Extra wide windscreen

Neil Warden

Joined
Nov 23, 2019
Messages
27
Age
59
Location
Aberdeen
I've came across a company here in the UK that offer an extra wide and taller windscreen which I'm considering buying.
However can anyone advise if this would affect the aerodynamics of the ride, if so to what extent?

If i do change for this screen, would I need to advise my insurers as I believe this may be classed as a modification?
 
Don't know what your insurance company thinks of aftermarket windshields (windscreens), but over here, I've not heard of anybody notifying their insurance company about this accessory.* A larger one will likely make your ride quieter and put you in a pocket of quiet air when in the full up position. It might increase wind buffeting slightly at speed when you are overtaking a large truck (lorry(?)), and it will decrease your mpg slightly (more at high rates of speed). I'm not sure this is classified as a modification - presumably it was designed for your bike by the company that is selling it; that will depend on the wording of your policy.

*Were I in an accident that damaged my Calsci windshield, I would trot out the receipt and wave it at my insurance company. Accessories w/ cost documentation are covered under my policy at 100%.
 
SMSW said:
Don't know what your insurance company thinks of aftermarket windshields (windscreens), but over here, I've not heard of anybody notifying their insurance company about this accessory.* A larger one will likely make your ride quieter and put you in a pocket of quiet air when in the full up position. It might increase wind buffeting slightly at speed when you are overtaking a large truck (lorry(?)), and it will decrease your mpg slightly (more at high rates of speed). I'm not sure this is classified as a modification - presumably it was designed for your bike by the company that is selling it; that will depend on the wording of your policy.

*Were I in an accident that damaged my Calsci windshield, I would trot out the receipt and wave it at my insurance company. Accessories w/ cost documentation are covered under my policy at 100%.
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Hi
Thanks for your comments.
The insurance companies over here in Scotlan (Europe) class any changes to a vehicle as a modification. Iwhat the vehicle left the factory with is to remain the same, if changed or altered its classed as being modified, therefore the insurers will cover you at an additional cost only if you have declared these modifications.


Interesting what you say about additional protection when passing trucks etc.

Thanks
 
Hi Neil:

I tried installing a significantly wider screen on my ST 1100 many years ago, and found that there was a proportionate increase in back pressure against my back (pushing me forward) when riding.

I subsequently installed a screen that was a wee bit taller than the original one, but not significantly wider, and that gave me the results I wanted - less wind hitting me head-on when riding, but no increase in back pressure.

As for insurance, I'm not familiar with the rules governing UK insurance, but my personal guess is that an aftermarket windscreen would not be considered to be a 'material modification' to the motorcycle for insurance purposes. I think the only circumstance you would want to declare it would be if the aftermarket screen was considerably more expensive than the OEM screen (not likely), and then you would be declaring it for the purpose of getting additional replacement coverage on it.

Michael
 
CYYJ said:
Hi Neil:

I tried installing a significantly wider screen on my ST 1100 many years ago, and found that there was a proportionate increase in back pressure against my back (pushing me forward) when riding.

I subsequently installed a screen that was a wee bit taller than the original one, but not significantly wider, and that gave me the results I wanted - less wind hitting me head-on when riding, but no increase in back pressure.

As for insurance, I'm not familiar with the rules governing UK insurance, but my personal guess is that an aftermarket windscreen would not be considered to be a 'material modification' to the motorcycle for insurance purposes. I think the only circumstance you would want to declare it would be if the aftermarket screen was considerably more expensive than the OEM screen (not likely), and then you would be declaring it for the purpose of getting additional replacement coverage on it.

Michael
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Hi thanks,

The company in question offer a wider screen (2inches either side wider) and another screen which is taller (20/21 inches).
They have recently offered a new screen, clear or light tint with a 'flip' at the top of the screen to help deflect air over your helmet etc.
 
Some factors to consider: Do you like to look through the windscreen or over it? How tall are you? I think Michael (@CYYJ) is around 6'; I'm 5'7" and I like to look through the shield. To see where your new screen's top will be, put your existing windshield in the full down position, pace off about 40' on level ground, mark that spot, and tape a rule to your windscreen with, say, the 12" mark even with the top (sticking straight up). Sit on the bike in your normal position, and look at the marked point. You should be able to pick out one number in your line of sight that will tell you how far above the top of the screen your line of sight falls. Do this again with the windshield raised. Now you can tell where the new, taller windshield will fall.
 
SMSW said:
Some factors to consider: Do you like to look through the windscreen or over it? How tall are you? I think Michael (@CYYJ) is around 6'; I'm 5'7" and I like to look through the shield. To see where your new screen's top will be, put your existing windshield in the full down position, pace off about 40' on level ground, mark that spot, and tape a rule to your windscreen with, say, the 12" mark even with the top (sticking straight up). Sit on the bike in your normal position, and look at the marked point. You should be able to pick out one number in your line of sight that will tell you how far above the top of the screen your line of sight falls. Do this again with the windshield raised. Now you can tell where the new, taller windshield will fall.
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This is the first 'sit upright' bike I've had, so not sure yet for line of sight, but get what you say about measuring etc. Many thanks
 
That sounds like the Bike-Quip shield. Or at least it they have one that fits the description. It also has a little flip up to that is supposed to reduce turbulence on your hat. I think it looks sharp.

You may find that a larger windshield may act like a spinnaker and not in a good way. There could be a noticeable reduction in gas mileage if that's a consideration.
 
Neil Warden said:
The insurance companies over here in Scotlan (Europe) class any changes to a vehicle as a modification. Iwhat the vehicle left the factory with is to remain the same, if changed or altered its classed as being modified, therefore the insurers will cover you at an additional cost only if you have declared these modifications.
Click to expand...

I don't know if changing one windscreen for another would be considered a modification. The bike had a windscreen and still does.
If you follow that to the letter of the law you shouldn't be able to replace vehicle tires (autos included) with any brand or size other than the OEM ones.
I guess if in doubt ask your insurer.
 
ST Gui said:
That sounds like the Bike-Quip shield. Or at least it they have one that fits the description. It also has a little flip up to that is supposed to reduce turbulence on your hat. I think it looks sharp.

You may find that a larger windshield may act like a spinnaker and not in a good way. There could be a noticeable reduction in gas mileage if that's a consideration.
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Hi

Yes that's the company offering a few options for windscreens
 
Neil Warden said:
They have recently offered a new screen, clear or light tint...
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Hi Neil:

Get the screen with the light tint, only because the light tint hides small scratches much better than a clear screen. The tint makes no difference when riding, as we rarely look through the screen when riding.

Michael
 
fnmag said:
It's and excellent shield, well built with more wind protection and no turbulence.
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I've had my eye on that for some time now. Besides the improved functionality I've read about – it looks sharp and enhances the line of the bike.

CYYJ said:
Get the screen with the light tint, only because the light tint hides small scratches much better than a clear screen.
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Are you referring to various angles of sunlight revealing scratch when viewing through the windshield or just in general when looking at the windshield. Something that never occurred to me regardless.

CYYJ said:
The tint makes no difference when riding, as we rarely look through the screen when riding.
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That tint looks light enough that as long as there's daylight it won't really matter. And for those of us who don't get out much at night - an even lesser concern.

Maybe one day soon...
 
ST Gui said:
Are you referring to various angles of sunlight revealing scratch when viewing through the windshield or just in general when looking at the windshield.
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The benefit is when you are off the motorcycle and it is parked - the windshield "won't looked scratched" even if it has fine scratches or pits in it. It's almost impossible to make small scratches invisible on a clear windshield. but if the windshield has a slight tint to it, the scratches are just not noticeable unless you get really close to the windshield and start looking for them. When you are riding the motorcycle, it makes no difference, the small scratches are not noticed on either a clear or tinted windshield because a) you are looking over it, not through it, and b) when you look through it, perpendicular to the scratch, you don't see the scratch.
ST Gui said:
That tint looks light enough that as long as there's daylight it won't really matter. And for those of us who don't get out much at night - an even lesser concern.
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My experience is that the tint makes no difference at all at night. Again, we're almost always looking over the windshield, not through it, and in any case the tint is not heavy enough to obscure things at night. It's not like auto tint, which can sometimes cut 50% of the light transmission. Tint on motorcycle windshields is typically very, very light, it doesn't need to be dark.

Michael
 
If the company you're looking at is Bikequip then the screen may have been successfully sold for years... I say may because the original owner, who has since passed away, sold the company on a couple of years ago. If the current owner still use the same supplier then the screen is excellent, and when my current PUIG screen gets too scratched I'll probably buy one myself.

For me (and everyone is different) the Bikequip screen gave no handling problems, either from side-winds or turbulence. FWIW the screen has been discussed in this forum previously.
 
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GryST said:
Stock screen drove me crazy with back wind pushing. I put 2 flaps-deflectors (on each side 30$ each)and the wind push disappeared. Another benefit is that you can play with rotation angles.
No turbulence either.
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Are they just the generic ebay clamp on ones? (no drilling required)
 
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