Frustrated With My Madstad Screen

[TMead]

Just would like to hear from other T120 riders that use the Madstad screens. I'm 5'8 1/2" so right there at the divider where they say 22" and 24" I think so for a better look I went with the 22". I find it unusable, I mean it's fine for helping to keep the cold and bugs off around town but at Highway speeds it's horrible. I just put it on for a 4 hour ride, mostly expressway so speeds of 70-80 mph and I was so miserable I almost just threw it to the side of the road. I stopped about 5 times trying different adjustments tilted up tilted back, raised, lowered you name it. The buffering was the worst with it tilted back but when more forward eliminating some of the buffering it made so much vibration through the front end it was almost worse. Maybe I should have gone with the taller 24" screen? The whole reason I got it was for highway rides, hate getting hit with a rock or a bug at those speeds! Anyway, have any of you figured it out? Should I try to trade it for a taller one or do you just live with the buffering?

 

[Vector]

https://ridinggearwarehouse.com/the-riders-blog/puig-clip-on-windscreen-visor-best-i-ever/
This or another brand may cure the buffeting.

 

[atomsplitter]

I have a T-120 with a Dart flyscreen and found it adequate for most riding. I don't usually spend 4 hours on the highway however. I put the same screen on my Bobber Black and it really improved the highway riding experience on that bike as it took wind pressure off my chest so I didn't have a white knuckle grip on my bars. Helmet buffeting is minimal on my Shoei on any of my bikes. If I want to ride in a cacoon of air I ride my Trophy 1200.

 

[CarlS]

Just would like to hear from other T120 riders that use the Madstad screens. I'm 5'8 1/2" so right there at the divider where they say 22" and 24" I think so for a better look I went with the 22". I find it unusable, I mean it's fine for helping to keep the cold and bugs off around town but at Highway speeds it's horrible. I just put it on for a 4 hour ride, mostly expressway so speeds of 70-80 mph and I was so miserable I almost just threw it to the side of the road. I stopped about 5 times trying different adjustments tilted up tilted back, raised, lowered you name it. The buffering was the worst with it tilted back but when more forward eliminating some of the buffering it made so much vibration through the front end it was almost worse. Maybe I should have gone with the taller 24" screen? The whole reason I got it was for highway rides, hate getting hit with a rock or a bug at those speeds! Anyway, have any of you figured it out? Should I try to trade it for a taller one or do you just live with the buffering?

I have a 2020 T120 to which I have installed Madstad screen. I don't remember the hight of the screen I chose, but it is a tad too tall. I would like it to be a half to 3/4 of an inch shorter. I get no helmet buffing whatsoever when I duck behind it or stretch to look over it. I regularly ride two to five hours at a time.

The next time that I am in that part of the state, I will stop in and see what they recommend. Their customer service is excellent.

 

[triumph900]

I have a National Cycle Mohawk. It's not the best looking screen, but it works pretty well for me.

 

[sgoat51]

I put an 18" Madstad screen on my 2023 Speed Twin 900 and have had mixed results. The best setup for me was with the screen in the lowest position with a good amount of rearward tilt. No buffeting in this position but the wind blast from underneath is crazy bad. Can't seem to find the sweet spot no matter what I try. The windshield and mounting system are top notch, but unless I can figure out how to address the comfort issues it will remain in the stashed away in the closet. I contacted Madstad to see if they had any suggestions but they never got back to me.

 

[sikatri]

Hopefully some of our members with experience will chime in.

 

[CarlS]

I put an 18" Madstad screen on my 2023 Speed Twin 900 and have had mixed results. The best setup for me was with the screen in the lowest position with a good amount of rearward tilt. No buffeting in this position but the wind blast from underneath is crazy bad. Can't seem to find the sweet spot no matter what I try. The windshield and mounting system are top notch, but unless I can figure out how to address the comfort issues it will remain in the stashed away in the closet. I contacted Madstad to see if they had any suggestions but they never got back to me.

Windshields are strange things. What works for one person may be a disaster for another. And unfortunately, the only way to know is to try them. I have had two different Madstad screens on two different bikes and they worked well.

 

[sgoat51]

Windshields are strange things. What works for one person may be a disaster for another. And unfortunately, the only way to know is to try them. I have had two different Madstad screens on two different bikes and they worked well.

So true. I still have windscreens from bikes I sold decades ago! I'll keep playing with it and maybe I'll come across the right combination of adjustments. In the meantime, I'm pretty happy with my Dart Marlin especially for the desert heat here in New Mexico. Thanks for your input.

 

[sikatri]

I put an 18" Madstad screen on my 2023 Speed Twin 900 and have had mixed results. The best setup for me was with the screen in the lowest position with a good amount of rearward tilt. No buffeting in this position but the wind blast from underneath is crazy bad. Can't seem to find the sweet spot no matter what I try. The windshield and mounting system are top notch, but unless I can figure out how to address the comfort issues it will remain in the stashed away in the closet. I contacted Madstad to see if they had any suggestions but they never got back to me.

Seems to me you would benefit from some type of windscreen system that could be used with a fairing system to deflect the wind away and not coming from under up to you. I don’t know if they exist readily or are custom. I did Google it and found some people have made interesting custom systems with lower fairings and a sizable windscreen.

This came up as one. Perhaps not the prettiest, but likely works.
https://craigvetter.com/pages/Vetter_Fairings/Alcan-Fairing/Alcan-Fairing -P1.html
I could definitely see buying a fairing system and then modifying a windscreen that’s available in the market and modifying them to work together.

 

[sgoat51]

Seems to me you would benefit from some type of windscreen system that could be used with a fairing system to deflect the wind away and not coming from under up to you. I don’t know if they exist readily or are custom. I did Google it and found some people have made interesting custom systems with lower fairings and a sizable windscreen.

This came up as one. Perhaps not the prettiest, but likely works.
https://craigvetter.com/pages/Vetter_Fairings/Alcan-Fairing/Alcan-Fairing -P1.html
I could definitely see buying a fairing system and then modifying a windscreen that’s available in the market and modifying them to work together.

For me, the Madstad is a very limited use modification. I'll probably use it for a couple of overnighters and maybe a few high mileage day rides but will default to the Marlin for the majority of my seat time. One really nice benefit of the Madstad mounts is that they can be used with the Marlin mounts in place. I can make the switch from touring to sporty (4 screws) in about 5 minutes. Having owned several heavyweight touring bikes, I understand the advantages of a full fairing but feel that even the Madstad is a bit much size wise for the Speed Twin and to my eye, looks a little out of place on this type of bike. I really appreciate all the input from you guys and will keep you updated if there is a "breakthrough" concerning the positioning of the screen. Stay safe

 

[CarlS]

For me, the Madstad is a very limited use modification. I'll probably use it for a couple of overnighters and maybe a few high mileage day rides but will default to the Marlin for the majority of my seat time. One really nice benefit of the Madstad mounts is that they can be used with the Marlin mounts in place. I can make the switch from touring to sporty (4 screws) in about 5 minutes. Having owned several heavyweight touring bikes, I understand the advantages of a full fairing but feel that even the Madstad is a bit much size wise for the Speed Twin and to my eye, looks a little out of place on this type of bike. I really appreciate all the input from you guys and will keep you updated if there is a "breakthrough" concerning the positioning of the screen. Stay safe

I have to admit that at my advancing age, looks are no longer important. Functionality is my priority.

 

[sgoat51]

I have to admit that at my advancing age, looks are no longer important. Functionality is my priority.

I like my bikes to have both, but I personally have neither!

 

[TMead]

I have a 2020 T120 to which I have installed Madstad screen. I don't remember the hight of the screen I chose, but it is a tad too tall. I would like it to be a half to 3/4 of an inch shorter. I get no helmet buffing whatsoever when I duck behind it or stretch to look over it. I regularly ride two to five hours at a time.

The next time that I am in that part of the state, I will stop in and see what they recommend. Their customer service is excellent.

Maybe I should have gotten the taller one but dang it's huge! Do you get vibration in the from end? What did you find out the size is on yours maybe we can trade if it's taller and you want a 22" lol...

 

[TMead]

For me, the Madstad is a very limited use modification. I'll probably use it for a couple of overnighters and maybe a few high mileage day rides but will default to the Marlin for the majority of my seat time. One really nice benefit of the Madstad mounts is that they can be used with the Marlin mounts in place. I can make the switch from touring to sporty (4 screws) in about 5 minutes. Having owned several heavyweight touring bikes, I understand the advantages of a full fairing but feel that even the Madstad is a bit much size wise for the Speed Twin and to my eye, looks a little out of place on this type of bike. I really appreciate all the input from you guys and will keep you updated if there is a "breakthrough" concerning the positioning of the screen. Stay safe

Hey, which Marlin do you have that mounts with the Madstad mounts in place? I might like to try that. Thanks for the tip!

 

[sgoat51]

That would be the Dart "Marlin". Not sure if it will work with a T100/120 as the headlight mounts look to be different from the Speed Twin/Scrambler 900. As the temps start to drop here in the coming months, I'll most likely get a little more use out of the Madstad. It really is a nice windshield system. I just need to spend a bit more time finding the best combination of height and tilt, but I think I'm getting close.