Factory flyscreen

I really like the looks of the factory flyscreen but would hate to spend the money if it produces buffeting at helmet level.

Anyone care to comment on this?  I've had nice looking small windscreens in the past on other bikes but they drove me nuts with dirty air at highway speeds.  I know it depends on the shape, how far away it is from your head, how fast you are going, and how tall you are but I would appreciate any feedback on what others have experienced.

thanks,
tod

The small fly screen has long been dead stock. Unless you can find one hiding somewhere on the interwebs or floating in the Bay of Fleas you're out of luck.

Pete

I purchased a brand new one of these the other week from the Netherlands. It arrived a couple of days ago but was missing two threaded plastic parts, which are now being sent by the supplier (these are also available seperately on eBay).

Once I get it fitted I'll report back. I too am eager to see if it directs wind at my helmet level. I'm a little over 6'2 and often find standard screens are too short for my height.

Apparently AF1 Racing is getting a new shipment of these. LINK

Maybe someone is making them again?

Josh.C wrote:

I purchased a brand new one of these the other week from the Netherlands. It arrived a couple of days ago but was missing two threaded plastic parts, which are now being sent by the supplier (these are also available seperately on eBay).

Once I get it fitted I'll report back. I too am eager to see if it directs wind at my helmet level. I'm a little over 6'2 and often find standard screens are too short for my height.

Apparently AF1 Racing is getting a new shipment of these. LINK

Maybe someone is making them again?

Yes, I saw them on AF1 which is why I thought you could still get one.  I'll call them and see what is up.  Thanks for the replies.
tod

I stand corrected. They must of found a new supplier. That's good. I wonder if they're going to re-manufacture the 'Big' screen too?

Pete

I was just marveling over my flyscreen while riding the other day, at about 80 mph. It produces no turbulence at all for me, just a fine windbreak up to about neck level, and a smooth flow of air above that. I was moving my hand around behind it to see where the pocket is, and found that it covers my torso almost exactly.

I'm a bit more than 5'10", with a long torso, which you should take into account.

I think I read that the flyscreen was developed using the wind tunnel at the factory, and I believe it. Most windscreens seem to be designed to look good (like a racer, e.g.) or to look "right" to some "designer." I think this one was empirically developed to perform well. I recommend it without reservation.

Moto

Hi Moto
I have a little one fitted and a new in the box Guzzi larger one and I have been reluctant to try it because of bad experiences with other bikes
It would appear you are happy
Should I fit it ? And try ?
Cheers

wardentm wrote:

Hi Moto
I have a little one fitted and a new in the box Guzzi larger one and I have been reluctant to try it because of bad experiences with other bikes
It would appear you are happy
Should I fit it ? And try ?
Cheers

If the new-in-the-box one is the Guzzi OEM flyscreen, you might like it! Compare yours with the photo here:

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If the new one is a larger Guzzi screen, I have no direct experience but expect it would be good too, based on others' comments.

The big Guzzi screen is good, up to go straight to jail speeds.

little750 wrote:

The big Guzzi screen is good, up to go straight to jail speeds.

I think there were three sizes offered, all praised for the most part.

Guzzi have tested all their bike profiles in their wind tunnel, and have done for (many) years. So, all factory screens do a pretty good job, unlike some of the after market ones. My Sport is rock solid to over 200 km/h where I run out of guts, though I admit the bike is still accelerating well, though at a slower pace than under 200.

I have no doubt she will pull 240, given enough space and the absence of cops - this seems to tie in with the ECU limit of 8400 rpm, though still untried - not sure whether it's worth losing a licence over...

Tony, the wind tunnel has been nothing but an ornament for close to forty years, probably more than that. The last bike I know it was used for was the SP 1000 in 1977. In the racing days it was powered by some sort of radial piston engine from a Piaggio aeroplane but later it was converted to electricity. The idea that they still use it is a myth though.

Pete

Thanks all
Moto, the one I have is larger than the one you showed
It is a Guzzi OEM, it came with the bike from the PO
It is the same as the one little 750 has on his.
Looks like I might pop it on and give it a try, won't cost anything and if it's a bitch I can just take it off.
The PO of my bike bought all the goodies and never used them and just gave them to me when I bought the bike. She was some broad.
Cheers

fair nuff Pete I sit corrected (to lazy to stand)

It's a lovely bit of history but computer modelling is now far more accurate. In reality though the vast majority of screens, and anything else really, are created mainly for aesthetics, if they work? That's a bonus! Exceptions to this are 'Touring' machines but for something like the GRiSO the fact the 'Big' screen works so well, (For me anyway!) is I think blind luck rather than brilliance!

Pete

"Better lucky than good!"

Pete Roper wrote:

Tony, the wind tunnel has been nothing but an ornament for close to forty years, probably more than that. The last bike I know it was used for was the SP 1000 in 1977. In the racing days it was powered by some sort of radial piston engine from a Piaggio aeroplane but later it was converted to electricity. The idea that they still use it is a myth though.

Pete

Pete, I don't know what source of information you might have, but Guzzi claimed GRiSO screen designs were tested in their wind tunnel in advertisements I read. So I have believed that.

In a similar claim, in 2005, Piaggio distributed a press release for the 2006 Norge that stated: "Thoroughly tested in Moto Guzzi's Italian factory wind tunnel, the Norge 1200 fairing was designed for remarkable rider protection." It is here: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] .

Do you have any particular evidence the tunnel has not been used for forty years, contrary to Piaggio's claim?

By the way, I had thought the wind tunnel motor was always electric, but your comment led me to find an article written in 1951, just a year or so after the tunnel was built. It describes the power source as "a giant, twelve-cylinder Fiat 900 h.p. engine," running on petrol. There is a picture of it in the article. It's a V12, not a radial.

That article is a very interesting piece from The Motor Cycle, 17 May 1951, by Guzzi factory GP racer (and later two-time world 350cc GP champion for Guzzi) Fergus Anderson, who describes his own experiences in the tunnel and reports some comments by Parodi: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Highly recommended to those who might have missed it!

Moto

When I was there in '85 it had weeds growing in it. More recently one of the Piaggio big-wigs who was out here to give us a pep talk said it was long disused.

Pete Roper wrote:

When I was there in '85 it had weeds growing in it. More recently one of the Piaggio big-wigs who was out here to give us a pep talk said it was long disused.

Well I suppose it could have been rehabilitated, but I'm inclined to think we've been lied to. Shocking!

Moto

I think Aprilia has a wind tunnel in Noale they could use. Seams much for a screen where computer models can used. The Mandello tunnel brown outs the city iIRC.

The fly is too low to cause me any buffeting and works well. I've got the big MG screen so the fly has been in a box...

To add another bit to this wind tunnel diversion, I just stumbled on a December, 1954, article that shows the propeller setup and mentions the propulsion is electric. So the conversion from the Fiat V12 engine had happened by then. A caption says the wind tunnel opened "last April," which would probably be the opening after the conversion.

Here: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

It's a one-page article for sale at $12.99, but you can read the whole thing in the listing.

EDIT: By the way, you can compare the exterior photos from the 1951 and 1954 articles to see a big difference in external appearance after the V12 was abandoned.

My flyscreen was purchased three years through AF1-Racing.
I was leery about it really doing much of anything, but I didn't want to go to the larger sizes for aesthetical (?) reasons and my usage is mostly non-touring/non-highway. But I did notice quite
a difference with the flyscreen once I got around 100kph and above. I'm 6'1'' with a long torso
and I found it cut out a lot of wind around my chest, up to my neck. I think to get full coverage
you'd need the larger size screens, but the mini screen does help out quite a bit.
I think its worth shelling out the cash.

My 1100 came with the Guzzi tinted fly screen, it works but more as a nice decoration IMO..
I purchased a Dart Marlin and it works well taking wind off my torso and leaving my helmet in clean air with no buffeting...considering the amount of bugs it collects keeps my jacket somewhat clean as well
5ft 11 inch with a 34inch inseam

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keenerkeen07 wrote:

...5ft 11 inch with a 34inch inseam

Braggart!

I have the factory flyscreen. It is rubbish with a capital R.
I ride a lot of 500 mile days so having a screen that does its job is important or else you just get beaten up by the buffeting.
Let me clarify. If you mount and adjust the flyscreen so that it looks 'normal' the wind is directed right toward your chest and neck. Its horrible. The problem is that the screen sweeps back quite dramatically which directs the air right to your upper chest. I was wondering why I was getting so many bee stings on my neck, and bees and bugs forced down my jacket through my neck opening that is usually fairly well sealed. You can adjust the screen to reduce this but the result is that the screen looks horrible, like some blind doofus installed it.
Solution: I managed to find a Laminar Lip that is designed for the screen and after installing it the problem is solved. The LamLip directs the air upwards so most of it is at my upper helmet and above. Very little air hits my chest area. Not bad for a small screen. No more bee and bug bites.
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So in summary, screen as stock - BAD, screen with LamLip - Good.

BTW My lip is installed lower than the one pictured.