So much for the MadStad.. There's $80 wasted. [Archive]

BigT

02-01-2007, 09:52 PM

Maybe (hopefully) things will change once I install an aftermarket screen, but with the stock shield it's a waste of money IMO.
Nothing..... Nothing changed no matter where I positioned the darn thing. The most I could get was a change in the sound the wind made as it rumbled past me, but no reduction.

I tried various angles, heights and speeds, but found nothing made any significant difference (or even an insignificant one).

I wasn't expecting much, but *something* would have been nice.

-T

MightyShep

02-01-2007, 09:57 PM

Don't despair. Get a Givi Screen and you will notice a considerable change.

water warrior

02-01-2007, 10:06 PM

BigT, sorry to hear that. You might be the first rider to not feel a difference of some sort. The bracket made a big difference in eliminating most of the buffeting for me and I am now looking forward to the new givi shield as well. Had a 30 minute ride in the fall with the Givi and the biggest difference was a greatly reduced noise level. Can't wait to fine tune things come Spring.

Rider33

02-01-2007, 10:28 PM

it's been too cold to give it a good 300-400 mile run in like I'd like but from what I've been able to tell running down the highway it did seem to make a noticable difference for me. Once installed it allows you height and angle adjustment. Keep in mind tho there is a low/middle/high for the bracket itself, just like on the stock screen. You might want to try one of the other settings to see if that helps if you haven't already. I believe that's another inch or two which might make a difference beyond the adjustablity in the bracket itself. 'Worste case: you re-install it and sell it.

BigT

02-01-2007, 11:11 PM

Being 6' 4" I've got the bracket mounted at the highest point on the fairing, but will try a lower setting before ordering the Givi shield (that's my next move). If neither of those work maybe I'll try one of those laminar wings/lips.

After that I give up. $300's my limit trying to fix one part of the bike.:p

-T

fastwally

02-01-2007, 11:30 PM

boomslanger

02-02-2007, 12:13 AM

If you go back through my early posts you will find I also wrote a report stating the Madstad did nothing. Took nearly two weeks of playing around with the settings until I found one that did make a difference (have since found two more, one slightly better one slightly worse).

This screen thing seems to be very particular to each individual but think of those who have not spent $80 for no result, but over time many hundreds on many different screens just to get it right.

markjenn

02-02-2007, 12:16 AM

I've used three different shields with my Madstad (including the stocker) and the change as you adjust the bracket through its range of motion is dramatic with all of them. That's not to say that any particular setting or shield is perfect - I've given up on chasing perfection and am simply looking at the best compromise between protection and buffeting/noise. So far the Madstad and the Suzuki OEM tall screen is the best I've found.

You won't have any issue unloading the Madstad here for only slightly less than you paid.

- Mark

BigT

02-02-2007, 12:31 AM

I've given up on chasing perfection and am simply looking at the best compromise between protection and buffeting/noise.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I figure I'll have to do as well....

btw... Is this the Givi screen everyone's talking about?
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/623/289/

Oh, and I'm keeping the bracket.. Who knows, maybe it'll work better with a different screen.

-T

K1W1

02-02-2007, 12:32 AM

You won't have any issue unloading the Madstad here for only slightly less than you paid.

If you put it on ebay you'll probably get double what you paid. :) :)

Laava

02-02-2007, 05:08 AM

Same for me BigT. It only made a slight diff. The big Givi made a big diff. But I'm not 6'4", only 6'. You have to try tho I guess. Good luck!:D

gibbage

02-02-2007, 05:31 AM

Im 6'5" and I had the same problem. Anything above 65MPH was painfull, even with the stock shield at its highest position. I tried a few things, but wound up getting the Givi. Not I can ride at 85MPH in comfort, and the Givi is in its lowest position!

SCraig

02-02-2007, 07:32 AM

Also keep in mind that the stock screen is not a true "Windshield". Anything you can look over as opposed to looking through is actually more of a "Wind Deflector". The goal of the Madstad bracket is to direct the wind in such a way that buffeting at the head level is reduced.

Also keep in mind that helmets play a huge part in that type of scenario. I have three, a Fulmer, HJC and Arai. 55mph with the Fulmer is painful. With the HJC and the shield down I can get about 75 with only minor "Head Buzzing". With my Arai everything is dead smooth at 85 (fastest I've been) even with the shield cracked. With the shield cracked on my HJC I start to notice "Buzzing" about 55 mph. These results are by changing nothing but the helmet and / or opening and closing the shield. Your head is in some wind with the stock shield, and how your helmet cuts through that wind without creating turbulence makes a big difference.

NoVA-Strom

02-02-2007, 07:35 AM

Get a Givi or other WS of your choice and use it with your Madstad. I have just the Givi now, and while it fixed most of the buffeting issues, I will probably still buy a Madstad in the future to tweek it. Givi is the best bang for the buck. Plus since you already have your TT account setup from your crash bars, it will make your checkout time quicker.

I am finding myself "needing" more and more stuff for the bike. Trying to decide between crash bars, or navigaion/MP3/XM Garmin 2730 unit. The scary thing is I leaning towards both just buying both at the same time :). Damn farklitis. Will medical insurance cover any of this?

SCraig

02-02-2007, 09:14 AM

Trying to decide between crash bars, or navigaion/MP3/XM Garmin 2730 unit.
Be aware that the Garmin web page for the 2730 (At This Link (http://www.garmin.com/products/sp2730/)) doesn't mention anything about that model being waterproof. I don't know whether it actually is or not, but I'd certainly check on it before purchasing one. For many of their other units Garmin does state that they are waterproof, and the lack of that specification on the 2730 page stopped me from getting it. I looked at that one before I got my 2820 and the fact that they didn't mention it being waterproof was enough to sway me away from it..

BigT

02-02-2007, 12:56 PM

I just ordered the Givi shield from TT this morning........ We'll see.

So far so good. One more week 'till the shield gets here, and who the hell knows how long for the bar-end guards and I'm finished (for now):p
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/BlueBuellFool/Mirrorcropped.jpg

-T

NoVA-Strom

02-02-2007, 05:24 PM

Be aware that the Garmin web page for the 2730 (At This Link (http://www.garmin.com/products/sp2730/)) doesn't mention anything about that model being waterproof. I don't know whether it actually is or not, but I'd certainly check on it before purchasing one. For many of their other units Garmin does state that they are waterproof, and the lack of that specification on the 2730 page stopped me from getting it. I looked at that one before I got my 2820 and the fact that they didn't mention it being waterproof was enough to sway me away from it..

If you look at the technical specifications in the owners manual for the 2730 on the Garmin site it states the unit is "IPX-7 Waterproof".

SCraig

02-02-2007, 05:54 PM

If you look at the technical specifications in the owners manual for the 2730 on the Garmin site it states the unit is "IPX-7 Waterproof".
Good enough for me, thanks for the info. I didn't look in the owner's manual, just the specs on the web site.

FJR/V-strom trooper

02-02-2007, 09:33 PM

I have had one near a year and like the xm radio and got the weather and road report with the xm subscription. Way better than my 2610 for processing.

MightyShep

02-02-2007, 10:59 PM

Remember you can always sell it here if it doesn't work for you.

allonsye

02-03-2007, 10:06 PM

Big T: My Mad stat mount works very well with the Laminar [touring] lip. I'm 5'10" and have the mount in the middle setting and tilted back some.

Being 6' 4" I've got the bracket mounted at the highest point on the fairing, but will try a lower setting before ordering the Givi shield (that's my next move). If neither of those work maybe I'll try one of those laminar wings/lips.

After that I give up. $300's my limit trying to fix one part of the bike.:p

-T

BigT

02-03-2007, 10:36 PM

I think it works well for short, I mean average height riders. I, on the other hand, am anything but average height:p and can't find a setting that works for me. If I duck just a little I'm in complete quiet, and if I stand up on the pegs a little I'm in clean wind.

I'm going to try the MadStad with the larger Givi screen and see how that works. If it doesn't take care of the problem, as a last resort I may try the laminar lip.

-T

FJR/V-strom trooper

02-03-2007, 10:46 PM

I was looking at the pics of last years Strom meeting and saw a ton of Laminar lips on the Stroms. Must be a reason.

TomX

02-04-2007, 10:04 AM

Screen satisfaction seems to be a highly subjective, personal thing. What works for one person doesn't work for another.

The Givi screen with the MadStad bracket is absolutely perfect for me.

Your mileage may differ.

- Tom

cdnt48

02-04-2007, 02:24 PM

The Givi and Madstad work great for me. I'm 5-11 and have the Givi mounted in the lowest position and tilted fully back toward me. I tried other positions on a long western trip last summer, but nothing seemed to work as well. Tons of air flowing under the shield seem to reduce pressure around the helmet substantially. Only problem: I sometimes got bug splat on my helmet shield from critters entering UNDER the Givi!

mtnbiker

02-04-2007, 04:00 PM

I too am 6'4" and was very frustrated with both of the Suzuki (standard and large) screans. I have now installed a super tall Windstrom Mantra and all of a sudden the buffeting and noise are gone. I also tried the Top Spoiler (TS) option and there was a little more improvement. I did not experiment a lot as I installed it in late fall just before the snow hit. I think with a little adjustment I will not even use the TS. I installed it at the lowest setting. Note that you would have to be a giant to need the Mega Tall.

My only comment is it is expensive, not pretty (what large screen is), and I think it is heavier than necessary. The product support seams to be quite good with a satisfaction guarantee.

Mark

BigT

02-04-2007, 11:42 PM

I have now installed a super tall Windstrom Mantra

How tall is it? The Givi screen is (I think) 22".

mtnbiker

02-05-2007, 01:57 AM

The super tall is 26 inches high, but 2 inches of this is at the bottom (below the stock windscrean location. This probably helps offset the wind load up top. Seams to work.

Mark