I will be buying a new wind screen for fall (cool weather) riding. I would like some advice or reviews of those who have tried different screens. I'm 5'10" with a 32" inseam.
I like looking over the screen. I have read some good reviews on both the calsci and ztechnik. Which do you prefer and why.

Thanks
Bob...

I have a Cal Sci and it is the best windscreen that I have found. No wind noise or wind buffeting.

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08 R1200RT Sand Beige Metallic
07 Moto Guzzi Norge (gone)

I'm your size and find the stock windscreen fine for our height. I too like looking over in lieu of through. If your sizing for winter riding I'm assuming you'll be interested in a taller windscreen which means you will be looking through. No way around it if your trying to block the cold winter wind. I don't think any of the aftermarket windscreens are wider than stock since they wouldn't fit in the low position. I too want to be a little warmer in colder weather but I'm going the heated clothing route in stead since I like looking over the windscreen too. Just my two cents.

The CeeBaileys windscreen can be ordered up to 8" wider. I'm not endorsing the CeeBaileys screen because I don't think acrylic should be used for a motorcycle windscreen, but that's just my opinion.

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'06 R 1200 RT in Southern California.

Am I the only one concerned about acrylic shields? Even thick ones are only 5-10% as strong as Polycarbonate? I read CalSci's FAQ's that they don't use Lexan because a Saudi Arabian company owns manufacturing of Lexan, and they won't do business with terrorists or some such nonsense. Well, couple of things. First, I have no clue if the company funds terrorism, and given the fact that Saudi Arabia is an ally of the US, I kind of doubt it. But if they have proof, I'm all for it, but it sounds suspiciously racist. Second, and probably more importantly, almost all of the Lexan manufactured for sale in the US is manufactured in the US. That's a lot of employment and money in our economy.

Acrylic has superior optical quality to Lexan. But not that much more superior that I'm willing to sacrifice safety. I know that some acrylics meet DOT standards for motorcycle windshields, but I remain unsold.

I'm going to upgrade my windshield, but since only Ztechnik makes a polycarbonate version (as far as I can tell), I'm probably going to buy theirs. And I'll overlook the $20-30 of gross profit on the Lexan (and probably only $10 net from my one shield) to Saudi Arabia.

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'06 R 1200 RT in Southern California.

I'm happy with my Ztechnik (and it's wider than the stock screen).

I'm leaning towards the Ztechnik because it is wider with better wind protection. I would like the same height as the stock screen and wider to keep the wind off my arms. My last bike was a 1800 Goldwing and I could ride in mid 30 degree temps with no problems (great protection). I really like the heated seats on the RT.

The more I ride this bike the better I like it. The only dislike is this bike eats tires. I only have 3400 miles on the bike and the stock Bridgestones are over half worn.

Thanks
Bob...

I ordered the Ztechnik wind screen today. My dealer gave me a slight discount ($189.00). My next purchase will be tires as mine are showing some wear with 3500 miles. I could get 12,000 miles or better with the 1800 Goldwing that weighted 900 lbs.
I plan on adding electronics over the winter months.

Thanks for the input on the wind screen.

Bob...

Probably the right choice.

I have both the Cal Sci and the Z Technik. Both work well but the Technik aero works better for seeing over the top using my Shoei 1000 helmet. It can be set lower than the Cal Sci without increasing helmet noise. so its whats on the bike most of the time.

The Z Technik vibrates more than the Cal Sci so I added the West Tool upper brackets as a precaution against breakage that has been reported mostly with aftermarket windscreens. The stock brackets are pot metal and sometimes fail from vibration fatigue. The West Tool are solid aluminum of a a proper alloy. Install takes 30 min or so and requires removing some stock plastic and is easily done whn a screen is being changed.

Both increase wind buffeting effects noticeably - the RT isn't the worlds best bike in buffeting crosswinds anyway and the screens make it worse. (I'm talking about honest 30 mph headwinds that keep shifting across the front of the bike, a riding condition I see regularly during late winter/early spring riding. NOT simply the usual 10-15 mph breezes)

Cal Sci service is excellent and it comes with a cover that can be used for storing your stock shield. I'd argue that its strength is adequate and shotgun demos are irrelevant to real world use.

I clean with a water soak to soften bugs and remove major crud, then Plexus. No alcohol or ammonia- neither is necessary though neither will hurt if used highly dilute and removed quickly- by the time you would see any chemical attack your screen will be blasted by road debris and need replacement anyway and if you park outside uncovered, UV damage is ineviitable for all plastics..

I'm with you racer7 on using soap, water and Plexus. I carry a water soaked sponge in a zip lock for cleaning the wind screen and finis with Plexus.

Do you have the website for ordering the upper aluminum brackets?

Bob...

I just bought the Ztechnic for my 09 RT and was looking at the West Tool brackets myself. Her's the link:
http://www.westtoolff.com/index_files/Page716.htm

Courtney in Seattle

West Tool didn't have web ordering a while ago but is planning to add a paypal option.
You'll probably have to call to order. Cost is $90 for both upper brackets in black powdercoat finish.
Lowers aren't replaced.

The the BMW MOSA hexhead tech section for instructions that re relevant. There's a thread on woring access in the front that shows exactly how to remove the brackets. Basically you remove the windscreen, pull the plastic shield underneath, remove obth mirrors and loosen the plastic immeidately over the bracket mount point. Assembly is in reverse.

Tools needed are a T25, a 4 mm hex, and a small screwdriver to remove the circlips. Don't drop the circlips or the bracket pins into the body of the bike!!

You need to take the plastic bushings out of the two stock brackets and put them into the West brackets.

I received and installed the Ztechnic wind screen tonight. It was a good night to test the new Ztechnic as the temp was 47 degrees and windy. The main thing I noticed right away was no wind on my arms and no wind buffeting. I had the seat in the low position and could easily see over the screen. I tapped the switch to raise the screen just a tad and it was very quite. Very happy so far. My only concern are the brackets as the screen is larger than stock; but I will ride with the screen only raised a half inch or so.

Thanks for the help in choosing this screen.

Bob...

brushbuster
I have a C.B. screen and have been very happy with it. It is the Euro cut light gray tint +1H,+2W. For your height I would probably go +2H, +2W or +3W. The screen flips up right at the top so the wind goes over your helmet.

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'05 1200 RT, Ruby, as in RED, (current garage queen)
'04 1150 RT, '99 Ducati 748 BiPosto, '93 Seca II, '93 K1100RS (Silk Blue), '83 Yamaha Maxim 750 (all gone)

I need to contribute here.

I installed the ZTechnik Vstream std screen on my RT last week. I'm 5'11", 33" arms, 32" inseam. Std bars, std seat in low position. Two helmets: Shoei Multitech and Shoei J-Wing. The screen is thick and well made. Very little distortion through the shield, but there is little need to raise the shield that high. Everything lined up exactly as expected. There is a modest etched "VStream" logo at the bottom center.

This is a great winter windscreen. In fact, it's probably a very good 4-seasons windscreen. The temps have been below 65F for the past couple of weeks, so I can't testify about the screen in humid midwest summers. Changing the screen takes 5 minutes, so YMMV in summer.

Visually the center of the windscreen is about 1" higher than stock. The stock apexes at the corners are at about the same position as the Vstream shield's curve, and the ends are of course wider by several inches. This gives a large triangle visual impression to the shield, but IMO it fits the bike's off-beat styling well. I thought it would bother me, but for some reason it seems to fit the bike.

Height? Even at the fully extended position, I can still just barely see over it. In most lower positions the screen is quieter than stock with less buffeting. But there is little need to raise the screen to the full height when you are less that 6 ft tall. Over 6' YMMV.

At the lowest position it provides a smooth (albiet a little noisy, but much better than stock) flow from the neck up. I get a some flow on the upper arms / shoulders, and a lot of flow on the helmet. No whistle noted.

At fullest extension I get a little more buffeting than stock, but I'm in complete silence at that point. In fact, I'm in silence well before then. That is important. I don't have to raise the screen beyond 3/4 up to achieve silence with almost no buffeting. At about 2/3 up I have almost quiet, with a very mild flow around my upper/ outer shoulders, and no backdraft.

Above 3/4 I start to get more buffeting and backdraft than stock. Nothing to write home about, but I don't use it at that position very often as there's little need at my height. I also don't notice a large amount increased sensitivity to truck wake vs stock. I had the large 49L trunk attached to I can't really comment. It didn't seem to be an issue I wanted to complain about.

Passenger impressions will have to wait. I will say that I also engaged the cruise control at 70mph on a rural freeway and hopped back onto the passenger seat for a bit. The screen was 2/3 up. A little mild buffeting, but much less noisy. Better than stock!

The screen vibrates at idle, but I wouldn't say it is very much more than stock. Maybe a little, due to the fact that it's about 6" wider at the top. Again, nothing major.

I highly recommend this shield for colder seasons, and possibly for 4 seasons. I've screwed around with windscreens on bikes since the early 90s. I have a large box of modified stock and aftermarket windscreens in my basement as evidence. The RT's OEM windscreen was better than most I've had.

This is better.

edit to add: I noticed a huge amount of smooth airflow along the inside surface of the shield at most positions. This flow doesn't exist beyond 6" back from the shield. When I stuck my hand into this flow near the center, I felt a pronounced increase in noisy turbulence. This changed my thoughts on above-dash mounting of various gadgets. Where before I was looking at gadgetguy / migsel / BRM etc mounts, I saw that it was important to not interfere with this high volume laminar flow. If I were to buy an above-dash farkle system I'd make sure that the device did not sit in this airflow. Based on my informal hand / wind-tunnel tests I believe you'd want the devices to sit at the top edge of the dash. Anything more would mess with this airflow and cause turbulence / buffeting, IMO.

I have had the Ztechnik for a couple of weeks or so. I can ride with a full face helmet at 36*f and still be ok with the shield all the way up. I have to look through it when its up. To ME it has much better air flow than stock. Going 75 mph I can put it all the way down and the wind still goes over my head. This is what I was talking about the better air flow.

I bought it because my passenger was getting blasted with air when I had the stock shield on. I took a passenger on a ride, with the shield all the way up, she was quite happy. No blasting of wind in the face. If I lowered it to 2/3 height, she was getting blasted. We usually wear open face 3/4 helmets.

My stock windshield was usually all the way up, so I figured it wasn't quite tall enough for me. This one only needs to be in that position if its really cold out. I get a little cold air on the outsides of my arms. I'm 5'7" and have barbacks on my bike. Having the stock shield all the way up all the time takes away the "adjustable" part, so I bought a bigger one and the Ztechnik seems to do the trick.

I thought I would be putting the stock back on once it warms up (next summer ) but it may stay year round.

It doesn't seem to matter much up or down with large cross winds on the highway.


They recommend not using any type of alcohol to clean it. I won't.

David