Bought Givi Winshield - and it helps

I bought Givi's Windshield ($116, with a free Givi hat!:thumbsup for my Viffer, Cherry Darling, at the Americade yesterday. It definitely takes the wind off of my chest and face. I had a little bit of a problem with catching my fair share of insects in the face, especially in the Adirondacks.
I had expected this shield to protect my helmet's visor from the kamikaze bugs. However, it still isn't tall enough to accomplish this task... There's a noticable approvement in this sense, but not complete protection. I suppose I was trying to turn my bike into my Father's ST1100, silly me.
The salesman claimed the shield is 3.5-4 inches taller than stock and it pushes the wind up an additional 6 inches via the taller height and the curvature. And with the slick dark smokescreen color, this windscreen adds the perk of nice looks to superior performance.
Part of me is afraid of changing the bike's looks too much as it has very nice, sporty lines, but I don't believe this screen has done that.

 

I just posted the following comments on another related thread today:

Regarding wind screens, I'm 5'9" and I've tried the Zero Gravity touring screen, and this season I went with the Givi touring screen, which I like better than the ZG but I'm still really getting pounded by the wind. (I always wear earplugs.) I find that slab miles on my VFR quickly become fatiguing and something to be endured, then there's the bugs on my face shield to contend with. I occasionally pull over to wipe down my face shield, but within minutes its plastered again.

With either of these screens the wind hits me right smack in the face shield. After riding a 2007 BMW K1200GT (which is admittedly a pig weighing 630+ lbs.) I've come to the conclusion that most any 'sport-touring' motorcycle should at least include the option of an electronically adjustable windscreen. So what if it costs additional money-- most of us have probably spent as much if not more trying to find an aftermarket windscreen that actually protects your head from wind and bugs.

As a 'sport-touring' motorcycle the VFR's windscreen is just too low in my opinion. I'm now thinking about trying an MRA Vario touring windscreen, even though most reviews I've read at this forum seem to conclude that it isn't much better either.
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Addendum

Addendum: While riding on a freeway with your (I mean 'our') Givi touring screen, bring your left hand fingers up to about 6" behind the screen, starting from well below the upper lip of the screen, and then as you begin to raise your left hand, feel for where the air stream flowing over the screen begins to grab your fingers and push backwards. You'll likely find that the onrushing air is aimed right at your face shield. Fun, eh?

Those who've installed handlebar risers (I haven't) for a more upright posture will likely contend with far worse air buffeting since their head and torso is raised higher into the onrushing wind.

 

Yeah, I'm 6'1" and I think getting plastered a little bit is just part of riding. I mean, there isn't such thing as the "perfect bike". Every bike has their shortcomings, and I don't want to pretend the VFR is something that it is not. (i.e. ST1100/1300, the larger BMW tourers etc. etc.) The screen does provide some relief, and I'm content with it.
I road a DRZ400s (stock seat, too) for eight to ten hours a day for two weeks during our trip down the Continental Divide last summer, so I know how much worse and uncomfortable it can be on a bike.
And again, I'm eighteen years old, so I don't really want a gigantic windscreen on my bike, Y'know? Just a tad more comfort is fine with me while still preserving the bikes handsome looks.

 

I bought the Puig touring screen, and then the MRA VarioTouring screen in the hopes of getting the wind blast above my face shield. Oh, well. The MRA flows air very smoothly, but I still get bugs right where I don't want them; right at eye level. I give up.

I think that's why I like cold weather riding. Less bugs.

 

I don't mind the bugs, but the noise was too much. I bought it with a Zero Gravity on it...not the touring one, but I think it was taller than stock. Wind was hitting my helmet and quite loud. I knew I had to go lower or higher (I am ok with it hitting my body, like on the triumph with no wind screen). I ended up getting the Givi touring, too. Only one ride and the sound level is a lot lower. But I am also short

 

I'm just 5'9" and I have a problem with the noise. The wind seem to hit the lower part of helmet making quite bad noise. My ears are ringing even with plugs on. I guess I can't buy anything lower, but would the Givi's touring screen help with this?

 

Yeah, It would help for sure. It is quite a bit taller than stock, so it should keep the wind (and noise) off of your helmet. As I said before, the screen raises the stream of air coming off it about six inches higher. It should do the trick.

 

+1...glad I'm not the only nut out in the middle of winter :biggrin:


As for my shield...started out with a Targus touring screen which was about 2-2.5" taller in the upper mid section of the screen and also increased the angle a good 20 degrees. That bad boy's slipstream smoked me right in the chin bar/bottom of the face shield. I'm 6'4 and carry quite a bit of height in my torso(wear "tall size" shirts). I switched over to a stock size dark tint which is lower in the middle obviously and now it hits me in the chest and just below the helmet making for a smoother ride and less buffeting of the helmet.


It's still a sport bike no matter what you guys think about it's touring ability and there is no way you'll ever get full wind protection on a bike like this unless you're a midget(<5'8-9 maybe) with a touring screen.

 

I am 5'4", bike has risers. Bike started with a ZG touring (16") and was hitting me right in the helmet. I tried the Givi touring (18" with more of a lip) and thought it would be perfect for getting the air over my helmet. And I'm only 5'4" now! But I still get a howl in the helmet.

I am trying the stock height next and hoping it will hit me in the chest. One of the other bikes is naked, so I enjoy the lack of windscreen...hoping this helps with the helmet noise.

 

You calling my wife a midget?

 

hat too awesome.....

 

midgets always have nice round azzz...:thumbsup:

 

but how do they wipe thier butts with those little short arms??

 

I put the stock screen back on and I too like it better. I would rather the screen blast hit me in the chest than the helmet.

 

+1 I am thinking of cutting one even lower