Windscreens: I like the Peace behind a Barndoor

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WoodyPecker

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FJR Supporter
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Location
Stockton, CA
On my 2015, I quickly replaced the stock screen with a Yamaha Touring Screen, and that was better, but lots of head-level buffeting above 50mph even when fully raised. Looked at forum discussions here and was thinking about Cee Bailey or National Cycle V-Stream, but got wind of California Scientific (CalSci) and went to their shop since they're pretty close to me. The owner Mark is this brilliant scientist who will suffer your dumb questions about windscreens then school you in aerodynamic physics principles that will make your head spin and then talk about something he REALLY likes, like Einstein or the Higgs Boson, or Comparative Religion or the German Shepards he rescues. You just have to take one look at CalSci's website (www.calsci.com) to see what I'm talkin about. All the young dudes that work there, including his son, seem to be equally bright, physics-driven geeks. The point of all this is that they have brought a very high level of aerodynamic physics math to the design of motorcycle windshields, and it shows in the product. They don't look particularly different but somehow the shapes and contour solve the issues I noticed with the other screens I had, namely buffeting and lack of smooth airflow around the screen.

They make FJR screens in "regular" and "extra wide" widths, each with heights of medium, large, and XL, so you've got six choices.

I wanted a good area of quiet air, and I tried the Xwide Large, and Xwide XL. I tried the XL first, returned it for a Large, then returned that one and went back to the XL but asked him to modify (shorten) the bottom outside corners and that modified shield is what is pictured below. Bottom line: the corners on the bottom of the shield are there FOR A REASON, and I should have just left it alone! Dumb Me, having to screw with a good design. Not the end of the world, but my mod just puts more wind on the grips than there was before, but overall this is just a great designed shield.

The main thing I notice is how well the shield moves wind smoothly over the top of my helmet even with the screen at it's lowest position. On the OEM Touring screen, if the screen was at lowest level and I was looking just over the top of the screen, it's like there was no shield there at all and the wind just blasted me. I mean, I like being out in the elements and feel all that air motion around me, but I just don't want constant loud wind ROAR in my face. Hard to think. So that's where I'm comin' from, Savvy?

With my CalSci, I have good flow over my helmet with screen at lowest level (when I'm looking just over top of screen) until I get above about 50mph, then I just raise the screen so I'm looking through the top 2 or 3 inches of the screen and that blocks all the wind to my helmet up to about 75mph. I finally noticed I was doing my 70 mile loop yesterday with my visor up since there was no wind in my face, just stillness. I really never need to raise the screen up all the way now, but I like the width of the screen up high that comes with the "Xwide-XL" size I settled on. The "Xwide-Large" tapers more as you move toward the top. This Xwide-XL screen now on my bike is 25 inches in tallest dimension (not in middle of bottom "V") and 21" wide just below top of shield and 25" wide at widest portion below. That's only about 2 inches taller than the Yamaha Touring screen, but also quite a bit wider up high, and that combination along with the shape design just creates a much different environment behind that plastic.

But really, just check out CalSci's website, learn about "Von Karman's Vortices" as it relates to airflow around motorcycle windscreens (look for the "all about our windshield designs" blue link on the FJR 1300 page) and see what happens when someone who ACTUALLY understands both Einstein's theories of Relativity (General and Special) puts his brain cells to work on windscreens. Cheers!

Here is the Yamaha OEM Touring Screen:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wDknpcwgMyNjU1bDRKdWdoMFk/view?usp=sharing

And this is the CalSci XWide-XLarge screen (modified by dope me. The Unmodified would have shoulder corners at the bottom left and right to block air over grips even more):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wDknpcwgMydkFIaU9sZzN0M0k/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wDknpcwgMyLW1mb2hmTGphbjA/view?usp=sharing

 
I also get great coverage from my CeeBaily 2x4 flip shield but when the hot summer months come, the 15" shorty goes on for lots of air blast. Didn't need a physicist to explain it to me either.
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Another Cee Baileys "barn door" fan.....at least for the winter. I'll either put the stock screen back on or buy a CB Sport screen for the summer.

 
I've been using the XL X-wide CalSci screen as well, exactly the same one as the OP described (didn't modify mine). Tried the Yam Touring screen, but wanted something a little taller. Really like the CalSci, for all the same reasons as the OP listed. Usually leave my helmet visor in the up position.

 
Holy cow! That CalSci on the OP's is really a barn door!! I've got the 2 wider X 4 taller Cee B and can still look over the top with it in the full up position. Nothing's worse than having to look 'through' a barn door, especially with dark tint, like mine.
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I had a CalSci barn door on my 07 for a couple of years. When I took it off and went back to the stock shield I was AMAZED at the performance difference! Never went back and am currently awaiting a CeeBailey tinted sport shield that is on order.

 
I have the Yamaha touring windshield (half in wider and 4 inches taller of a barn door) It has been excellent, cost less than the CeeBaily, and I believe is made by National Cycle.

 
I had the Yamaha touring windshield on mine and was fine with it until I changed seats and added a Helibridge riser. Then I sat too high for the shield and went to the CB.

 
Well, speaking of taking care of the animals:

A farmer and his wife were lying in bed one evening; she was knitting, and he was reading the latest issue of Animal Husbandry. He looked up from the page and said to her, "Did you know that humans are the only species in which the female achieves orgasm?" She looked at him wistfully, smiled, and replied, "Oh, yeah? Prove it." He frowned for a moment, then said, "Okay." He got up and walked out, leaving his wife with a confused look on her face. About a half hour later, he returned all tired and sweaty and proclaimed, "Well, I'm sure the cow and sheep didn't, but the way that pig is always squealing, how can I tell?"

Yeah, dang pig's always that way with ME too!

ANYWAY, to give this thing about whether MY thing is bigger than YOUR thing, (I'm talking about the Barndoor you pervs, get yer minds outta the toilet!), I have put links below of pics of my Xwide-Xlarge from the front and the side, each at full down, then just up enough to get above my eyeballs (less than midway on the travel), and then finally full up.

From the Front view:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wDknpcwgMyNl9uX0pyb29WUzg/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wDknpcwgMyTWRUVWJfNUZTbnc/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wDknpcwgMydHpfNlNuNWFrTW8/view?usp=sharing

From the Side View:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wDknpcwgMyYWhibmRWS2VsdnM/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wDknpcwgMyQVEwZ1ExZzBTbGs/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wDknpcwgMyNERLZEZrbmItN0E/view?usp=sharing

NOW, don't you wish YOURS was as big as MINE?
Cheers!
 
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