Yes I tried the spacers first. They made no difference at all for me. I picked up my Palmer bracket secondhand. But it made such a difference for me so I would have happily paid full price.
Can someone link to the Palmer bracket? My Google fu is weak today. Additionally, anyone got a pic of it with the Puig sports screen?
I was in the same position as you, terrible buffetting. I am only 5'7" and sit lower, with the seat in the lower position. I tried various screens, with and without spacers. I ended up making my own spacers which lower the screen further, and then fitted the wind deflector as shown. Yes it looks different , but it has made a night and day difference. All the wind is kept beneath my helmet and it has made riding enjoyable once again. The helmet also makes a difference, my Shoei NXR is terrible, the AGV best, and Arai in between the two for buffetting. What also makes a difference is whether i have a tank bag or not, and with / without passenger. I am shocked (but not surprised ) that no professional road tester ever said anything about the terrible buffetting.
The Palmer bracket is definitely worth the money. I did the spacers beforehand. Big improvement with Palmer mount.
I’m on screen #4, less than some here. Same as others have said, the smaller screens with lots of clean air work better for me at 5’9 & high seat position than taller screens with less direct air but lots of buffeting. 1) Stock: sucked, super buffeting 2) Calsci shorty: better, but not good 3) PP knockoff from Maxicarbon: best, cleanest air 4) Puig Racing screen: almost as good as the PP, and protects my Zumo XT. At this point I’m no longer looking to change, and I don’t hate the frontal assault.
Unfortunately, most “professional” reviews nowadays are a spec sheet quote and a few random highly-tempered comments from the press release group ride.
Couldn't have said it better my self. The one car reviewer I like is Carwow on Youtube. He doesn't babble on about the specs as though you've never even looked into the car you're buying. I wish bike reviewers did this as well.
the windscreen issues/question are as plentiful as oil and tire/tyre threads for the Multi. even before I purchased my first water-cooled multi (a 2010 1200s) that had 400 miles on the clock, I decided to search the interewbz, as I thought for sure there would be options on what the best and worst things about the Multi were. the largest threads on the three web properties I searched, were all concerning the windscreen. so, I started reading the threads, and after the 5th page of messages whining about the windscreen buffeting and noise, I thought to myself "what a bunch of whiny little bitches ... just ride the bike and enjoy it". when I went to pick up the new to me Multi 1200s, I brought my full face helmet, but since I had never worn earplugs when riding before, I did not have any with me. riding the Multi out of the neighborhood at under 40mph speeds, the bike was fine. once I got the Multi on the freeway and up to about 70mph and the "sonic waterboarding" started, I realized all the fuss and whining had merit. since then, I put a little over 60,000 miles on the two multis (I now have a 2018 1260s), and have gone through 7 different windscreens and 2 different spacer sets, 3 different full face helmets, and perhaps 5 different brands of ear plugs ... and on both Multis, I settled on the Pikes Peak screen with Iconic Parts spacers. the current set up of pikes peak screen, iconic parts spacers, the seat set to highest position, Schuberth C4 Pro helmet, and Loop earplugs provides the quietest most buffet free ride, at all speeds ... and I am comfortable even on 600+ mile ride days. of course, YMMV... and as stated above, the wind noise issue is like tires/tyres, oil ... everyone has their opinion.
Good to know, on my 2010 1200 S, I had the MRA vario and I loved it! I did 10+ hour day trips all around Europe and not once had an issue. So it was kind of my first thought for the 1260, however I wanted to be sure. I've gone for the Puig sports and I'm going to try without any spacers for now. As for wind noise, I don't mind it personally, it's as you put it, 'sonic waterboarding' I can't stand only because of the eyeball shake which makes it very hard to focus. It could be as loud as a jet engine, but as long as I can focus, I'm fine.
This intrigues me. Despite having a Puig sports screen I've only offered it up to the bike. Not that keen on the carbon effect in this case, I bought it used from a member on here. Was of the impression that it wouldn't offer much in the way of wind protection but from what you've said about the PP screen, which is even smaller, I think I'm going to give it a try. If successful I'll order a tinted acrylic one. Not too unhappy with my current setup of the std MTS screen and Iconic spacers but if the Puig improves on that and still offers decent long distance protection then I'll be sold on the idea of spending yet more money on this issue.
and, publications that do test riding/road reports ... print or online, they tend to reply heavily on advertising as their revenue source ... and pissing off manufacturers by criticizing their products and risking loss of adds ... that's something they don't tend to push. as such, I often refer to reviews as "advitorial" in nature.
fully respect your not being keen on the carbon fiber look. have you looked at the stock Ducati Enduro windscreen? it's clear. I had one on my 1260s for a month or two, then another local Ducati Multi owner with a Pikes Peak wanted to swap the clear Enduro screen for the carbon fiber screen, and I ended up with that.
Unfortunately I just can't get on with ear plugs, so I guess I'm stuck with the wind noise, and its not too bad.
