Tuning and modding » VStream Touring Windshield Review

One of the pieces of stock equipment that folks either love or hate is the windscreen. I was with the latter group regarding the stock windscreen on my 2017 RS.
I am 5'8" with a 29" inseam and wear a large helmet size for both Shoei and Schuberth, so keep that in mind when determining if my experience with this VStream Touring will be close to yours.

The stock windscreen seem to deflect the wind to just below my helmet, so my helmet was in clean air. Putting the screen in the raised position meant having the wind deflected to my helmet, and
creating lots of turbulence and more noise. I read the various posts on this and other forums and was pointed to Grumpy Goat's YouTube review of the MRA X-Creen. I installed that and had been using
it for about 5 months. A modest improvement in the wind turbulence, and I'll admit I didn't try every possible position adjustment because the most extreme adjustments never got the deflected air
above my helmet. Here is a pic of what my helmet looked like after a 400 mile ride a month ago:

Helmet_5822_800.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

I like to occasionally shoot video with a GoPro and having this much carnage doesn't make for clear video if I want to use my favorite mounting location: https://youtu.be/3X9TiqtU4bw
Yes, I know that particular video was shot on an RS with the stock screen, and there were a few cleanings of the face shield and GoPro lens on that ride.

I installed the VStream Touring windscreen last week and it was a 5 minute effort in total, and that was including the time to take off the MRA X-Creen. Very easy install. My first impression
was that I wasn't all that thrilled with the look compared to the MRA X-Creen. In my opinion the VSTream Touring doesn't fit as nicely with the "sport" appearance of the RS, at least not as
nicely as the MRA X-Creen or OEM windscreen. When seated on the bike, the VStream is just about level with my chin, and in the raised position it comes up to just above the tip of my nose.

On the road, the difference in the airflow is readily noticed. I took the bike out for a nice long (almost 400 miles) trip yesterday to give the VStream a good testing.
The wind is deflected towards the very the top of my helmet but there is some slight turbulent noise. Still a big improvement over the OEM and MRA X-Creen windscreens. I was impressed
by how much better I could hear the engine/exhaust with the improved air flow. When I put the VStream Touring in the raised position things really changed dramatically. Almost like the
proverbial heavens opening and angels singing. Almost. First off I was amazed at how much quieter things seemed. The slight turbulence from the lowered position was gone and it felt like
I was on an RT with its wonderfully adjustable windscreen. If I moved back in the seat I could get some very slight turbulence but much, much reduced from the lowered position.

I did get the bike up to 106 according to the GPS and never noticed a difference in the airflow/turbulence in the raised position. Very impressive.

Now I am able to crack the face shield open a few notches and it stays put, even on the wimpy Schuberth detent mechanisms. The OEM and MRA X-Creen wouldn't make it possible to keep
the face shield partially open, even on the much sturdier Shoei detent mechanisms. Another benefit of the VStream Touring is that the relocated NAV6 has much more room for adjustments
with the Vortex GPS mount. The OEM windscreen really limited the GPS position and while the MRA X-Creen allowed for more adjust in certain configurations, it still limited how far up I could
position the GPS away from the gauge cluster.

The VStream Touring isn't perfect. I'm not a huge fan of the larger profile on the bike, but will gladly trade that off for long distance comfort. Being taller and with a wider profile the windscreen
does bounce around a bit more on the bumpier sections of asphalt, but I don't think it was as floppy as the upper section of the MRA X-Creen. I also have to look through the windscreen when
paying attention to some closer stuff which I would had usually been looking over the windscreen with the OEM and MRA X-Creen options. The last bit of annoyance is there is some very
noticeable distortion at the very edges of the windscreen. Definitely more noticeable in the raised position where that top edge is closer to my line of sight.

Here's a pic of the bike with the VStream Touring in the raised position (I didn't think to get this profile shot with it in the lowered position):
R1200RS_P1020719_20_21-2_800.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

This is the view (of sorts) from the lowered position:
R1200RS_P1020731_2_3.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

And here is a pic of the windscreen after the nearly 400 mile ride. Being close to winter the bug population is reduced,
but there was only _one_ bug splat on the upper left corner of my ginormous Schuberth C3 Pro and nothing on the face shield.
R1200RS_P1020734.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

- Sam

The issues with the X screen is not evident with the Vario, I'm roughly same height / leg length, but the ability to deflect the top air with the extra 'blade' means i can deflect over helmet and can reduce noise somewhat, in top screen position with the blade level with screen its noisy on helmet but with the top of the blade angled forward, bliss, and no suicidal insect deposits.



Ged

How is your fuel mileage? With the intermediate size VSTREAM shield, I noticed a 2MPG drop relative the stock shield in the highest position.

Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #3

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How is your fuel mileage?

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Ouch, 34 mpg at 75 mph is not good.

Nice review AZG, and I'm glad it works for you. I tried the Vstream shorter version (either sport or sport/tour) and it was worse than stock, so it got swapped out quickly. I have the Wunderlich touring screen, and that is a huge screen, and it was just too big. Back to stock...

Zitat von bill the cat im Beitrag #6

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Nice review AZG, and I'm glad it works for you. I tried the Vstream shorter version (either sport or sport/tour) and it was worse than stock, so it got swapped out quickly. I have the Wunderlich touring screen, and that is a huge screen, and it was just too big. Back to stock...

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Zitat von AZGeek im Beitrag #4

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Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #3

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How is your fuel mileage?

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The first 145 mile segment saw 39.5 mpg. I've yet to fill up from the last 145 mile segment but it wouldn't surprise me if it was below 35.

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I too have the V Stream touring screen. Yep, it's a barn door but I like it as a winter screen. Good protection and quiet at speed. The MRA X-Screen is my other screen which I also like. The OEM screen was useless for me.

UK readers should bear in mind that US gallons are smaller than UK gallons, so the mpg figure in the UK would be higher by a factor of approx 1.2. As a result, a US mpg figure of 40 mpg would equate to a UK figure of about 48 mpg.

Hey AZGeek
Your VStream looks like the tallest version. I am a bit shorter and considering the mid version. Don't recall the model #s but if you know yours I would appreciate info!

Thanks n ride safe

Zitat von Oldred im Beitrag #11

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Hey AZGeek
Your VStream looks like the tallest version. I am a bit shorter and considering the mid version. Don't recall the model #s but if you know yours I would appreciate info!

Thanks n ride safe

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