Hi all - I know there have been a 1000 posts on this topic, and I think I have a 1000 screens or different bolt on solutions in my garage which I have tried over two bikes to sort the dreaded vision blurring and head buffeting…..however, a total solution came quite unexpectedly recently and I thought I would share it. Bar risers. I have seen multiple posts saying they thought the turbulence might be from all the bar fixtures and fittings but I don’t recall anyone saying risers solved it. For ref I am 5’11” and have a 34” inseam, and a big head (oddly drawn boy), I bought a 790 Adventure R in November and whilst I am not a huge fan of KTM bikes at all as a result, I found the more upright seating position suited my back quite nicely. I wondered if I could get the similar benefits on the multi by raising the bars a bit but was worried how it would affect the steering, so I bought the OEM bar risers and did a few longer test days around the Lake District and a loop of mid wales on Easter Sunday. The steering changes didn’t bother me at all, and my back felt great but the unexpected consequence was that I found I needed to lift the shorter screen I had fitted (my most recent screen has been an OEM screen cut down to a similar height as the Puig racing screen - yes, I have tried many). I was having to put it up to the max height, or it was getting a bit buzzy at speed. Got me wondering so I got home and measured the raised shorty screen height against a completely stock OEM screen and it was within an inch. Re-fitted a bog-stock OEM screen I have and went out on Monday and did some cruising/motorway miles, no turbulence at normal A road speeds and raising it up at erm “normal” motorway cruising speeds was absolutely perfect. Everyone has their own solutions for this by now, and everyone is a different shape etc, so it might not help, but this truly came out of leftfield for me so thought I would share it. Hope it helps someone.
Interesting stuff thanks for sharing. It’s such a personal thing and I find barometric pressure, wind direction, wind strength have all huge impacts for me. I can do one half of a ride and it’s smooth and quiet and you do the second half coming home and there’s horrendous noise and turbulence. I move my head and body around behind the screen to see where the quietest place is, moving closer, lower, higher, further back and they all have different impacts at different times. I’ve got a clear Puig race/sport screen on and find that it’s pretty good but the quietest i make it is when I tuck in low behind it. I had the same model screen in dark which was on when I bought the bike and I couldn’t ride behind it when the weather was bad or in the dark so got the clear one. It’s not ideal or comfortable to be tucked behind it for long periods on the motorway but it provides relief from the noise and turbulence when it’s particularly bad. The quietest bikes I’ve ever had are sports bikes and naked bikes because the wind is hitting you in your belly and or chest. If I put a bigger double bubble screen on it lifts the wind onto your head and would make it noisy. Hence most people find no/small screen is quietest. I’m 5ft 8 on a lower seat setting so I can get behind the screen and dash ok. Guess taller people will have completely different take on things.
The screen spacers have made a considerable difference with the OEM screen on. Really pleased with them. Well Worth a try.
Such a personal thing - spacers made zero difference for me! Bottom line: glad you’re getting it right for you.
absolutely bud. It’s incredible the number of Variables that dictate a suitable situation. I see massive differences in buffeting and wind noise with changes in barometric pressure and obviously wind speed. Early Morning rides are usually quiet and afternoon are typically louder. Small Puig screen was good but oem and the spacers I’ve settled with now.
Sorry for delay - can’t find them, which - for reasons I won’t go into here - is not like me at all. Will keep looking…can only be one of so many places.
