Fitting a GIVI screen to the Meteor 350... wind buffeting results

Hi everyone,
I've finished fitting the GIVI large touring screen and found that the wind seems to be pushed a little further up. It still creates quite a bit of noise however and is not the quiet experience I was hoping for. Also, note that fitting the screen was a right nuisance and very fiddly. I'll have to look at it in the daylight to get good impression of the visual aspect of this screen couple with the Meteor Supernova.

[@paul6598]

Thanks for this great comparison video. Looking forward to seeing what the Givi screen looks like on the bike.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi Paul, thanks for the comment. It was a little bit rushed, fitting it took longer than expected as is always the way so it was very dark by the time I had finished! Hopefully in my next video I'll include some footage or pics 😊. Thanks again for the support

[@caseyjones166]

Very interesting - thanks for going to all this trouble. It will be good to hear your ultimate conclusions.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Thanks Stephen, much appreciated. I have got some pics of the new screen in the daylight and it does look good 😁. Need to take the bike out again perhaps on a longer ride on the weekend. Cheers

[@davetrabert6992]

Thanks for your most recent comment about ear plugs and that you will try the technique I suggested to get them into your ear canal better. Admittedly there is a fine line between properly fitting a windscreen so it not only looks good on the bike but it also needs to be effective and do the job of keeping the deflected air away from the area around your head to minimize wind noise. Getting the fitment just right can take multiple fittings and adjustments so be patient and keep fiddling and adjusting until a good compromise is reached between good appearance and effectiveness. A small gap between the headlight and the bottom of the w/s (up to an inch or two) does not cause problems, and having the angle of the w/s a bit steeper than the fork angle can work wonders. Also, regarding wind noise interfering with audio quality for your youtube channel, you might try looking at the details posted by Noraly/itchyboots about microphone and camera details regarding the equipment she uses. She has had more experience and the quality of her youtube broadcasts is very good. Good luck!!!

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi Dave, thanks for the great ideas. I also watch Itchy boots and I think she uses integrated GoPro with audio, which is a nice way to do it. Also, I see a lot of MotorKZbinrs and a lot of the presentation off the bike or recorded on the road but at slower speeds. Theres a lot of ways to do it, definitely a learning journey! Thanks again for the ideas, sometimes people mention things you just have thought of! Cheers, Sean

[@artiecisneros4691]

Thank you, gives me a lot to consider.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

You're welcome. Thanks

[@MotoTvWoodsFarm]

nice movie well structured and lots of information really appreciated thank you

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Thanks so much for the feedback. Much appreciated. Cheers

[@MotoTvWoodsFarm]

@@MindfulMotorcyclist could add maybe graph to show comparison and continue to add additional information to graph. but is was solid great movie i liked it

[@MotoTvWoodsFarm]

@@MindfulMotorcyclist maybe have a winner ceremony and a fanfare for the one you decided was best? The movie right there on the money as it was though

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

@@MotoTvWoodsFarm that's a great idea, I should also test other screens as well. Thanks for the comments.

[@MotoTvWoodsFarm]

@@MindfulMotorcyclist I would suggest do it as league table, score customers most happy, value for money, etc etc, with an eventual winner - you can have a running 'star' chart as teachers do at school. i would go that route. people like information fast so make the film of 'test' then conclude each section with star chart. then finish with whose up next.

[@fingerhorn4]

It might not be aesthetically pleasing but a simple wind deflector with adjustable angle is way cheaper and more effective than that bigger screen. I've had one on several bikes and it instantly diverts all the wind over the top of your helmet. Much nicer than those ugly tall windscreens.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi fingerhorn. Thanks for the comment, sorry for the delayed reply I was 'off' over Christmas. I went back and forth over the wind deflector and decided to go for the bigger screen. I agree the tall windscreen is a little bit less appealing visually than the standard screen (on the supernova) but I wanted to try it out if not for me but also for the UK Meteor owners group many of whom were also interested in the wind deflection properties of the Givi screen. It's nice to be able to inform the community. I also still have the original screen so I could go back to it with a wind deflector. Cheers.

[@jameshaydon8922]

Hichcocks sell the wind deflector for a reasonable price and it works a treat on my Meteor supernova.

[@sunaina3921]

Hi @fingerhorn4 and @jameshaydon8922, I am in the same boat with the stock RE windscreen causing much buffeting. Can you provide links to the windscreen extenders/deflectors you are referring to? Most appreciated. Cheers!

[@davetrabert6992]

I installed a Puig Custom 2 w/s (light smoke) on my Meteor 350 Red Fireball and it worked out just great...... the right height and no buffeting. On my 2020 RE 650 INT (Ravishing Red) the only aftermarket w/s I could find that claimed to fit is a Givi, so I bought it in light smoke tint.... works just fine and mounting hardware just barely fits on the handle bars. Over the years my experience with mounting wind screens suggests the proper angle is typically in the same plane as the angle of the front forks...... while adjusting the height so the top of the w/s is at about the same height as the tip of your nose when you are seated on the bike in riding position. To minimize wind noise and to save your hearing I highly recommend wearing expandable foam ear plugs. The tapered Howard Light ears plugs are among the best I have tried.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi Dave, thanks for this informative comment and apologies for the delayed reply I took some time off KZbin for the Christmas period. I like the INT 650 especially in red and have also reviewed that bike on this channel, it was great fun with quite a bit more poke than the Meteor. Having fitted my first aftermarket screen to the Meteor I can see now how having some experience would be a benefit. The Givi is quite awkward to fit and has 4 mounts, 2 onto the bars and 2 onto the forks. My first experience was characterised by a lot of faffing and getting annoyed presumably because the screen is so 'flexible' to fit multiple bikes, it also didn't help that it was a few days from the shortest day of the year and so it was getting dark by 4pm! I've since fettled a bit more and tried to line up the angle in line with the forks as you describe. One benefit to the large item is that buffeting to the body is pretty much eliminated. Thanks for the tip regarding the ear plugs, I also have a track bike and so those will be a great shout. Thanks for your comment again. Cheers, Sean

[@tronzer6553]

@Dave what is the height of the Puig custom 2 from top of the headlight? Puig site only had info about the full height which is 41cm.

[@davetrabert6992]

@@tronzer6553 I just measured the height of my Puig Custom 2 w/s at 15.5 inches above the top of the headlight with minimal gap between the headlight and w/s. Hope that helps.....

[@tronzer6553]

Thank you, Dave.

[@keithert]

Dave, I have a universal shield extender on my INT 650 with the Givi universal shield. With the extra height of the extender the wind noise is acceptable to me. Without the extender it was too noisy for my liking. I am tempted to try the shield that National Cycle recommends for the INT 650. It is a harley style one but may be the only option to get tall enough.

[@tamar5261]

Thanks for the video, I ordered a touring screen on my 350, then thought drat I should have got the more expensive touring screen. But the ordinary screen seems fine, I rarely go above 50mph anyway

[@artiecisneros4691]

How tall are you?

[@tamar5261]

@@artiecisneros4691 5'8"

[@artiecisneros4691]

@@tamar5261 do you get any windblast on any part of the head? Thanks for your reply 👍 🙂

[@tamar5261]

@@artiecisneros4691 hi I haven't got the bike yet, it's being delivered in January. I hope I don't get the windblast, if I do I will fit a small foil on top like I did on my other bikes. They really work well

[@artiecisneros4691]

@@tamar5261 Years ago I bought a 1990 Virago 1100 and lowered the seat lifted the handlebars 1 inch and had forward controls built then added a windscreen which i had it cut a couple inches from the top and it was wonderful. I sat in the bike rather than on top. No blast on my face or helmet; hopefully I'll be able to do the same with the Fireball Red I have. Enjoy your bike when you get it.

[@GOLDDYNACO]

Very useful comparisons. Thanks! See You got some real reflections from your instrument panel while driving in the dark. Any ideas for fixing these?

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi, thanks for your comment. I've since adjusted the screen and its moved up and above the front facing indicators so those reflections have been reduced. As far as the instrument panel, I'm not sure how this will have changed since fettling with the screen angle but I'll check when I next have the bike out! Thanks!

[@keithert]

I just put the Givi Universal screen on an Interceptor. On my Interceptor the top of the shield is lower than on the Meteor. It was quite loud at 40+ mph. Buffeting wasn't terrible but it was loud. I put a universal windshield extender on the Givi shield. It is the type with 2 arms that is adjustable for height and angle. With the extender the Givi shield is not too noisy for me and still looks decent.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi Keith, thanks for the comment. Yes it seems you can fit a larger screen and still get buffeting but as soon as you fit the 'deflector' or 'extender' device you get huge improvements. On my new bike it was the same, fit a larger screen and still have buffeting, as soon as a deflector is added the buffeting drops off. Leads me to believe it is something to do with the angle of deflection and not the height. I've noticed some new bikes have a wind vent in the screen to allow some airflow and stop much air going towards the helmet!

[@jonathandeeley6276]

Great video and thanks for posting so quickly. I know a number of us owners have been looking forward to this video. It seems that the larger screen hasn't made that much of an improvement over the standard touring screen judging by the sound levels - particularly around the 60 mph mark, it does look good though. Where did you buy it from and (in your opinion) is it worth the investment for the improvement gained? Many thanks.🙂

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Thanks Jonathon, we did sacrifice quality for speed a little bit on this upload. Very tricky to get anything done with the inclement weather and nights closing in so quickly. There is a pic of the screen uploaded to the FB group now which will give an indication of the visual appearance. The screen seems to be as noisy but I think with a bit more tinkering we could get it into a more vertical alignment as you mentioned and also get it to hug the headlight a little more closely. It greatly reduced wind to the body as you can imagine and the wind is only felt at the very top of the helmet, which strangely still creates noise. I'm thinking also my helmet could be at fault here as well. I showed Suzie the screen this morning to get a second opinion and she pointed out that it gives the little Meteor a lot more presence on the road and blends a modern looking screen with the modern retro feel of the bike. Another unintended side effect is that indicators are reflected back into it so you never forget to cancel your flashers, which is handy. It is also a very different look to what most have done with their 350s so with that in mind I think I'll keep it.

[@jonathandeeley6276]

Thanks, I'll look at it a bit more as an alternative.👍

[@hiteshk590]

Hi, I am impressed with this wind screen. And thanks for very informative video. Can you please suggest if this screen fits on RE classic? Thanks.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi Hitesh, the screen itself is sold as a screen for the Interceptor 650, but fits the Meteor so it is quite flexible in its fitment. I suspect it would fit the classic 350 but I have not tried yet myself. Thanks for the question. Sean

[@johnbellamy6449]

hi again bikes and bits. a few years ago i bought a new honda nc750 s. fitted a replacement screen;givi as it happens.no different. fitted another cant remember the make no different either.cost me dearly. learned that lesson,never again.will keep my super nova as it is.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi John. It's not a clear cut improvement. Perhaps in looks yes but that is subjective, at lower speeds wind noise is down and buffeting to the body is of course a lot lower. I'm hoping some final tweak with the screen angle might yield more improvements. Fingers crossed.

[@stevenmiller184]

It sounded as though the Givi screen was louder. For me, the reason I put a screen on my bikes is to mitigate that constant, fatiguing pressure on my body. A relatively short screen will do that satisfactorily. I live here in the U.S. and the best screen that I have found for reduced wind pressure and re direction of air flow over the head came from a company called "Memphis Shades" It worked well on my Royal Enfield 500 Classic.

[@jonathandeeley6276]

... just thought, is there much adjustment on the screen to perhaps give a more vertical stance which may help with helmet buffeting/noise? Thanks.👍

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

There is a lot of adjustment. Each mount onto the screen is rotatable 360* and the black plastic clips are toothed so they can be rotated inyo a large number of positions. This makes fitting it a bit tricky as you dont know where to start. I began by squaring off against the headlight as the standard screen does. problem I have found is that the metal bars used to mount the screen, there are 4 in total, 2 mount to the handlebars and 2 to the upper forks. With these pushed back fully to get the screen vertical they will foul the tank on full lock. It's hard to explain and perhaps a video would be better to show the problem. I could get around it by using one of the other pieces or even in the extreme shortening the metal road using a grinder.

[@jonathandeeley6276]

Great, thank you. I know on the Hitchcocks website they mention the possible shortening of the bracket stays depending on final position.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

@@jonathandeeley6276 that is interesting. In that case then with shortened brackets you could get a very upright screen position and tucked in close to the headlight. Thanks

[@229andymon]

Hi, I was hoping to see how you fitted it to the bike, but couldn't see from the clip. It looks like 4 clamps, 2 round the top of the forks and 2 round the handlebars - yes? I'm assuming you can adjust the settings on the clamps to raise and lower the screen? I'm considering a Givi AF49 (2 section sliding screen), it appears to have the same clamping set up.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi Andy sorry for the delayed reply. It is 4 circle clamps yes. 2 large around the top of the forks and two smaller ones around the bars. The clamps are indeed quite fiddily to set up...

[@229andymon]

@@MindfulMotorcyclist many thanks for response.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

@@229andymon as a further help if you search facebook marketplace for Givi Large Touring Screen you will see my very screen for sale and pictures of the 4 clamps. Hope that helps.

[@davetrabert6992]

I dont know what earplugs you are using, but if you have not tried the Howard Light expandable foam earplugs they are certainly worth a try. I have tried over a dozen different types of earplugs and they are the best I have found. However, they will eventually wear out and not expand as well as when new so it is time for a new pair after a few months of riding. I dont know what they cost but a few years back I got 25 pair on Amazon for under $6 and I have not yet used all of them. There is a technique to putting them in you ear properly: For the right ear put your left hand over the top of your head and pull the top of your right ear up while quickly inserting the rolled up ear plug straight into your right side ear canal with your right hand. Left ear is reverse procedure. Hope that helps...... Maybe try them before purchasing another wind screen. My Puig Custom 2 Light Smoke w/s works just fine for me. Dave T.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi Dave, thanks for the comment about ear plugs, I recently invested in some Alpine MotoSafe Tour Ear Plugs, which are actually OK and come with a little stick to allow you to insert them into your ear. I have also tried expanding foam ear plugs and I find those to give the best noise reduction but they can fall out when you put on or remove the helmet, perhaps I will try the technique you suggest to putting them into the ear. I won't be purchasing another screen as I find most dont work, but my main dilemma with buffeting and noise is the audio quality of the mic that I mount inside my helmet, this picks up all the buffeting and sounds awful! Thanks

[@rodspears]

So from what I can tell it sounded like the buffeting considerably worse using the Givi. Would be be less for someone 3 inches (8cm) shorter?

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi Rod, thanks for the comment. I think I am just a very unlucky height for riding motorcycles. I always seem to get the wind buffeting, on the Meteor this applied with the standard screen and with the Givi. I think however if you are shorter it might be much improved. The Givi did give a hige amount of wind protection to the body and deflected the airflow higher (although still catching the top of my helmet). I think a bolt on wind deflector from Puig for example might be the way to go...

[@rodspears]

@@MindfulMotorcyclist Thank you for the reply and advice, it is very helpful.

[@JimmySlacksack]

maybe its best without a screen or with the little fly screen? obviously you'd get some wind blast but less buffeting perhaps

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi Slack, I'll try a little bit more to optimise the position of this screen but I think you might be right. The blast itself isn't that bad especially as we are only doing about 60mph max. I think it's the deflection of the wind straight into your face which makes it problematic. The flyscreen does look nice. Thanks!

[@garycunningham268]

I have the a fly screen on my fireball red and can't say I noticed the wind and being blowen about on the bike, but only been up to 50 55 as still renting in, the himalayan was the same when you got up to 60 70 mph alot of buffeting, and I'm 5/10 height good comparison video, though 👍

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

@@garycunningham268 I think the flyscreen is a great option. Perhaps it suits the fireball a little bit more as it has that blacked out look. I have also finished stage one running in now and I kept to around 50-55 as well. I think the book states 45mph but that seemed terribly slow to ride around at that pace for 300 miles!

[@garycunningham268]

@@MindfulMotorcyclist 😆Yea would take me ages at that speed, yea the fly screen finishes it of realy, hides the back of the clocks, and keep the wet and muck out a bit. When I used a demo meteor it was a super nova blue with fly screen, and the fatter foot rest, like mini running boards, they where a nice touch.

[@JohnBraman413]

what model number for givi screen?

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Its called the large touring screen PART No. 200315B on Hitchcocks website...

[@BobfmBali]

Have you sold on the screen or are you keeping it?

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

I've got the aftermarket screen, 2 actually that I need to sell but the Meteor OEM screen went with the bike...

[@BobfmBali]

@@MindfulMotorcyclistHow much are you looking at for the GIVI touring screen? Which 2 screen's?

[@namduran]

Another helpful video. There’s been a great deal of discussion on this issue in the Meteor 350 UK OwnersFacebook page from day one and this will inform that debate. Please post on there as well if you don’t mind. The big question is - are you keeping the Givi Screen on the bike?

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Thanks Nigel. I'll post it over there too. I don't know if I will keep the Givi, I didn't get the big improvement I was looking for on first impression but a quick ride in the dark is not really a full test. I'm going to have to fiddle with the angle on the weekend and see if I can get an improvement. I think it is a bit better to be honest. Also fitting the touring seat might position me a bit lower down and further from the wind. Thanks!

[@artiecisneros4691]

@@MindfulMotorcyclist I understand that the Touring seat pushes you a little towards the front.

[@spiritofe629]

Has the classic 350 arrived at the dealers?

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi SpiritofE, sorry for the delayed reply just getting back to you. I took some time off over Christmas and New Year. To answer your question, in the UK at least the Classic 350 hasn't landed as far as I know. Thanks!

[@spiritofe629]

@@MindfulMotorcyclist Arrived at dealership in Italy 2 weeks ago so I guess should make it to the UK soon. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJSvk5domsucp5Y

[@chromagraphphotoart]

I think you need to pay attention to the sun shining over your shoulder. Otherwise, not sure what the results were?

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

This was just a quick video to compare noise levels after a few requests from regulars viewers. Definitely not as polished as I'd like. The results were a little inconclusive with the Givi not really improving noise hugely. Need to go out again and test further, the screen can also be adjusted to make it vertical which we will also try 😊

[@zachsweet8467]

Can you put up a link to that screen?

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

If you go to Hitchcocks website and search under Meteor 350 accessories it should be there. It's the Givi large touring...

[@marinusk67]

tried a givi screen on my nc 750x and it made it worse. tilting the original screen more backwards will help

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi Marinus, yes I think the angle of the screen is everything. I couldn't get this to work on mine so opted for the additional deflector which doesn't look nice but does do the job...

[@spiritofe629]

Yeah but how does it look with the new screen? You didn't show that.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

It looks good, gives the bike more presence. It was dark last night so had no chance to take a proper photo...

[@Team-fabulous]

Regardless of the larger screens performance it looks terrible compared to the original..

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

Hi TF, I agree the original screen is just right in terms of ascetics. Size and shape and a retro look. The GIVI is a little too modern with the plastic framing around the headlight,, the branding, it's huge size and the tint. When you are trying to record audio on a bike and it be clean you need to have no wind buffeting however! Desperate times require desperate measures and all that.

[@mototom9086]

Worse than before ,I think.

[@MindfulMotorcyclist]

It certainly wasn't enough improvement to justify the cost.