MRA Vario screen on R1150R

[MartinW]

After years of dithering I finally ordered a vario screen from Wunderlich as a direct replacement for my BMW speedster screen.

I rushed home excitedly, whipped out the four bolts on the speedster screen, offered up the new vario and screen and.......

.....the two sets of holes are set about 1.5cm further apart and additionally the existing brackets prevent the new screen from sitting flush on the mountings.

Now, I'm sure with a little judicious bending, reshaping of the mountain brackets I could get it to fit but before doing so I wondered whether anyone on this forum had had a similar experience with this screen.

[rdsmith3]

Have you loosened the brackets after you took off the old screen? I think if you loosen the bolts that hold the brackets, attach the new windscreen to the brackets, and then tighten the brackets, it should fit.

[MartinW]

thanks rdmsith3 - yes, that seems to have done the trick. It was a question of me being impatient and over-anxious rather than getting my brain into gear.

good-looking bike you have there!

[stevedore]

Just installed one on my bike last night. I got very concerned at first due to the hole offset mentioned, then my step son asks about the spacer grommets that came with the screen. Oh yeah thats what they're for, went together like I knew what I was doing. No loosening of brackets. Can't wait to try it out.

[Bobby28]

Martin, are those stock mirrors on your ride? I like them

[MartinW]

Bobby, it's not my ride, it's rdmith3's pic of his ride.

[wncbmw]

Bobby28 - I will answer for Bob, I am sure he won't mind. They are K bike mirrors. I have the same thing on mine. Looks better and better vision behind you.

[Bobby28]

wnc, thanks, where can I order them ?

[Hawkman]

Will the nuts and washers from the stock mirrors mount to the K mirrors? $13 for a nut is outrageous. Listed on A/S Cycles, I think.

[priapismic]

You guys who are using this screen:

I am considering this screen for my bike, among several others, and I'd like your opinions on how well it works for you. Do you find it quiet? That's probably my most important criteria: too many years of windblast have left me with serious tinnitus (ringing/hissing in the ears) and some hearing loss, so I NEED a quiet ride. But... I also don't want a lot of windblast around my shoulders and upper torso. I've got to know that I can jump on the bike and ride all day at highway and interstate speeds, and 500 miles later down the road, I won't be beat up by the incessant windblast. This shield looks kinda small when it comes to upper torso protection from rain and wind.

I've spoken to Mad1150 about his MRA Vario shield, he came to the Arkansas min-Bash last fall and we've spoken since then. How 'bout you other folks? What's your review on this shield?

[rdsmith3]

Here is a thread on touring screens
http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13330

I shouldn't quote myself, but ...
The problem with asking for advice on windscreens is that everyone has a different opinion. We are different shapes and sizes, we have different helmets, we ride at different speeds on different roads, and we have different riding positions. What works for me may be terrible for you. Also, it is really difficult to do an apples-to-apples comparison on windscreens because they cost a lot of money and they are difficult to install, and some use different brackets. Finally, each windscreen is a compromise between function and looks, and we all have our preferences in this area.

I tried the MRA Vario screen for over 500 miles, and I ended up going back to the BMW Touring screen. I had too much wind on my chest and shoulders with the MRA screen. It looks cool, though.
http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10475

[fallingpines]

Agreed that opinions on screens vary widely based on rider size, seat height and whatever else. So another way to ask is 'how is the Vario compared to the Speedster screen? I took my Speedster screen off because of too much wind noise and buffeting at helmet level. Has anyone else replaced their Speedster with a Vario for the same reasons, and was it better?

[Trapper]

I replaced my speedster screen with the MRA Vario about a year ago - and love it. (The only thing I like less about it is the way it looks -not exactly fugly, but no where near as nice as the speedster - IMHO. )

I regularly ride for hours on end, at speeds up to 90+ mph (private roads of course) and never suffer from the buffeting I got with the speedster. I find the noise to be about the same,(I always wear earplugs so hard to say) but instead of fierce currents that shake my helmet around, the air seems to be uniformly diffused around my head and shoulders. Result = no head shake = no neck ache. On motorways, I can tuck in behind it and find a quiet zone, and although I have a little more weight on my arms it's comfortable and quiet at 85 for a good few miles, (I get bored after about 30 miles on the motorway so rarely do more than 50 before heading back to the twisties.)

I'm 5'10", so perhaps smaller than most, but would be surprised if you couldn't find a setting to suit anyone. If the 7 position settings aren't enough you can play around with the mounting spacers/washers to affect the screen angle, and the overall height, up or down, to suit.

Riding two-up my wife gets clean air, with very little noise, and no buffeting.

It's easy to swap between this screen and the roadster, and a couple of times I've been tempted to put the speedster back on. On neither occasion did I go for more than a few miles before wanting my Vario back.

If it got smashed up tomorrow I'd get another immediately.

Hope this helps.

Trapper

[regjacksn]

I have the multi-vario on my 2004 1150R. It's the 3rd windshield, and I like it the best. I'm a musician, so wind noise is a serious issue. I'm 6'1", and I've installed bar-backs for the handlebar. For me, the multi-vario is great up to about 70 mph. Above that I feel the windblast on my upper shoulders. The windblast is an acceptable swap (for me) to get a quieter ride. It's still not as protective as my RT, but that's to be expected. It's also a lot cooler.
Reg

[georgek]

I am using the MRA Vario Touring Screen (VTNB), and i'm very happy with it. I'm 5'6".
I believe there are two versions of this screen - One fits for the speedster brackets, and other requires MRA brackets that attach
to your handlebars. The hole placements are different. The one made for speedster brackets have holes more inside the shield, and the holes for the MRA hardware are closer to the outside of the shield.

I'd like to free up some room on my bars, so i'm thinking of getting speedster brackets. Would anyone have any insight into whether I could bend the speedster brackets to fit where the different hole placements are on my shield? I'd have to bend them out a little.
Also, are the two holes on each side aligned the same distance from each other on both shields? This would be cool but we'll see.

Thanks,
George

[savicd]

Hallo all
Anybody know where I may by only upper part of vario windshild for my R 1150 R with original windshield?

Thank you