Motorcycle windscreens protect riders from rain, sand, rocks, dust and exploding bugs.  Research shows that windscreens also help cut down on windblast. Windblast evaporates the moisture on your skin, leaving it dehydrated. I’ve got to believe though, if you leave that much exposed skin while riding, windblast shouldn’t be your chief concern. The point is windscreens provide an element of comfort and protection just as the name implies.

Givi makes replacement windscreens for a wide range of motorcycles, most of which fall into the category of spoilers. Spoilers are the shorter, sport screens that work on laminar flow properties. Laminar flow is the smooth, uninterrupted flow of air over the contour of a motorcycle. In essence, they allow motorcycles to slice a cleaner hole through the air envelope, employing the reverse principles of an airplane wing. Instead of lift, a spoiler provides some degree of down-force.

 

To reap the benefits of the aforementioned comfort and protection though, you need a full-sized windscreen – Givi makes them too. Their Airstars collection includes traditional or retro styles for motorcycles that don’t already have a windscreen/spoiler. There are 12 Airstars screens available, six with handle bar mounting kits, three with headlight mounting hardware, and three with handle bar and front fork mounting kits.  Givi’s catalog or website directs you towards the right fit for your bike.

I went with Givi’s universal mount, full-sized Airstars windscreen. These replace an existing screen with a larger one, using the existing 2- or 4-hole mounting points. This larger windscreen adds a full 7 inches in height and 5 inches in width to the OEM model on my V-Strom. With a bigger windscreen there’s often a risk of making your bike look a bit like it’s fitted with those huge corrective glasses, that’s not the case here. Givi’s implied styling cues don’t allow that to happen. This windscreen fits like the OEM model and gives the appearance of having come straight from the factory.

Installing a universal mount windscreen is ridiculously simple and fast. One Phillips-head screw on each side holds the trim-piece in place; underneath those are four more screws, two on each side. The whole thing only takes about 5 minutes, but take care not to accidentally slip with the screwdriver and risk scratching the screen. Before securing the four mounting screws, sit on the seat and see if the height of the screen is to your liking, if not make the adjustment. There are two or three height settings for most universal mount windscreens.

A quality windscreen should have high-quality optics and Givi’s do. They are made of the finest grade acrylic plastics, stretching the plastic as it’s formed, a process which results in superior strength and flexibility. This flexibility allows the windscreen to absorb road vibrations and to resist cracking.

I thoroughly enjoy the added benefits of this larger windscreen. When I got caught in rain recently, the windscreen kept much of the rain off my torso by creating a high pressure bubble around the riding position. But, weather conditions don’t have to get extreme on a motorcycle in order to feel extremely cold. If the temperature outside is 50 degrees at 60 mph the wind chill that your body feels is 39 degrees. A windscreen is very effective against cold windblasts, thereby keeping you warmer. Overall, I’m pleased with the reduction in wind buffeting and the reduced strain on my arms and shoulders. 

For mere $96, the Givi Airstars Windshield is a wise investment.