Solving My Wind Problem | BMW F650GS Episode 2

The BMW F650GS is great as a first "big" bike. We've had a couple of local adventures, shown in this video, and plan to have a lot more on it, but there's a problem... the wind noise!
Above about 30mph the wind noise is very loud. The stock screen seems to focus the wind onto my head. The airflow seems to be fairly clean, not turbulent, but it's still too loud. I tried with a deflector, but the turbulence was awful. Can a cheap £28 Chinese screen from eBay be the answer?...
Music:
Hip Hop Christmas (Extended) by Twin Musicom (twinmusicom.org)

[@Bavenbushcraft]

Great channel. Just discovered it as I'm looking for an F650gs. Seeing one tomorrow actually with 50k miles. You've got a new sub, from just up the M5 in Worcester. I also had the RYD, but as it reached 5 years old, replaced with the NXR2 and found it to be quieter. Good tip on the screen and fuel pump though! Brilliant presenting style!

[@nigelmtb]

Have a thumbs up just for your amazing hair! Very enjoyable. Btw, I recommend Loop earplugs. Very good value and I can hear my intercom perfectly.

[@spotthedogg]

That is the screen shape used on the 2001-2003 Dakar. Believe it or not you’re supposed to hold the start button 2 seconds after it fires. I don’t know why

[@Sertao2013]

If you put a strip of velcro on the front lower area of the helmet and sew the other part of the velcro to a piece of cloth that goes down about 12 inches it will make any helmet a lot quieter . It also helps in colder riding .

[@leefoote2586]

I like the way your ride your 650, not afraid to use the RPMs in the 4000-5500 range. This makes my bike happy too. I am disappointed that the aerofoil experiment failed as I hoped to fix my wind that way.

[@robinvovolka6197]

I just got an F650GS and 4000-5500 is the best place to cruise! The motor seems smoothest there and then gets kinda buzzy at 5500 and above. As for wind, I have the tall BMW screen and my helmet is entirely in the wind. I just always wear earplugs any time I'll be going over 40MPH. I agree with Alex that the seat is terrible.

[@The1KovacsAttila1]

I had the same issues on my Triumph Scrambler. I bought several screens, short, tall, even some extenders. I bought a new helmet, custom made earplugs, nothing worked. Until I started to put more effort into “scientific” investigation of the noise sources. I found that the main source of the wind turbulence hitting my helmet was actually caused by the OEM mirrors. I also removed the screens, so I ended up with no screen, and bar end mirrors! Now I have silent ride, with the downside of massive wind pressure on my chest. That doesn’t bother me though, but the noise!

[@TittertonRacing]

It's tricky isn't it! Big screens look like they'll be the perfect solution, but as you say it's not about the amount of air hitting you, it's the turbulence that causes the problem. My new-to-me Yamaha has a tiny screen but it seems to be just the right shape, so it does a better job than the big screen on my old R1150GSA... strange!

[@CalmingAnxiety]

I have the F700GS and put the Givi AirFlow on. Possibly the best mod ever

[@TittertonRacing]

Makes such a difference! The noise was unbearable for more than a short ride until I changed screen

[@Maysi2k]

The originale Dakar-Windshild is for the pre-facelift the best :)

[@koenvanmeerbeek]

Heys. Do you have a link to the Chinese windscreen?

[@mossytrail]

Sweet MTB!

[@davideneri7569]

Do you have a link to the new screen?

[@joaopinto8010]

That looks like a proper bmw OEM screen (the one you bought online). At least mine looks the same (f650gs Dakar 2001)

[@TittertonRacing]

Yeah the cheap eBay screen does look to be a copy of an OEM one. So far so good - still loud on motorways, but a lot better than before :) thanks for watching!

[@joaopinto8010]

@@TittertonRacing lucky you! I've been having trouble with my screen specially in motorway with a pillion (shaking helmets due to turbulence) Was wondering if you could send me the ebay link to the auxiliary lights and bar you bought... Thanks in advance ✌️

[@jimpannell2035]

Nice video! What intercom system have you got and would you recommend it?

[@TittertonRacing]

Thanks! It’s a Cardo Freecom 4+. It’s not bad, but I wouldn’t recommend buying it for hands-free Siri/Google integration, as it works about 4% of the time… the sound quality is decent though, and other than the occasional choppiness in built up areas due to interference is pretty good. A mesh-based intercom would be much better, but they’re expensive!

[@steveb936]

Thanks for the video, Im having the same problem with mine at m\way speed, I think I'll do the same, did you sort the seat out ?

[@TittertonRacing]

It’s not very helpful I’m afraid, but my solution to the seat was to use it as an excuse to upgrade to an R1150GS! 🤷

[@steveb936]

@@TittertonRacing Thanks, I'll give it a try

[@911bruce]

Great vid, can you post a link to the lights and bar, thanks

[@TittertonRacing]

Thanks! I happened upon the lights and bar second hand on eBay so not sure how easy they are to find. The lights were just cheap Chinese non-branded ones I think but weren't too bad, I wired them up via a relay to save running too much current through the switch. The light bar is made by a company called RCU, not sure if they still make them: www.rcudesigns.com/trial_9_003.htm

[@eyemallears2647]

Mmm don’t click that link people, it’s gone bad.

[@inthemicz]

Where was the lake?

[@inthemicz]

Chew valley, sat nav helped.

[@TittertonRacing]

@@inthemicz yep that’s it, near chew magna - the fish and chips were excellent!

[@wajahatali2717]

this screen designed from China with a flick is a knock off of a genuine BMW 650 Dakar model screen

[@captlarry-3525]

How distracting to have the whole edge of the windscreen lit up like a chintzy christmas ornament. Big Fail ..tape edge around the head lamp !

[@TittertonRacing]

It really wasn’t actually, the camera exaggerates it by not exposing well in the dark - the edge of the screen was considerably less lit up than the speedometer… Big fail? Really?

[@eyemallears2647]

@@TittertonRacingmeh, I thought it looked pretty nice 🤷🏼‍♂️