Back
'07 BMW G650 XCountry
Mod: Install a Sportech windshield:
In picking a windshield/windscreen I wanted one that was small enough to not spoil the sporty look of the bike but big enough to provide protection.
As I looked more and more I realized I was too used to my big cruiser bike with it's huge Memphis Fats windshield, and I reluctantly gave up on big and decided to just get a smaller one and wear a full coverage helmet with it.
I also wanted it to be a safe screen that would not shatter (and slice off my head :), which for me meant it should be polycarbonate and not acrylic. What caught my eye was this video from National Cycle demonstrating polycarbonate vs. acrylic safety, incredible stuff! (also on YouTube)
Finally it would be a plus if the screen was easily removable so you could ride on the highway to the destination then remove it for riding off road loops from camp, etc. On rough 4WD roads you are almost guaranteed that any decent size windscreen will eventually whack you in the face (helmet) at some point, so it must be removed.
My Top Windscreen Choices:
- Cee Bailey - I just wasn't excited about the styling, and it is acrylic not polycarbonate. (Search for AdvRider Geoffrey who has it).
- Wunderlich - Like AdvRider Drone has. I just didn't like the permanent mounting? Not sure but think it is acrylic as well.
- Parabellum - Very functional, thick acrylic, but just too big to keep the sporty look.
- Isotta - makes an inexpensive one that AdvRider Muddyrabbit likes. Don't know much about it.
My first runner up is:
- National F-15 windscreen - I liked the size, simple mount but a bit loose and kludgey. Only acrylic.
But the winner is:
- Sportech cruise series windscreen - the low 15" screen. It is Polycarbonate! Quick release. Infinitely adjustable angle. The proper part number is #65502012 which means: position C, 1.25" bar, Low (15"), Clear.
The Sportech cruiser windscreen 65502012 may be made for chromed out cruisers but it fit my needs perfectly. Too bad it has so much chrome!
Now the tricky part is that it comes made for 1" or 1.25" bars but our bars are 1.125", so you buy the 1.25" and use rubber inner tube strips inside the handlebar clamps.
Installation:
- When you bolt the stainless arms to the polycarbonate windscreen, the bolts they give you have white threadlock on them. I had to unbolt them once and each one of them had almost completely seized. So I recommend that you use a wire brush and solvent to clean off the white threadlock completely and use regular blue threadlock instead.
- Next I cut 2 narrow strips of rubber from an old inner tube to match the width of the stainless handlebar clamps. Wrap a rubber strip around the handlebar and secure with black electrical tape (trimmed narrower too). Then bolt on the handlebar clamps as close to the bike clamps as possible, don't tighten until the end so you can adjust the angle of the windscreen.
Finally slide the windscreen's arms into the handlebar clamps and adjust the angle of the windscreen then tighten the clamps until the windscreen slides on and off but not too loosely or tightly. Also adjust the ball detent with the smaller allen key so it has the proper pressure to hold it on better.
Tip: The trick is to loosen the clamps so that the windscreen is held tightly but not too tight so that it will not slide onto the clamps. The rubber strips help allow it to be partially tightened.
Dimensions:
Summary:
- Upside:
- Nice clean look, not too big but still keeps that invisible "hand" from pushing on your chest at speed.
- Safe polycarbonate, not acrylic like most are.
- Securely mounted, never slips, rotates or vibrates whatsoever.
- The angle of windscreen is totally adjustable by rotating handlebar clamps. Wind buffeting is average, wearing a helmet works fine.
- Quickly removed or installed in less than a second. Great for removing for off road rides.
- Windscreen position is behind headlight beam (unlike some) so there is no headlight reflection glare.
- Downside:
- Bracket/arms are tall and force clutch cables down at a bit of an angle. But not a serious concern.
- Bracket/arms prevent you from using handguards from HighwayDirtBikes.com since they mount to the top clamps. Other handguards that mount to the handlebars work fine.
- A bit pricey, but being sturdy and polycarbonate I think it is worth it.
- If you leave the windscreen on while on steep or bumpy off-roading, it may occasionally hit you in the teeth area so you'd better have a full coverage helmet or stand up! (Or else use the quick release to remove it!)
? How is the turbulence or wind buffeting?
Well I'd say with my Shoei Hornet DS dual sport helmet I don't notice any problem at all, no turbulence that bounces my helmet and causes difficulty with vision or noise on the helmet.
The wind line is around the middle of my shield and I am 5'10" tall. So of course there is more turbulence than if there was no windscreen at all, but I find it just about right.
On my cruiser bike with a big Memphis Fats windshield, I wear a half helmet and it is comfortable, but if I wear a full helmet there is too much turbulence and noise.
On this BMW with the Sportech there is way too much wind to wear my half helmet comfortably, but my DS helmet is comfortable as the wind is much cleaner.
The position of this windshield leaves a gap above the headlight which I took advantage of by adding a number plate bag from Dirt-Bike-Gear.com. I use it for off road trips to carry a tool wrap, tube, and hand pump. It mounts with 6 straps and is very secure:
Back