moshe_levy Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 All- I have started delving into the manual, which describes the windshield's automatic lowering into the flush position each time you shut the bike down. No mention of disabling this feature, which is rather pointless (other than accelerating wear and tear on the w/s motor and thus enriching BMW). Any ideas, or is this just the way it is? -MKL Link to comment
Rob Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 I've not heard that being an issue. Link to comment
moshe_levy Posted July 26, 2015 Author Share Posted July 26, 2015 Not so much an issue, I'd just rather disable it if indeed that's an option. I didn't see any mention of such an option in the manual though..... -MKL Link to comment
mneblett Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 No option to disable. I don't believe it is dealer programable, but it doesn't hurt to ask. On the K16 it is a good feature, because it lowers the cross-bar of the windshield support over the GPS removal slot, preventing GPS theft. I suspect it was carried over (without any thought being given to its lack of purpose on the RT) when the K16's software and electronics were wholesale copied as the basis for the RTW's electronics suite. Link to comment
Alfred02 Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Yep It's a real pain is the a$$ when you are washing the bike and try to get in there for cleaning. Link to comment
gordiet Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Yep It's a real pain is the a$$ when you are washing the bike and try to get in there for cleaning. Turn the key on! Link to comment
BFish Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Yep It's a real pain is the a$$ when you are washing the bike and try to get in there for cleaning. Turn the key on! you should run for president Link to comment
Alfred02 Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Yep It's a real pain is the a$$ when you are washing the bike and try to get in there for cleaning. Turn the key on! Dooo... Well, I would have never thought of that. Maybe some of us don't like to have the ignition on while washing the bike. I know I don't. Link to comment
realshelby Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Well, you don't have to have the water hose directed on it to wash it. I wash the bike, then turn on the key, push the button to raise the screen, and spray some cleaner behind the windscreen and fairing. Wipe that down good and turn off key. Then finish drying the rest of the bike. Link to comment
utahskies Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 It looks cool with the shield down when parked. That's good enough reason for me to like the feature. Link to comment
jeff55 Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 Hey Terry: I notice the Quiet Ride windshield on your posts. I went to the site and it sounds good, I would like a quieter windscreen on the highway. My question is why hasn't BMW provided us with the best windscreen? Surely they must have tested our OEM screen for hundreds if not thousands of hours in wind tunnels and on the road to get the right one. You think? Or is it the OEM screen is the best compromise screen, and at speeds in excess of say 100+mph the OEM screen is stable and out performs other configurations. So at regular highway speeds say 60-80mph the Quiet Ride is quieter and protects better? Ideas on this Jeff Link to comment
moshe_levy Posted September 8, 2015 Author Share Posted September 8, 2015 I'm in process of testing Terry's shield, but..... "My question is why hasn't BMW provided us with the best windscreen?" Since when do OEMs provide the best of anything? They are constrained by cost, availability, supply chain, and a zillion other factors. It's ALWAYS more of a compromise than an aftermarket company which does a few things as its core competency and has nowhere near the level of tradeoffs. Now, for background, I've never been *unhappy* with BMW's stock shields, but aftermarket has always been a step up in functionality. My 2004 RT, especially, benefitted from an Aeroflow. I'll have a report on Terry's shield after I rack up some mileage on it. So far (vs stock) the material is noticeably thicker (I haven't taken a caliper to it yet to measure vs. stock, but it's an obvious difference) and it has less of a concave shape, so its optical clarity is superior in the raised position (especially for a short guy like me.) Performance-wise I will elaborate when I have enough experience to comment meaningfully. -MKL Link to comment
realshelby Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 Hey Terry: I notice the Quiet Ride windshield on your posts. I went to the site and it sounds good, I would like a quieter windscreen on the highway. My question is why hasn't BMW provided us with the best windscreen? Surely they must have tested our OEM screen for hundreds if not thousands of hours in wind tunnels and on the road to get the right one. You think? Or is it the OEM screen is the best compromise screen, and at speeds in excess of say 100+mph the OEM screen is stable and out performs other configurations. So at regular highway speeds say 60-80mph the Quiet Ride is quieter and protects better? Ideas on this Jeff Well, where to start? In the showroom the stock windscreen looks really good on the bike. Its shape flows back from the fairing nicely and the way the top is formed looks racy sitting still. I would assume the progressive curve of the stock shield, in the down position, would be useful for doing fuel mileage and top speed tests as it would have low drag. For a stock windshield it is better than the stock screen on my '04 RT for instance. The problems start when you raise the windshield. Especially past halfway. The outer ears that looked so sleek sitting still become tabs sticking up past your line of sight. These become little more than paddles stirring the air and creating turbulence. This is why NONE of the aftermarket windshields have a design similar to the stock windshield! No matter what you read, a quiet, low turbulence air pocket for the rider to sit in requires pushing the air away from the helmet and upper body area. The further away, the more quiet and calm. Sounds easy, but you can get into backpressure issues with too much area. This is why I think stock screens tend to be on the conservative side. What works at 55 mph may not work at 80 mph. That is why I lost interest quickly in the windshields that promote a "vortex" of air being directed away from the helmet ( this is the same company that builds the stock Wethead windshield). To complicate the design, most owners prefer to look over the windscreen instead of through it. So it comes down to the OEM looking for something that does the job, but is castrated by design and performance requirements from other departments. You must work with each bike to find what it wants. If I had wanted and R 1200 R with little to no real windshield I would expect wind noise and blast. But I consider an RT a touring bike and a pocket of calm, quiet air is most welcome on long rides! Add to that wanting to get the screen well down below my line of sight while still performing well took a LOT of time. Why have an adjustable windshield if none of the settings are really comfortable? Link to comment
davagail Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 After riding with the quiet ride windshield for 1000 miles so far I can say in my opinion that's it's better than the others I've tried and I think I've tried them all!! Is it perfect? No but for the most part you can keep it below line of sight (5'10" 32" inseam) and it does a good job. Truck traffic on interstate is weird just like any other windshield I've ever had. Tailwind and its exceptionally quiet crosswind is ok no real buffeting. Is that a word? Overall it's a keeper as long as the finish holds up. All I use is water cloth diaper and the. Furniture polish Link to comment
gordiet Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Are you guys ever happy with anything? GT Link to comment
Gene#3 Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Are you guys ever happy with anything? GT "9" Link to comment
jeff55 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Thanks guys for your input. Terry, thanks for taking the timing to explain. So, I'm 5'10" with the low seat, should I get the 24" or 26" windshield? Like most everybody I like looking over the screen provided it's not raining. Jeff Link to comment
realshelby Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Absolutely go with the 24"! I sit taller with my Russell seat, and probably have a taller torso than you. I have ridden with both screens, and while the taller 26" might, just might, be ever so little bit better while cruising at 70 mph I prefer the shorter shield. I like a bit of wind on my visor area at times, especially to clear rain. You will be able to lower the shorter screen to do this, the taller one might not go low enough. Link to comment
moshe_levy Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 200 miles on Terry's screen yesterday, and so far results are stellar. Besides being eerily quiet at highway speed, the shield itself is in quite a low position to achieve the same level of wind / noise / buffeting protection as stock - and because the Terry shield's top slopes DOWN away from the rider instead of up toward him like stock, the field of vision unobstructed by the optical distortion of looking through a shield is dramatically increased. I'm impressed so far! I must say I wasn't complaining with the stock screen, but this is a definite improvement - one of those items you don't know you'd like to upgrade until you actually try a better alternative. Looking forward to taking it out into the stormy rain tomorrow for more testing. -MKL Link to comment
mneblett Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 200 miles on Terry's screen yesterday, and so far results are stellar. 24" or 26"? Any desire for the other height? Link to comment
moshe_levy Posted September 11, 2015 Author Share Posted September 11, 2015 24" - I'm 5'8" with a 30" inseam on the "low" factory seat. Terry is correct - this shield doesn't have to go nearly as "high" to offer equivalent protection to stock. Raise it some more, though, and the improvement from stock begins re buffeting / wind / noise reduction, though the line of sight is always more open. This shield is more than adequate for me. I would not order a bigger size given my experience thus far. Got some rain riding in and going out for more soon. So far, very happy. -MKL Link to comment
tlc Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 I installed my Quiet Ride windshield today, and I rode about 200 miles with it. I am amazed at its effectiveness. I did not have any problems with the stock screen; I just didn't like the looks of it (I'm old, and i can make decisions like that!). However I found the Quiet Ride screen to be much quieter - particularly at 70mph and above - and the airflow is consistent and stable. It is easy to adjust the airflow by raising and lowering the screen. My '14 RT has the audio system and I use a Schuberth C3 Pro with the BMW Communication System. Using the bluetooth connection to speakers in the helmet, the volume setting is about half what it was with the stock screen. I had a VStream screen on my '08 RT, and it was nowhere near as effective as the Quiet Ride screen on the '14 RT. Link to comment
gordiet Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Boy boy....you guys crack me up! If you spent more time riding and less time bitchching about everything I think that perhaps life would be better for you! GT Link to comment
Mike the Ghoul Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Any feedback from passengers? That right now is my main concern. She doesn't like the stock shield. Too much head buffeting. mike Link to comment
reg26 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Hey Terry: I notice the Quiet Ride windshield on your posts. I went to the site and it sounds good, I would like a quieter windscreen on the highway. My question is why hasn't BMW provided us with the best windscreen? Surely they must have tested our OEM screen for hundreds if not thousands of hours in wind tunnels and on the road to get the right one. You think? Or is it the OEM screen is the best compromise screen, and at speeds in excess of say 100+mph the OEM screen is stable and out performs other configurations. So at regular highway speeds say 60-80mph the Quiet Ride is quieter and protects better? Ideas on this Jeff Well, where to start? In the showroom the stock windscreen looks really good on the bike. Its shape flows back from the fairing nicely and the way the top is formed looks racy sitting still. I would assume the progressive curve of the stock shield, in the down position, would be useful for doing fuel mileage and top speed tests as it would have low drag. For a stock windshield it is better than the stock screen on my '04 RT for instance. The problems start when you raise the windshield. Especially past halfway. The outer ears that looked so sleek sitting still become tabs sticking up past your line of sight. These become little more than paddles stirring the air and creating turbulence. This is why NONE of the aftermarket windshields have a design similar to the stock windshield! No matter what you read, a quiet, low turbulence air pocket for the rider to sit in requires pushing the air away from the helmet and upper body area. The further away, the more quiet and calm. Sounds easy, but you can get into backpressure issues with too much area. This is why I think stock screens tend to be on the conservative side. What works at 55 mph may not work at 80 mph. That is why I lost interest quickly in the windshields that promote a "vortex" of air being directed away from the helmet ( this is the same company that builds the stock Wethead windshield). To complicate the design, most owners prefer to look over the windscreen instead of through it. So it comes down to the OEM looking for something that does the job, but is castrated by design and performance requirements from other departments. You must work with each bike to find what it wants. If I had wanted and R 1200 R with little to no real windshield I would expect wind noise and blast. But I consider an RT a touring bike and a pocket of calm, quiet air is most welcome on long rides! Add to that wanting to get the screen well down below my line of sight while still performing well took a LOT of time. Why have an adjustable windshield if none of the settings are really comfortable? I'm thinking of trying the Quiet ride shield. I'm 5'10" Terry and I would be fine with the stock shield but am interested in making the wife more comfortable. For me would the 26" be the better way to go? I keep my Sargent seat in the high position and dont want the top of the windshield to be right in my line of sight but just below it is OK. Link to comment
davagail Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Boy boy....you guys crack me up! If you spent more time riding and less time bitchching about everything I think that perhaps life would be better for you! GT When you live my life GT then you can tell me how to make it better!! Perhaps you should read the forum and keep your attitude and opinion about others to yourself!! Link to comment
gordiet Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Touchy aren't we! Get a life and buy a Harley! GT Link to comment
realshelby Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I'm thinking of trying the Quiet ride shield. I'm 5'10" Terry and I would be fine with the stock shield but am interested in making the wife more comfortable. For me would the 26" be the better way to go? I keep my Sargent seat in the high position and dont want the top of the windshield to be right in my line of sight but just below it is OK. PM sent. I am embarrassed to say I have not tested with a passenger! I know it is important to many, I know the stock shield was horrible for my wife. She MUCH preferred riding on the V Strom over the RT. The V Stream I had was better,but only when raised up so tall I had to look through it. There are two owners that bought the shield from me with passenger comfort a main concern. I will let them chime in on that if they will. At any rate I would recommend the 24". I run the Russell seat on the high setting on trips, low setting for everyday use and find the 24" plenty tall. Link to comment
davagail Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Ok I'll get in here. We rode about 1000 miles over the Labor Day weekend and not once did she tell me to raise the shield. Not that she does to often but there has been times over our 40000+ miles on RT's that she has wanted the windshield raised to keep her from being a bobble head..... Like I've said in other posts it's not perfect but I've tried all the rest and think this will be the one I use! Link to comment
Dave_zoom_zoom Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Terry Is there any foreseeable room for improvement on pre 2014 RT's? Dave Link to comment
bdfbeemer Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Wasn't there a discount mentioned on here? Link to comment
realshelby Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Terry Is there any foreseeable room for improvement on pre 2014 RT's? Dave Well, we have already pretty much hacked this post past survival! So, I will say that there is a chance for a pre-2014 as long as these seem to make the work worthwhile. It does look like they may not take much to make it work. Link to comment
reg26 Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Ok I'll get in here. We rode about 1000 miles over the Labor Day weekend and not once did she tell me to raise the shield. Not that she does to often but there has been times over our 40000+ miles on RT's that she has wanted the windshield raised to keep her from being a bobble head..... Like I've said in other posts it's not perfect but I've tried all the rest and think this will be the one I use! Could you please tell us how tall each of you are? Thanks Link to comment
moshe_levy Posted September 16, 2015 Author Share Posted September 16, 2015 5'8" on low factory seat. (Remember, the seat matters, too.) -MKL Link to comment
davagail Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 5'11" and passenger 5'7" stock seat high position Link to comment
jeff55 Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 OK, thanks Terry and MKL. I'll get the 24" screen. MKL, I'm the original owner of a 1973 1/2 R75/5, put 220,000 on it and I'm currently putting it back to stock, Avus Blue and all. Link to comment
moshe_levy Posted September 18, 2015 Author Share Posted September 18, 2015 Cool! My "project" is getting as old as dirt. Got to get back into it. -MKL Link to comment
paRTy Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 I received and installed Terry's windshield today - the 24". The difference, for me, between oem and Terry's is night and day. Much better wind management and definitely more quiet-less buffeting. I found myself riding faster on the local roads I'm on all the time because of the quietness. The shield was also in a much lower position which was very nice. Drop it a bit more and you get nice even airflow. All in all, a very good and worthwhile addition to my bike. Really makes a difference. It's also a quality made shield. Link to comment
DJ_Fission Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 All- I have started delving into the manual, which describes the windshield's automatic lowering into the flush position each time you shut the bike down. No mention of disabling this feature, which is rather pointless (other than accelerating wear and tear on the w/s motor and thus enriching BMW). Any ideas, or is this just the way it is? -MKL Quick question, as I don't have this model: does the windshield go back to the position you set it to when you turn it back on? Or do you have to reset it manually every time you ride? Link to comment
reg26 Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 All- I have started delving into the manual, which describes the windshield's automatic lowering into the flush position each time you shut the bike down. No mention of disabling this feature, which is rather pointless (other than accelerating wear and tear on the w/s motor and thus enriching BMW). Any ideas, or is this just the way it is? -MKL Quick question, as I don't have this model: does the windshield go back to the position you set it to when you turn it back on? Or do you have to reset it manually every time you ride? Yes the shield goes back to the previously set position Link to comment
moshe_levy Posted September 25, 2015 Author Share Posted September 25, 2015 It goes back once you shift into first and get underway. A very odd arrangement indeed. -MKL Link to comment
moshe_levy Posted September 25, 2015 Author Share Posted September 25, 2015 I received and installed Terry's windshield today - the 24". The difference, for me, between oem and Terry's is night and day. Much better wind management and definitely more quiet-less buffeting. I found myself riding faster on the local roads I'm on all the time because of the quietness. The shield was also in a much lower position which was very nice. Drop it a bit more and you get nice even airflow. All in all, a very good and worthwhile addition to my bike. Really makes a difference. It's also a quality made shield. This is true. I just finished a rather rave review for BMW Owner's News on it. I came in quite skeptical, and came away quite impressed. The Werks has my seal of approval! -MKL Link to comment
Gene#3 Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 Are the windshield support brackets any more robust on the RTW's? Link to comment
realshelby Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 Are the windshield support brackets any more robust on the RTW's? They are a lot more substantial. I have not heard of any failures. If the 28 1/2" tall V Stream I had didn't hurt them I think BMW has fixed that issue. Link to comment
Paul4450 Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Terry, I mounted some GS mirror clamps so I could have mirrors up in my line of sight, vs having to use the stock mirrors below the grips. I also have Illium Risers, which pull the grips up and back about an inch or so. Do you know if your 24" shield will clear the mirror stalks? I realize this is a difficult question to answer, but perhaps someone has done this and knows. Thanks! Link to comment
realshelby Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 That is hard to answer! Too many variables to go with. Especially since the RT doesn't have any bar mounted mirrors stock, I don't have a reference point to go with. The only likely problem if there is one, would be when the bars are turned either way to the stops. That is why GS windshields and other ADV bikes have such narrow windshields. Link to comment
moshe_levy Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 Terry, I mounted some GS mirror clamps so I could have mirrors up in my line of sight, vs having to use the stock mirrors below the grips. I also have Illium Risers, which pull the grips up and back about an inch or so. Do you know if your 24" shield will clear the mirror stalks? I realize this is a difficult question to answer, but perhaps someone has done this and knows. Thanks! I can CONFIRM that the shield not only clears the stalks, but actually has MORE room than stock. I have the Wunderlich GS clamps and Wunderlich mirrors, as well as Illium risers all on my bike with the 24" Werks shield - NO problem, at all. -MKL Link to comment
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