Wind noise

[ribbert]

The bike not needing anything doing to it at the moment, not even polishing, I'm back on the trail of buffeting and wind noise.  Has anyone here had experience with a "Laminar Lip"
If the reports are positive they are not a lot of money if they work but I would have to source an original "American" screen.  I have the original finned square top screen that I believe was not very common in the States and is not suitable for the lip.

Any feedback on these would be appreciated.

Noel

[Arnie]

Noel,

I have no experience with the "Laminar Lip" product, other than using it as part of the inspiration for my screen extension.
My screen extension works well.  It both raises the upper surface of the screen to block the wind that hits your helmet while also creating a laminar flow between the OEM screen and itself.  This curtain of air forces the upper flow of wind even higher, smoothly.
As you are shorter than I, you wouldn't need as much height as I have.  Price is only the cost of a piece of perspex (acrylic) and the time to form it.



I'm 6'1" tall.  This is what I'm using with numbers.  You can vary the height to suit yourself.



Arnie

[Flynt]

Has anyone here had experience with a "Laminar Lip"

I put one on my '92 that already had a Lockhart Speedscreen on it...  Works great.  I can ride along at freeway speeds with visor up a couple of clicks and all is calm.  Can also take it off pretty easily (two screws and Velcro) if I want the lower profile look. 

Highly recommend the product!   

Frank

[1tinindian]

I've been thinking about a different screen like this.
http://www.bikescreen.com/proddetail.asp?prod=YamahaFJ12009195GrandTourer

Still undecided...

Leon

[paulfj03]

I bought the MRA Vario Touring windscreen from Twisted Throttle 3 years ago.  It comes with the adjustable lip as well. It just folds down flat, or raises up to almost 90 degrees. I am 5'8" and when it is all the way up I may get a little wind at the top of my helmet. Sometimes, on a hot summers day I have to lower it to get some air in my face to cool down.

When my wife is on the back she prefers it up as it does make a difference for her too. 

For long trips and 2up riding I prefer it to the MRA Touring windscreen (without the lumnar lip). After a few hours during a run I tend to appreciate any comfort available.

I like it and would buy it again anyday.

Paul

[FJSpringy]

MRA vario here, works a treat, I tried all possible settings in various types of riding and found that the narrowest gap works for me, nice constant air flow over the helmet keeps me stable with little noise.

I tried a western australian screen from eagle I think and it had a raised lip but i wasn't for me so I filled it under the house so now it's lost forever.

[1tinindian]

I bought the MRA Vario Touring windscreen from Twisted Throttle 3 years ago.  It comes with the adjustable lip as well. It just folds down flat, or raises up to almost 90 degrees. I am 5'8" and when it is all the way up I may get a little wind at the top of my helmet. Sometimes, on a hot summers day I have to lower it to get some air in my face to cool down.

When my wife is on the back she prefers it up as it does make a difference for her too. 

For long trips and 2up riding I prefer it to the MRA Touring windscreen (without the laminar lip). After a few hours during a run I tend to appreciate any comfort available.

I like it and would buy it again anyday.

Paul

I'm very interested in this one, but have not been able to find a seller with these in stock.
Is this just another case of aftermarket support for the FJ disappearing as time marches by?

Any recommendations?

Leon

[Flying Scotsman]

I bought the MRA Vario Touring windscreen from Twisted Throttle 3 years ago.  It comes with the adjustable lip as well. It just folds down flat, or raises up to almost 90 degrees. I am 5'8" and when it is all the way up I may get a little wind at the top of my helmet. Sometimes, on a hot summers day I have to lower it to get some air in my face to cool down.

When my wife is on the back she prefers it up as it does make a difference for her too. 

For long trips and 2up riding I prefer it to the MRA Touring windscreen (without the laminar lip). After a few hours during a run I tend to appreciate any comfort available.

I like it and would buy it again anyday.

Paul

I'm very interested in this one, but have not been able to find a seller with these in stock.
Is this just another case of aftermarket support for the FJ disappearing as time marches by?

Any recommendations?

Leon

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/shop-by-product/ergonomics-rider-comfort/windshields?brand=MRA+Motorcycle+Windshields&limit=48&p=16

[ribbert]

MRA vario here, works a treat, I tried all possible settings in various types of riding and found that the narrowest gap works for me, nice constant air flow over the helmet keeps me stable with little noise.

I tried a western australian screen from eagle I think and it had a raised lip but i wasn't for me so I filled it under the house so now it's lost forever.

I also have the high Touring screen from Eagle, I literally did one lap of the block and removed it.

Below is a comparison between standard and the Eagle "high lipped touring" screen.



As you can see the Eagle doesn't really offer much of an improvement.

Noel

[paulfj03]

I bought the MRA Vario Touring windscreen from Twisted Throttle 3 years ago.  It comes with the adjustable lip as well. It just folds down flat, or raises up to almost 90 degrees. I am 5'8" and when it is all the way up I may get a little wind at the top of my helmet. Sometimes, on a hot summers day I have to lower it to get some air in my face to cool down.

When my wife is on the back she prefers it up as it does make a difference for her too. 

For long trips and 2up riding I prefer it to the MRA Touring windscreen (without the laminar lip). After a few hours during a run I tend to appreciate any comfort available.

I like it and would buy it again anyday.

Paul

I'm very interested in this one, but have not been able to find a seller with these in stock.
Is this just another case of aftermarket support for the FJ disappearing as time marches by?

Any recommendations?

Leon

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/shop-by-product/ergonomics-rider-comfort/windshields?brand=MRA+Motorcycle+Windshields&limit=48&p=16

Flying scottsman,

Thanks for the link! Using my phone to post is a pain.... 


Noel,

Those 2 screens probably have the same rise as the MRA touring screen. I have the touring screen on my 91 and the Vario (MRA) touring screen on my 92.  There is Definitely a difference. I switch the screens if I switch bikes on the road. Something else to consider is the setup of your suspension...
If you have raised the rear end of the bike any, naturally, you will be put in the path of MORE wind and buffetting.  There is not much you can do about that....  I shortened the dogbones by 5mm to raise the rear end on the 92 and it did cause more wind to hit me... But it still makes a big difference for me. 

Some of the long time (experienced) riders like the open air on them... I can see why, now...after having their suspension set up better, and, being a bit taller on the bike, they probably get buffetting with ANY size screen. So, the clean open flow of air on them is without the buffetting. 

So...., did I help at all? LOL. Other members have commented as well, I think in another thread or 2 in the past... I will have a look and see...
($155 is pricey with shipping just to try something...   )



Paul

[ribbert]

Paul, thanks for all that feedback.  The MRA Vario Touring screen is $254 + postage in Australia - ouch!
I have considered a smaller screen so my head is in clean air but I also like the protection of the higher screen as I ride all year round.
When I stand on the pegs it's excellent, this is how I imagine  a short screen would be but they are so bloody expensive here I'm hesitant to experiment, I already have one ( the Eagle touring ) at $224 delivered that I didn't like.

Noel

[Arnie]

Noel,

You are very difficult to please, aren't you?

How about some lateral thinking here. 
Instead of trying to find the "magic screen" of your dreams, at a price even a cheapskate like me would be happy with, How about fitting the working parts of active noise reduction headphones inside your helmet ?

I was in K-Mart today and saw a pair of active noise reduction headphones for only $19.  They probably don't work as well as the Bose $300 cans, or even the various $75 phones from Sony/Philips etc, but for $19 they'd be well worth trying.

To trial a low screen option to see how you'd go without turbulence at helmet level - Just remove your screen.  Remember this is only a test.  That should get your hat into clean air.  After the test is run, then decide how high you can have a screen while still leaving your helmet out of the disturbed air.

Arnie

[1tinindian]

I bought the MRA Vario Touring windscreen from Twisted Throttle 3 years ago.  It comes with the adjustable lip as well. It just folds down flat, or raises up to almost 90 degrees. I am 5'8" and when it is all the way up I may get a little wind at the top of my helmet. Sometimes, on a hot summers day I have to lower it to get some air in my face to cool down.

When my wife is on the back she prefers it up as it does make a difference for her too. 

For long trips and 2up riding I prefer it to the MRA Touring windscreen (without the laminar lip). After a few hours during a run I tend to appreciate any comfort available.

I like it and would buy it again anyday.

Paul

I'm very interested in this one, but have not been able to find a seller with these in stock.
Is this just another case of aftermarket support for the FJ disappearing as time marches by?

Any recommendations?

Leon

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/shop-by-product/ergonomics-rider-comfort/windshields?brand=MRA+Motorcycle+Windshields&limit=48&p=16

Thanks, but I already tried that, and even though it says they are in stock, when a color choise is chosen, it says they are out of stock and will be put on back order.

Leon

[andyb]

How about some lateral thinking here. 
Instead of trying to find the "magic screen" of your dreams, at a price even a cheapskate like me would be happy with, How about fitting the working parts of active noise reduction headphones inside your helmet ?

I was in K-Mart today and saw a pair of active noise reduction headphones for only $19.  They probably don't work as well as the Bose $300 cans, or even the various $75 phones from Sony/Philips etc, but for $19 they'd be well worth trying.

There's the more common option as well, a passive noise reduction system.

They're called earplugs.    Not all earplugs are created the same, of course.  You could get a variety pack for a possibly ridiculous price and try out a large number of styles, as well as the concept of sticking foam in your head.  Custom fitted plugs are reputed to be the cat's meow, and I understand the price has dropped on those in recent years as well.

Buffetting in my experience means the windscreen is too tall, the helmet is aerodynamically crap, or you're riding in a big turbulent chunk of air (so either pass the guy, or back off his tail some).  I've cut windscreens on various machines so that the air hits me about at collar height, and that works well.  Big amounts of wind in the face aren't a problem so long as it's relatively smooth and unruffled.

[paulfj03]

Thanks, but I already tried that, and even though it says they are in stock, when a color choise is chosen, it says they are out of stock and will be put on back order.

Leon

Hey Leon,

I believe I dealt with the same thing back then... IIRC They order it right out of Germany and then ship it to the purchaser...

I waited 6-8 weeks ... I think(?)... But, I think it is because they do not stock them... When they get an order they order it to be made...

I did get what I paid for, though.... 


Paul