perfect for my needs. Just right on cold days, no buffeting like I experienced with the Roadster (although didn't realize it). Pops off in literally under a minute for warm weather use.
We had some unusually warm late Fall riding days and without the screen, I took some serious hits to the face/ear with large bugs. A few left some noticable welts so the screen went right back on. No more ouches.

I thought, "I need a screen to increase endurance".

Well heck yeah man. But you know, it seems that riding sans screen just means a different configuration: Full face helmet with a decent jacket when rolling along at 5500+rpms.

Riding back from Bryan TX, Cinnamon Girl had a summer screen. The word Frisbee kept coming to mind... The buffeting was so bad that I rode with my face hanging to the left and right a lot. A steady breeze, albeit intense at times, is so much more desirable than those little tornados.

Saying that having a screen when it rains makes a difference is so simple. Well it doesn't. Think about it. Wet is wet. Don't we slow down when it rains anyway? Riding properly attired, again, is so important that it cannot be stressed enough. Getting by with shorts and flip flops is fine. Do it. But then we have a problem with the elements and so goes the desire for a windscreen. How can one truly ride in the wind when wearing a fullface helmet? Throw a leg over and twist the throttle, that’s how. I wonder the level of Joy of that guy I passed on the beltway around Little Rock who was not wearing a helmet and had no shield as the rain was pounding us? He looked like he was having loads of fun while he was looking cool. Looks blow. Being comfortable is being in that proverbial Great pumpkin patch. For you Freudians, "Happy Place" For me it was wearing a rain suit and wishing someone would turn on the AC.

So what am I rambling on about? Why it was the egg that came first rather than the chicken. And you can bet that the egg had no need for a windscreen.

Enjoy your sickle. Ride it naked , ride it with full armor , but ride it.

Riding is what motorsickles are all about.

Went for a chilly RAT ride the other day. I wear a half helmet in the warm weather, and a full face helmet when the temps drop. A big ol' acorn (I think) hit me in the front of helmet at around 60 MPH. It gouged a mark into the cons tape. Glad I had the big bucket on. To each his own. Ayup.

I think Dogg is exactly right . Having the wind rushing by your face is a big part of the essence and enjoyment of motorcycling. I really enjoyed that part of riding when I was a little younger. I actually enjoyed kick starting my bike back then too.

I am 60 now and I seemed to have compromised on the form vs. function equation which I didn't think I would ever do . I don't like the looks of a shield on my Speedy but to me, at this point, it's worth having. I recently added the Clearview shield to my bike and I really like it, especially on the highway. Right now I get a loads of exitement out of riding my bike without having the wind rushing around my face. Everyone has his/her own preferences. It is about the ride!

Lots of answers and they're all true.

Myself, I've gone forth and back, then back and forth. Initally rode a number of years, no shield and maybe 1/2 the time with just a bandanna and everyday sunglasses. Bought the 02 BA and started with no shield, then purchased the Triumph issue roadster screen. For awhile, we debated here if adding headlight/driving light visors would cut the roadster "angry monkey beating me about the head & shoulders" buffeting. I never made personal acquaintance with that monkey, but many others here did. Got curious and bought the "Clearview" oversized (2" wider, 4" taller). It's nice and blocks all kinds of wind, but took it off after a year and back to the roadster screen. Now I'm back to square one and debating screen/no-screen. Except the bandanna/sunglass days are probably past.

I guess it's up to you and what suits your karmic and physical needs.

jh

I'll ride with a screen. Without is fine if your just tooling around town...but up on the slab for a long days ride a screen then becomes indispensable.

The degree to which a good screen and lowers removes the onslaught of the 80 mile an hour slipstream is phenomenal.

Ride 800 miles in a day without one and you will feel the last two to three hundred miles in a big way....ride with one and those last two to three hundred miles can be as nice as the first five hundred. NOT getting your face and neck beat by that onrushing slipstream is a GODSEND at the end of the day.

Ride in subfreezing cold without one and then try it with one and note the difference in comfort.

If you wear prescription glasses or shades.....you can cruise at 80 miles an hour with no buffeting to same.

You still get enough breeze for that in the wind feel.

I cuouldn't say it any better Kevin.

mike

Functionally the summer screen is useless if you're around 6'1". Head buffeting is horrible. It does look nice IMHO. I wouldn't buy it again.

Regards,

Tom

I wish there was a quick way to take the shield on and off. I have a friend who has a Harley Road King and his shield goes on or comes off in less than a minute. I have a shield ~~ and I like it ~~ but there are times I would like to remove it without it taking me an hour or two to put it back on.

Memphis Shades ......mine is on and off in a heartbeat. The mount hardware remains of course......but its just a matter of loosening a couple of allen on both sides and sliding it off.

Greetings,
I have a Memphis shade big shot and I Love it. I rode the first year without and this past year with it. The difference was great. And I can always remove it quickly.

I can understand why some people like to ride without, but as a personal choice I perfer not getting pelleted by winds or stones.

I do like to ride without a screen ...for awhile anyway. After a long five hours or so at speeds typical for the slab I find that the breeze hitting one side of my neck starts to just get irritating ...feels like someone has been gently slapping me on the side of the neck for five hours...which in effect is what the wind is doing.

I find I am more full of energy and vigor when I do not have that 80 mile an hour breeze slapping the snot out of me all day. I feel less tired and more like having some fun at the end of that long day.

Just installed my Viper Slipstreamer for the winter. Had forgotten how bad it is. Head buffetting, helmet absolutely roars, instruments reflect off inside at night, I think I'd rather be cold.

Sounds like you need some Memphis Shades.

Not earplugs...
Earphones... as in cell phone, iPod or XMRadio...
or the audio alert for radar detectors...<G>

Mary

I have the summer screen and really like it. It's just right to stop buffeting and doesn't detract from the feeling of being at one with nature on yer triumph. Full face helmet no matter what the weather after seeing some pictures of a guy with an open faced helmet after he'd tried to use his face as a brake!

I wouldn't have one of those huge screens though, that must be like towing a parachute!

Exactly why I sold my Roadster screen and bought the Memphis Shades system. Should have did it a few years ago.

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I wish there was a quick way to take the shield on and off. I have a friend who has a Harley Road King and his shield goes on or comes off in less than a minute. I have a shield ~~ and I like it ~~ but there are times I would like to remove it without it taking me an hour or two to put it back on.

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