Norge Windscreen: Has Anyone Cut It Down?

[JeffOlson]

Has anyone cut down a stock Norge windscreen? If so, how did it turn out in terms of helmet buffeting?

I have three windscreens for my Norge, two stock windscreens, and one larger Agostini touring windscreen. Of the three, the Agostini produces the least helmet buffeting, especially in the highest position (but then I am looking through it). The stock windscreens produce the most helmet buffeting.

Curiously, if I stand while riding with a stock windscreen in its lowest position, my expensive German helmet that is supposed to be quiet is actually quiet. But if I sit down, the noise is deafening. Too bad I can't ride the Norge everywhere while standing!

I am thinking of cutting off the top of one of my stock windscreens so there is less turbulence and more clean air on my helmet.

Thoughts?

[rocker59]

You have two stockers.  Cut one down.

I've cut windscreens down on bikes in the past. 

It might just work for you.

[oldbike54]

 You might also try venting one of the shields to equalize pressure .

  Dusty

[PJPR01]

Jeff...curiously today, I posted an ad here to sell 3 of my Norge Windscreens...2 stockers and one Cal Sci Medium height.

I am 5"10. and have found that the CalSci Tinted shorty is just perfect for me...virtually no buffeting under normal circumstances...ver y tolerable.  Ideally maybe an inch shorter...but compared to stock and taller screens, really great.  It's square on the edges rather than tapered and that helped me a lot.

You may give that a try...

[frans belgium]

Nothing is more personal than a windscreen.  I am 5 72 and the stock Norge windscreen fits my perfectly, in almost any position.  This must be the first time a motorcycle windscreen fitted me from the start.
On my previous Breva 1100, I had to try 3 types before getting down to the smallest (and cheapest) Givi.
So if you cut down yours, perhaps my 5 72 can give you an idea, but why not try some sort of spoiler first?
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Puig-screen-deflector-for-Moto-Guzzi-Norge-1200-windscreen-touring-/401004983171?hash=item5d5dc27383:g:wZUAAOSwHjNWBYpL

[Dean Rose]

Can you adjust the Norge windscreen to mid way? If so find a way to measure where it is that your face would be.
Then mark the windscreen to that and cut it, then you can adjust it up or down how you like.

Dean

[Gliderjohn]

I am 5'10 and the stock screen worked okay, just not enough overall coverage, but no buffeting to speak of. I replaced to with the Cal/Sci medium and it works very well overall. If I have it set to where I can just look over it on the highway.
GliderJohn

[thepittsburghguzzi]

You might also try venting one of the shields to equalize pressure .

  Dusty

Dusty,

Can you explain this a little further? The Spitfire windscreen my V7 came equipped with just wasn't right for me, way too much buffeting at any speed really, so I took it off. But I'd like to try it again. Would venting mean cutting a hole or holes in the lower part of the windscreen?

[Gliderjohn]

Most screen now a day including my Cal/Sci have a hole or holes toward the bottom of the screen. On the Cal?Sci it is a rectangular hole that I would guess is about 5" long and 2" wide. Never have a problem with rain coming through the hole.
It is my understanding that buffeting problems have as much to do with air coming from below as well as from over the top of the screen. Plus there is air curling back into you from your body. This all meets together causing the buffeting. The venting helps relieve that sort of pressure.
GliderJohn

[oldbike54]

 Paul , Gliderjohn gave a good explanation . Now , about that Spitfire , if itis what I think it is , no matter what you do it will buffet . Turbulence (buffeting) can also be caused by a shield that flutters , memory tells me that the Spitfire is flimsy . A quick look at any modern touring fairing will give a good picture of how venting can be accomplished .

 Dusty

[JeffOlson]

Thanks for the thoughts, everyone!

Since I have an extra stock windscreen, and since standing does produce clean, nearly silent air with no buffeting, I am first going to try cutting down one of the stock windscreens.

If that does not work, or even if it does, I may try a spoiler, like the Puig, or this Givi:


Over at the Modern Vespa forum, there is a lot of information about cutting down windscreens. It seems that scooter riders do this a lot!

[Waltr]

I am using the stock screen but have an Agostini large and Cal-Sci (large I believe).   The stock screen does not buffet but I do find it to be noisey.  Some may call this buffeting but I consider buffeting to actually being able to being felt by bouncing my helmet around.  The Cal-Sci is not noisy at all except it does reflect noise bact from the engine and I find that tiring as the miles roll on. I shouild have one size smaller Cal-Sci but I doubt it would do much to rectify the noise problem.  I had an Aeroflw on a Kawasaki Concours and that shield was PERFECT.

[Huzo]

Is there any reports of those extention things on top of your screen cracking where they're mounted due to wind pressure, vibration etc. ?

[PJPR01]

Waltr...I'm selling my Calsci medium...in the classifieds if you want to try it out.

[canuguzzi]

The helmet you wear has a lot to do with buffeting. Even some very expensive helmets will exacerbate buffeting while some budget models do not.

I changed over to a Kabuto modular and there is no buffeting (5'10") and can ride with the face open at high freeway speeds with any wind catch. Same applies when the flip up face shield is up. No buffeting.

Sometimes, buffeting isn't only related to the windscreen. It's worth a try to cut it down but might be worth a try with different helmets too.

For those unaware. The Norge's windscreen is not sealed at the bottom, there is a lot of air flow under the windscreen. Often you see vents to equalize pressure on windscreens that are flush mounted at the forward edge.

[JeffOlson]

^ NP, good point regarding helmets. In my experience on my two Norges, my open-face helmets are quieter than my full-face and modular helmets.

I had hoped that my Schuberth would cure the buffeting, but it is not much quieter than my cheap Scorpion EXO.

Again, if I could stand up while riding or perhaps remove the windscreen entirely, my Schuberth would be perfect and very quiet. I can't do the one and don't want to do the other.