Page 1 of 2
Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 5:33 pm
by fleuger99
Has anyone tried this shield from ZTechnik, VStream Sport Touring screen. Model is Z2443 for 2011/2012 bikes? It seems just the right size for me and I really like the styling. Seems to fit the R's lines nicely.
http://shop.nationalcycle.com/perl/cycle/Z2443
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 6:05 pm
by Anyname
Nope, I have been waiting for them to become available for six months. My local shop (Max in NH) has told me I can try one at no risk when they get one.
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 6:10 pm
by fleuger99
Anyname wrote:Nope, I have been waiting for them to become available for six months. My local shop (Max in NH) has told me I can try one at no risk when they get one.
Please let me know your thoughts if you get to try it. I won't be buying one before April and probably driving myself nuts until I do.

Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:19 pm
by CEW
Looks similar to the Wunderlich I purchased, though the cut outs seem to obviate the need to move the turn signals. About the same price as the Wunderlich.
CEW
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:26 pm
by dcameron
I've ordered one and should arrive any day. Will keep you posted.
Looks like it'll be about the same height as the sport screen on my 1150.
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:49 pm
by fleuger99
dcameron wrote:I've ordered one and should arrive any day. Will keep you posted.
Looks like it'll be about the same height as the sport screen on my 1150.
Thanks, greatly appreciated. Best of luck with it

Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:09 am
by Bill Stevenson
My dealer had a bike in for service that had this screen on it and I like the look of it too. The dealer told me, though, that although they would order another one if I insist, everyone who works there has ridden the bike and hates the V-Stream. So, I backed off, but really would like to get another opinion. It is the closest to the large screen for the old R1150R that I liked quite well.
Bill
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 2:20 pm
by Don C
The old vstream did get poor reviews. This new vstream that is shown in the link is redesigned. It appears to be wider and taller than the old ones for the 2007-10 bikes. It's hard to tell about the mounting angle from the small picture, but maybe they have fixed that. We won't know if its problems have been fixed until someone tries it and makes a post here about it.
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:27 pm
by fleuger99
Don C wrote:The old vstream did get poor reviews. This new vstream that is shown in the link is redesigned. It appears to be wider and taller than the old ones for the 2007-10 bikes. It's hard to tell about the mounting angle from the small picture, but maybe they have fixed that. We won't know if its problems have been fixed until someone tries it and makes a post here about it.
Hi Don,
Just out of curiosity, what were the issues with the old Vstream shields? Thanks.
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 5:08 pm
by deilenberger
fleuger99 wrote:Don C wrote:The old vstream did get poor reviews. This new vstream that is shown in the link is redesigned. It appears to be wider and taller than the old ones for the 2007-10 bikes. It's hard to tell about the mounting angle from the small picture, but maybe they have fixed that. We won't know if its problems have been fixed until someone tries it and makes a post here about it.
Hi Don,
Just out of curiosity, what were the issues with the old Vstream shields? Thanks.
A different Don, but I can at least partially answer that:
1. Turbulence (usual bug-a-boo..)
2. The mount. While sturdy it's a bit of a PITA to install, has the potential to mar the finish on the triple-tree top and appears somewhat heavy and overkill. Also - other shields don't fit the mount. There was no simple way to tilt the shield back to see if that helps the turbulence.
Other then that - I think the shield was good quality and sturdy, just most people found the shortcomings to be too much and very few people kept the VStream for long.
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:13 am
by Rrider
I've owned 2 Vstreams for my '07. They looked great but both caused horrible buffeting for me. I would make sure you can return it, just in case!
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 11:57 am
by fleuger99
Thanks all for your feedback. Now I'm nervous to drop $375 for this shield, thanks a lot :-)
I know the shield for the 2011 on is a new design but I also don't want to be stuck with a lemon. Might look elsewhere now.
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:28 pm
by Lost Rider
I always liked my V-Screen, rode many of fun miles with it on. I don't know about this "buffeting" people speak of, but there's much more to a persons experience that just the shield IMO. Everyone's different.
Very high quality products, and Jeff Wolbers the Z-Tech rep is a great guy to deal with and stands behind his gear.
We have a Z-screen on Nancy's F800R and it's an awesome shield.
I haven't used it in a while mainly because I don't live in Chicago anymore, don't need that much protection, and now prefer the minimal looks of the BMW touring screen.
The only way to know, especially with a new screen is to try it. It looks like a nice shield with a design quite fitting for the new 12R, and it's a great company to deal with.... Give Jeff a call and see what he has to say about it versus the last one. (that I liked)
Jeff Wolbers
708.343.0400

Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 4:49 pm
by Boxerpunk
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:56 pm
by fleuger99
That's it!! I just need to buy an Angela Merkel wig and then test ride the shield

Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:58 pm
by fleuger99
Lost Rider wrote:I always liked my V-Screen, rode many of fun miles with it on. I don't know about this "buffeting" people speak of, but there's much more to a persons experience that just the shield IMO. Everyone's different.
Very high quality products, and Jeff Wolbers the Z-Tech rep is a great guy to deal with and stands behind his gear.
We have a Z-screen on Nancy's F800R and it's an awesome shield.
I haven't used it in a while mainly because I don't live in Chicago anymore, don't need that much protection, and now prefer the minimal looks of the BMW touring screen.
The only way to know, especially with a new screen is to try it. It looks like a nice shield with a design quite fitting for the new 12R, and it's a great company to deal with.... Give Jeff a call and see what he has to say about it versus the last one. (that I liked)
Jeff Wolbers
708.343.0400
I'll give him a call and ask a few questions. Including if I can return it if it doesn't work for me. Thanks for the info.
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 9:34 pm
by Anyname
fleuger99 wrote:Thanks all for your feedback. Now I'm nervous to drop $375 for this shield, thanks a lot :-)
I know the shield for the 2011 on is a new design but I also don't want to be stuck with a lemon. Might look elsewhere now.
Ztechnik has a ride and buy test ride plan:
http://www.ztechnik.com/orders/RideBuy.html
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:26 pm
by deilenberger
That didn't apply to the earlier R12R shield since it was a PITA to mount the mounting bracket. With that one - it was buy it and ride it.. Dunno on the new one, mebbe they simplified the bracket.
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:25 am
by Tarmac
I picked up a used one off of my local craigslist for $100. My thinking was to use it in the winter for my pre-dawn commute to work, then go back to the sport screen in summer. As was said, it's not quick to mount, you need to take off the handlebars, and remove the switchgear, and yes, I scratched up the top of my tripletree mounting it. The real disappointment came the 1st time I rode with it. The wind comes over the screen, and is jet thrust directly into the visor of my helmet. Normally I ride around town with sunglasses on, and my visor up up to about 45 mph. With this screen that isn't possible at anything above parking lot speeds.
On the plus side, it does keep the wind off your chest, and you can do a slight tuck to get your head behind it.
Once things warm up here (it was a chilly 79 degrees yesterday), I will re-mount the stock sports screen and never look back. If I had spent $300 on it, I would have been pissed.
Any thoughts on what I should do about the scratches on the triple tree?
Re: Anyone Used This Shield?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:35 pm
by fleuger99
Anyname wrote:fleuger99 wrote:Thanks all for your feedback. Now I'm nervous to drop $375 for this shield, thanks a lot :-)
I know the shield for the 2011 on is a new design but I also don't want to be stuck with a lemon. Might look elsewhere now.
Ztechnik has a ride and buy test ride plan:
http://www.ztechnik.com/orders/RideBuy.html
Thanks for this info. I looked up MAX BMW as one of their partners and called the closest MAX dealership to me in MA. They said the program is cool. Let them know which shield I'd be interested in. They order it, and then I bring my bike up and they install it for me. The installation on the R1200R is less than an hour. I have 30 days to ride and try it. If for any reason I don't like it I return with my bike and they remove it. No questions asked and I get a full refund. In April I'm going to give this shield a try. I have nothing to lose.