JT Pedersen
Well-known member
Greetings,
First, let me thank everyone who provided input in the past two weeks. As well as everyone who has provided historical comments in the forum.
For reference, I am 6'1" with 34" inseam. Like many here, I found the stock windscreen to be ineffective. Worse, it seemed created to make wind noise and turbulence worse, while obscuring sounds we like (like engine & powertrain). Looks nice. However regardless of the height selected, I found no relief other than pressure on the chest during long highway stints.
After plenty of research, a few questions (and patient responses), I chose the CalSci Medium. Placed my order online using CalSci's sizing guidance. The transaction was executed seamlessly with part arriving on time.
Put the screen on last night. Was pleasantly surprised to see they had included, not only the microfiber cleaning cloth and cleaner, but also an air pressure gauge. Convenient since the digital one I have died over the winter. The blue cloth 'bag' to keep the screen in, is now working well for the OEM screen.
Sitting in the garage, was concerned I had ordered too large a windscreen. However, as soon as I backed out of the garage, and headed down the driveway, I knew the sizing was perfect. In the low position, I get plenty of air, bottom of stream about even with my neck. Fully raised, it is about 1-1.5" below my line of sight. In highest position, wind grazes the top ~1" of my helmet. Nice. Sizing chart worked perfectly.
Road test. Its not quite as quiet as I had anticipated, given some of the glowing reports. My expectations were a tad high
. However, at all speeds 0-70, I found the airflow to be smooth, no buffeting, and only moderate wind noise. I will still use ear plugs for comfort. However the raw air-shredding noise of the stock screen is gone.
Using my late ST1100 with stock windscreen as comparison, wind buffeting does not exist, wind 'roar' essentially non-existent, and (here's a nice one), you can hear the engine.
The new screen doesn't make the bike 'Goldwing quiet.' That's fine, that wasn't what I was chasing. It is certainly quiet enough I can hear the engine and powertrain at any speed. Sound seems to be about half engine/powertrain, half wind. 'Wind' is fine. Tinnitus-inducing, headache creating, annoying turbulence isn't. That seems to be gone. I haven't been able to hear my own motorcycle, cruising at anything above 30/35MPH, in about 18 years. That, boys and girls, is almost worth the price of admission in itself!
Windscreen dancing...seems about the same as OEM. It was initially more noticeable because, in 'screen evaluation mode', the edge is closer to line of sight and I was more sensitive to it. Only mentioning it here because other posts had discussed this detail. For me: same or less than OEM==non-issue.
I did note one observation that was unexpected. The windscreen has a very faint 'milkiness' to it that the OEM screen does not. I've been accustomed to the typical 'hard' clarity of OEM screens. This faint milkiness is evident in CalSci's FJR1300 page (if you actually 'look'). It should not impact anyone's decision. Simply an observation. Struck me the same as buying a sheet of plexiglass at your local home building supply store.
So, after about an hour or 40 miles: all manner of speeds from residential to freeway; screen up and screen down (and up and down and ...); I can say I'm pleased. Well worth the $203 (incl. shipping).
Dramatic improvement over stock based on my initial perceptions.
I have two long distance rides coming up, including a SaddleSore 1000 early May. If my views change I'll update this post.
Again, thank you to the forum members. Least I can do is contribute my own observations.
First, let me thank everyone who provided input in the past two weeks. As well as everyone who has provided historical comments in the forum.
For reference, I am 6'1" with 34" inseam. Like many here, I found the stock windscreen to be ineffective. Worse, it seemed created to make wind noise and turbulence worse, while obscuring sounds we like (like engine & powertrain). Looks nice. However regardless of the height selected, I found no relief other than pressure on the chest during long highway stints.
After plenty of research, a few questions (and patient responses), I chose the CalSci Medium. Placed my order online using CalSci's sizing guidance. The transaction was executed seamlessly with part arriving on time.
Put the screen on last night. Was pleasantly surprised to see they had included, not only the microfiber cleaning cloth and cleaner, but also an air pressure gauge. Convenient since the digital one I have died over the winter. The blue cloth 'bag' to keep the screen in, is now working well for the OEM screen.
Sitting in the garage, was concerned I had ordered too large a windscreen. However, as soon as I backed out of the garage, and headed down the driveway, I knew the sizing was perfect. In the low position, I get plenty of air, bottom of stream about even with my neck. Fully raised, it is about 1-1.5" below my line of sight. In highest position, wind grazes the top ~1" of my helmet. Nice. Sizing chart worked perfectly.
Road test. Its not quite as quiet as I had anticipated, given some of the glowing reports. My expectations were a tad high
. However, at all speeds 0-70, I found the airflow to be smooth, no buffeting, and only moderate wind noise. I will still use ear plugs for comfort. However the raw air-shredding noise of the stock screen is gone.Using my late ST1100 with stock windscreen as comparison, wind buffeting does not exist, wind 'roar' essentially non-existent, and (here's a nice one), you can hear the engine.
The new screen doesn't make the bike 'Goldwing quiet.' That's fine, that wasn't what I was chasing. It is certainly quiet enough I can hear the engine and powertrain at any speed. Sound seems to be about half engine/powertrain, half wind. 'Wind' is fine. Tinnitus-inducing, headache creating, annoying turbulence isn't. That seems to be gone. I haven't been able to hear my own motorcycle, cruising at anything above 30/35MPH, in about 18 years. That, boys and girls, is almost worth the price of admission in itself!
Windscreen dancing...seems about the same as OEM. It was initially more noticeable because, in 'screen evaluation mode', the edge is closer to line of sight and I was more sensitive to it. Only mentioning it here because other posts had discussed this detail. For me: same or less than OEM==non-issue.
I did note one observation that was unexpected. The windscreen has a very faint 'milkiness' to it that the OEM screen does not. I've been accustomed to the typical 'hard' clarity of OEM screens. This faint milkiness is evident in CalSci's FJR1300 page (if you actually 'look'). It should not impact anyone's decision. Simply an observation. Struck me the same as buying a sheet of plexiglass at your local home building supply store.
So, after about an hour or 40 miles: all manner of speeds from residential to freeway; screen up and screen down (and up and down and ...); I can say I'm pleased. Well worth the $203 (incl. shipping).
Dramatic improvement over stock based on my initial perceptions.
I have two long distance rides coming up, including a SaddleSore 1000 early May. If my views change I'll update this post.
Again, thank you to the forum members. Least I can do is contribute my own observations.
