California Scientific R1200RT Windscreen

Buying, Fitting & Testing

 25th March 2008

Soon after buying the 1200RT I promised myself I would not get involved with any more accessory screens... so much for promises :-(

The California Scientific R1200RT windscreen.

So, why buy an after market screen? after all, the standard screen is pretty good and way better than the standard screen on my previous 1100RT. Well, for a while I was quite happy, but then turbulence and noise started to irritate me at 60mph+ speeds, and it wasn't helping my tinnitus to much ether! I could tune some of the noise out with fine adjustment of the screen height, but on longer trips, I was tending to ducking my head down to get out of the draught, all was not well.

A little while later, I started reading good reports on the BMW Sport Touring forum of a newly developed screen by California Scientific, and it seemed to be designed by people who have thought beyond 'lets just make a bigger screen' this one actually seemed to be designed by someone who knew what they were doing. After some weeks of self-debate, I finally order one.

Packaging:

Delivery from the USA took fourteen days, I'm pretty sure it arrived in the country some time before that, but then probably lay in some UK Customs shed awaiting clearance. Inside the box the screen was wrapped in a soft fabric bag and in perfect condition, also in the box was a microfibre cleaning towel and a small spray bottle of cleaning fluid. The box and bag the screen came in will be used to store the original screen, a better option than letting it kick round the garage getting scratched.

Construction:

The first thing you'll notice about this screen are its vents, California Scientific say "These vents are part of the aerodynamic design of the shield, to reduce turbulence and noise" fair enough. The other thing you will notice is its single curvature (unlike the bikes original screen which is double curvature), Mark Lawrence of California Scientific advises this is to help avoid the creation of vortexes (and presumably, the resulting turbulence/noise). The screen is made from 'Impact Modified Acrylic' rather than the usual polycarbonate, their reasons for using acrylic over polycarbonate seem quite reasonable after reading about it on their website here. But at least one side affect of using this acrylic is in cool conditions the screen does take on a pale blue tint, you may just be able to see it in the sixth picture down, its not a problem to me, but worth noting. Another thing you'll notice is the edges of the screen aren't finished in any way, it's just as cut by the factory laser and a little rough. If you wanted to, you could probably polish the edges with wet&dry paper but you'd have to be very careful not to scratch the other surfaces! 

Comparisons:

The screen I ordered was the 'Large' version (+2" higher/+1" wider). here its shown laid on top of the original screens mounting points.

I took a bit of a chance when I ordered the +2" higher screen, and after sitting on the bike its does seem a little tall for me (I'm 5"10'), I can see over it ok when its fully down, but as it is, I'll never need to power the screen up very much, this is partly due to it being single curvature, as you can see in the picture below, it does make it stand quite high.

Fitting:

The only tool needed to fit the screen is the (only) Torx key supplied in the bikes standard tool kit. First, remove the four Torx screws that hold the outer black plastic trims in place. With the trims removed you will find another two Torx screws underneath, remove these and the screen is free to be lifted off. Don't let it fall off, some help here wouldn't come amiss...

One problem immediately becomes apparent when you start fitting the new screen, once the first two screws are re-fitted you'll notice quite a gap between the underside plastic trim/lifting arms and the screen at the other four mounting points, its caused by the new screen being single curvature, the mounts are designed for a double curvature screen.

The solution seems to be to get the top pair of screws just started, then squeeze the plastic trims and screen down on to the mounting arms between your finger and thumb and get the lower two screws started too (its a good squeeze). When you have all the screws just started you can then tighten them all down progressively, this forces the screen to fit the mounting, and results in the bottom third of the screen taking up a double curvature, hmmm!

And this is what it looked like when I'd finished, quite smart actually.

Optical distortion:

I haven't noticed any significant optical distortion other than some very slight edge distortion close to the laser cut edges, I would say its pretty near optically perfect, or as near makes no difference, but don't forget that pale blue tint the acrylic takes on when the temperatures are cool.

On the road:

So what's it like? Well, with the screen fully down (and the normal height seat in the lower position) I can just comfortably see over it, it would be nice to have it lower in town, but it'll do. Below 60mph it was pretty quiet behind the screen in its lowest position, then as my speed came up to 60mph some turbulence started to develop on top of my helmet (Arai SZ open face), a quick dab of the 'screen raise button' just lifted the screen an inch or so from its lowest position and the turbulence was gone. I could still see over the screen ok, but now it was quiet again. I will have do some more road testing with this screen, and maybe swap between the standard screen and the California Scientific a few times, but at the moment I do actually think this is quieter than the original.

On the road update, 18 May 2008:

I swapped back to the original screen today, just to try it again. After fitting the screen I stepped back to admire it, it sure looks smart and noticeably lower too. But what I'd forgotten was just now noisy the original screen is. OK, I was wearing an Arai SZ/RAM II helmet, which thanks to all the air scoops and furniture on top is a noisy helmet, but what a row from 30 mph upward, I refitted the California Scientific screen next day.

And finally?

Well, I do wish the lower third of the screen was moulded double curvature to fit the screen mounts, because that's the shape it ends up when the mounting screws are tightened down.

Purchasing:

At the time of writing the screen cost £94.80 plus £21.52 postage.

Then UK Customs charged me £20.13 V.A.T.

Then Parcel Force (the UK carrier), not wanting to feel left out charged an additional £8 clearance fee.

Total, £134.25

Manufacturers web page for the R1200RT screen is here

Manufacturer:

California Scientific
4005 Seaport
West Sacramento
CA 95691

800-284-8112
916-372-6800

email:

Sales@CalSci.com

The above is my honest opinions from fitting and testing this windscreen, your findings maybe entirely different

I have no connection with California Scientific other than being a customer.

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