Featured So Called Long Haul Screen

Triumph's so called "Long Haul Windscreen" for the Bonnie, hmmph !

Well I'd just had enough of it, enough I say, because it was terrible and the only place I wanted to haul it was the dustbin. Glad it came with the bike and I didn't buy it afterwards.

I'm 5'9 ish so average ish height but the buffeting I got from that screen was that bad that I could barely read a road sign at 70mph so I decided to do something about it.

I didn't feel like attacking it myself so I got a nice fellow called Martin from Bay Plastics to attack it for me.

https://www.bayplastics.co.uk

And what a cracking job he did too.

After using some top secret experimention techniques to determine the best height and width for my height and sack of taters riding position I knew what I wanted, (ok, read silly arse taped bits of cardboard to the front of the bike and rode round the block a few times). I then handed the screen over to Martin and hoped it didn't crack while it was being cut.

What I got back was perfect, high enough to flick the wind off my chest but low enough to leave my head in clean air so no buffeting. Plus the finishing they put on the edges was better than Triumph had managed when they made it.

Cost me 50 quid but buying another screen would have cost me more so I'm well happy.

Some pics.

 

Oh I know what will happen in rough weather, I'll get wet !

But the screen as it originally was didn't keep me dry either. Should be better in a crosswind though.

 

The only thing that kept me reasonably dry was the rather nutty Gilera Fuoco three wheel scooter I bought after another round of surgury a few years ago.

Two front wheels, leant like bike but front suspension could be locked below 6 mph which meant I didn't have to take the weight of it which was a good thing as I'd been unzipped from sternum to groin.

Feet, legs and midriff would stay dry but shoulders, arms and gloves would still get soggy.

My Pan Euro 1300 would keep me drier than most bikes but after prolonged riding in torrential rain you still got wet.

Being in the UK I don't have to deal with sand, but spray from trucks will get you anyway because the air is so full of moisture. I'll head for the back roads where there's no trucks in that circumstance.

Being retired means I ride purely for pleasure, if its chucking it down the bike stays in the garage and I'll go sulk with a sandwich and do something else.

 

Been riding for over forty years, sometimes use screens and sometimes don't.

But, more comfortable without any screen ?

Hogwash !

Get the screen right and it's both quiet and comfortable, get the screen wrong and your on a hiding to nowhere.

Your GS1250 has a screen

 

A general but not gospel rule of thumb is that the top of the screen should be below your nip nops or above the tip of your shnozz.

Don't go for wide screens or the air will come under the sides of the screen and react with the air coming over the top causing buffeting.

Your riding position and even the crash helmet you wear can make a difference so it can be a long winded arse about to get the right screen for you.