Tuning and modding » 1250 RS Windscreen - Loud!

Been down the wind noise road before with other bikes. I test rode the new RS today, and it was brilliant in every way except for the windscreen. What a noise generator! How do you guys deal with this? I can't believe I'm the only one who noted heavy noise in my helmet (Shoei RF-1200 and custom earplugs, as well as balaclava and neck gaiter). I couldn't ride 20 miles with this noise without going crazy.

Looking at VStream sport/tour replacement (3" taller than stock). Any higher and it looks "wrong" on this bike. Would love to own this bike, but not if I can't defeat the poor screen design with a superior replacement.

Anyone swapped out their 1250's screen yet? Results?

Thanks for posting the video!

One thing I that puzzles me (and you offer a theory in your video) is why BMW made the screen with a "V" shape at the top. To me this just invites trouble. Looking at the VStream sport/tour screen as a possibility for replacement; it's 3" higher, and the bike I rode today had the OEM screen mounted in the lower of the two sets of mounting holes...which means the VStream not only would eliminate that V-gap, but would be as much as 4-5" higher when mounted in the upper mount holes. Might work...

I was surprised how quiet it was. I guess it varies a lot according to hight etc.

Which windshield positions did you try? There's 4 possible options with the stock screen

The bike was set up with the windscreen mounted in the lower holes...this could be a factor. As far as positions, I tried low and high...both noisy. I surmise that mounting the screen in the upper holes would make a difference...as would a taller windscreen, say the VStream sport/tour, which is 3" higher. The V-notch in the OEM screen does not make any sense to me.

Zitat von Grumpy Goat im Beitrag #7

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Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #6

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The bike was set up with the windscreen mounted in the lower holes...this could be a factor. As far as positions, I tried low and high...both noisy. I surmise that mounting the screen in the upper holes would make a difference...as would a taller windscreen, say the VStream sport/tour, which is 3" higher. The V-notch in the OEM screen does not make any sense to me.

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Must have been a reason that might not be obvious. Don't forget ... this bike was wind-tunnel designed, and I would think that the windscreen would play a big part in that. Note that not only is the top edge V-shaped, it it has a raised lip. Somes in useful in the rain.

As for quiet ... one of the quietest bikes I ever rode had no windscreen at all. High is not necessarily better (not to mention that higher is hotter and that is important for where I live). I have a Givi touring windscreen that, depending on the adjusted height, is noisier than the stock windscreem and has buffeting too. Never used that windscreen so it is brand new in the box.

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Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #6

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The bike was set up with the windscreen mounted in the lower holes...this could be a factor. As far as positions, I tried low and high...both noisy. I surmise that mounting the screen in the upper holes would make a difference...as would a taller windscreen, say the VStream sport/tour, which is 3" higher. The V-notch in the OEM screen does not make any sense to me.

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I took the cheap option and changed to an RT. Not that the stock screen on that is perfect - but it is quieter when raised up a bit.

Did you try raising your head above or lowering it below(tucking) to see at what point it stopped making noise? Then you can see if adjusting it in the holes or your seating position can help with the noise.

Thanks for the info. As for raising/lowering to see what happens, I found the noise went away if I dropped my head about 6". A screen that's 3-4" taller, mounted in the upper holes, would probably do the trick. My problem is...do I buy the bike, hoping this will work? Because it'll be an expensive experiment if it doesn't, and I'll be less than enthusiastic about the bike. I think it will work though.

Venturi effect: That's what I think is totally happening with the OEM screen. Think of a mountain ridge line, with wind blowing up against it perpendicularly. If there's a low-lying "saddle" or notch, the wind will push through that lower-lying area at higher velocity than the wind over the ridge itself. With the OEM screen, you have that V-notch that, to me, is saying to the wind: "Here's a nice gap for you to funnel through at higher velocity". It's a strange design, and seems to ignore fluid dynamics...as if it were designed by an artist instead of an engineer...weird.

Zitat von Grumpy Goat im Beitrag #7

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As for quiet ... one of the quietest bikes I ever rode had no windscreen at all. High is not necessarily better.

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Zitat von MilesAway im Beitrag #4

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I was surprised how quiet it was. I guess it varies a lot according to hight etc.

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Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #12

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Thanks for the info. As for raising/lowering to see what happens, I found the noise went away if I dropped my head about 6". A screen that's 3-4" taller, mounted in the upper holes, would probably do the trick. My problem is...do I buy the bike, hoping this will work? Because it'll be an expensive experiment if it doesn't, and I'll be less than enthusiastic about the bike. I think it will work though.

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