Tuning and modding » DIY Custom Screen

I took delivery of my R1250RS a couple of months ago and I think it's a stellar machine, with the exception of the screen. The factory screen wasn't awful but it did seem to create a fair bit of wind noise and general jostling. It also caused my pillion riding girlfriend quite a lot of turbulence. I've been down this road before and finding the right aftermarket screen can be a costly and frustrating experience, so I bought a Slipscreens replacement in Light Tint (https://www.slipscreens.co.uk/bmw-r1200-...touring-screen/) as it was the cheapest option and I'd read that it was an improvement for some people. At £50 I figured it was worth a go.

I had thought that the heavy lip on the factory screen was unusual and could be part of the wind noise problem. I had a suspicion, completely unfounded, that it may be there as a safety measure and not to deflect the air... As the Slipscreen screen was smooth and shaped more like the screens you would find on bikes more than a decade ago, I though this might test that assumption.

The stock Slipscreens screen was an improvement on the factory screen but I could feel where the air was being 'cut' and was still catching me in the wrong place.
After reading a few threads on this forum I thought I'd take the advice of a few of the posters and go shorter. I bought the RS as an antidote to my previous bike - a GSA, for a more sporting and connected experience and reducing the material between me and the road felt like a move in the right direction. As the Slipscreen is relatively inexpensive I thought I'd try shortening that, rather than chopping into the costly factory screen.

As the Slipscreen is larger than the original screen my first attempt was to mimic the size and shape of the factory screen, but without the lip. I figured that BMW must have spent some considerable time designing this shape and that it would be a good place to start. I used the factory screen as a template over the Slipscreens screen and lined it up at the mounting holes. I used the top edge of the factory screen to draw the shape onto the Slipscreens with a white paint marker.

Then with the Slipscreens Screen still mounted to the bike, I cut along the white outline with a jig saw fitted with a plastics blade and at a very slow speed. Cut too fast and the plastic will melt, re-welding itself behind the cutting edge. Take it easy and you'll get a good straight cut but the edge will be rough.

I sanded the edge with some 60/80 grade sandpaper on a sanding block, to even it all out. Then 120/180 paper to smooth it and finish with some 2500 wet and dry.
You can add a pass with some 800 if you like and sand as much as you like. While I was finding the right hight I didn't go mad. Once you have the correct hight and shape for you, you can go to town on it. The 2500 finishes it beautifully. Get your technique down and you can put a light radius on the finished edge.

At the same hight as the factory screen it was ok and I think loosing the lip did help the noise, but I thought it could be better. I went further and took another 4 cm off it. Again using the factory screen as a template to get the top edge shape right, but 4 cm lower.

It was a further improvement but not perfect. I could feel the line of air hitting me under the chin and though it would be better lower across my chest. So, I decided to take another 2cms off. (6cms lower than Std) As it's mounted in the lower holes, I figured if I took too much off I could re-mount it in the upper holes and re-gain some hight. One thing I liked about the Slipscreen was the way it kept a bit more air off my hands. To retain this I took the top edge a little wider than std by using the factory screen again as a template, but rotating it to each side, to get the angle a little less steep on the outer two edges. Hopefully you can see this in the picture below.

This height was really good. I took it for a blast last night and it was great. 50+ with visor open (3 Degrees C so couldn't take too much) and sustained 3 figure touring speeds were super smooth. Screen down is pure open road, sporting bliss and screen up keeps the air off your body, keeping you warmer and more protected. Both quiet and buffeting free. I'm really pleased with the result.

It's been complete experimentation and can wholly recommend it to the 'fiddlers' and 'messers' out there. With the Slipscreens screens being such good value It's tempting to try a few different designs. I went for the BMW 'V' shaped design as I figured they must have spent some time testing it, but I am tempted to try another one with a more trad curved design... at £50 a pop it's a small price to pay for made to measure, windscreen nirvana ;-)

Hope this is of help to anyone suffering the from the Std. screen and thinking of swapping out.

Just to note:
I'm 6'2" and have the higher 'Sport' seat fitted.
Total time for each adjustment, inc. sanding - 45 mins max. |addpics|rs5-3-4e7f.jpg,rs5-4-ee71.jpg,rs5-5-20dc.jpg,rs5-6-2849.jpg,rs5-7-8599.jpg,rs5-8-e94c.jpg|/addpics|

Here are a few more photos....|addpics|rs5-9-5490.jpg,rs5-a-7e1b.jpg,rs5-c-3cf9.jpg,rs5-d-28f7.jpg,rs5-e-fe7a.jpg,rs5-f-ddd2.jpg,rs5-g-ac5b.jpg,rs5-h-d1aa.jpg|/addpics|

This is a pic of the re-shaping of the outside edge for wider wind protection...|addpics|rs5-i-bc61.jpg|/addpics|

Nice work.

I’m impressed, that could be a fun project to fiddle with over a wintry weekend!

Would it not be a lot cleaner to do this off of the bike?

Zitat von M3M im Beitrag #6

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Would it not be a lot cleaner to do this off of the bike?

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Nice work!

You also can use this screen Givi D5120ST screen BMW R1200RS R1250RS

Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #7

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Zitat von M3M im Beitrag #6

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Would it not be a lot cleaner to do this off of the bike?

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If you try to do the cut off the bike you need to make sure the shield does not move.
You also need to have the shield raise above the work bench to allow room for the blade.

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Quick question if I may. How tall are you? I’ve had wind problems (excuse the pun) as am 6’ 3” and have bought a few screens but non of them seem to hit the mark and like the idea of retaining the original shape but in a sports screen size.

Zitat von mattblack000 im Beitrag #10

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Quick question if I may. How tall are you? I’ve had wind problems (excuse the pun) as am 6’ 3” and have bought a few screens but non of them seem to hit the mark and like the idea of retaining the original shape but in a sports screen size.

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I did it the easy way. Replaced it with an AeroFlow touring screen. 22 inch standard. Looks great and the wind noise is mostly gone and bugs splattered on me. That OEM screen is joke.
GT

Do you have a picture of the bike with that screen?

Just chop ‘em and try ‘em

My short one is perfect.

I’ll take some pictures tomorrow. When I post them they will be upside down even though they don’t start out that way. 🤔 Someone fixed them last time for me.