'08-'09 Windshield vs. '10-'11 Windshield

[Gearhead82]

Has anyone ridden with the OEM '08-09 windshield AND the '10-11 windshield?  Is the taller '10-11 shield much of an improvement over the earlier windshield in the "all the way up" position?  I have run my '09 with the shield all the way down since I bought the bike.  With the cooler mornings we've had lately, I've tried putting the shield up but I just get crazy buffeting and wind noise on my helmet.  I don't want to spend a lot of money on a new aftermarket screen so I'm wondering if picking up a used '10-11 OEM would be worth it.

[Boonedawg]

I'm 6'1" tall and have a russell day long seat on my bike.  I am going to measure for a Cal Sci windshield tonight.  I probably won't be utilizing my 2011 screen after that and will put it on the market.  I don't know the difference between 09 & 11 size.

[martin_14]

Has anyone ridden with the OEM '08-09 windshield AND the '10-11 windshield?  Is the taller '10-11 shield much of an improvement over the earlier windshield in the "all the way up" position?  I have run my '09 with the shield all the way down since I bought the bike.  With the cooler mornings we've had lately, I've tried putting the shield up but I just get crazy buffeting and wind noise on my helmet.  I don't want to spend a lot of money on a new aftermarket screen so I'm wondering if picking up a used '10-11 OEM would be worth it.

On my opinion: yes. I have an '08 and drove another bike similar to mine with the large Kawasaki shield, which is what you get standard on the '10 and onwards. It is definitely a big improvement. I got a Givi for mine and I'm very satisfied with it (some 35% cheaper than the Kawasaki large shield), but I wouldn't mind buying the Kawasaki shield if I needed to replace the Givi.
And I agree on the buffeting when rising the original '08 shield. That's what got me to buy something else.

[Frontier]

Has anyone ridden with the OEM '08-09 windshield AND the '10-11 windshield?  Is the taller '10-11 shield much of an improvement over the earlier windshield in the "all the way up" position?  I have run my '09 with the shield all the way down since I bought the bike.  With the cooler mornings we've had lately, I've tried putting the shield up but I just get crazy buffeting and wind noise on my helmet.  I don't want to spend a lot of money on a new aftermarket screen so I'm wondering if picking up a used '10-11 OEM would be worth it.

At 5'11 the '10 windscreen on my '09 was a huge improvement. It puts me in bubble of perfectly calm air and is a big aid to keep the chill off on those cold days. All the way down this summer to provide a blast of cooling air.
For me the '09 screen didn't do anything particularly well except look good.

[dras]

I have both windshields. I'm 6' 0" but long in the torso. When I bought my used '08 it had the taller ('10-'11) screen on it. The buffeting was so bad in any position that I really disliked it. So I picked up a used stock '08-'09 and mounted it up. I get less buffeting and helmet noise with the '08 shield in the down position, but lots of noise and buffeting in the up position. There is no sweet spot for me. Much better airflow for the summer months with the '08 shield, but left me wishing I had something more for when it cools off.

I just bought a used V-Stream from a member here and I'll see how it does. Looks like it might work pretty well based on the trip around the block I did after mounting it up Saturday.

[RBX QB]

Cal Sci has a chart that shows the dimensions relative to both 08/09 an 10/11 screens... looks like the 10/11 is about 2.75" taller. Not sure if it's any wider (no difference on the chart).

Now for my opinion... 5'11", 32" inseam... the stock 10/11 was "okay" down, but buffeted horrible full up. Plus, I hated the distortion from the curve at the top. Not an issue down, but at the up position it was completely distracting to me. I ended up with a CalSci large... tons of posts about all the windscreens here, so I won't repeat... but so far (4000 miles later) no regrets with it. Good balance for me.

[C1xRider]

I thought the 2010 windshield sucked badly.  I'm only 5'5", and never found a spot that didn't cause excessive noise and turbulence behind it.  It was bad enough that I made a temporary windshield out of Lexan for a impromptu 3600 mile / 9 day ride, as I knew I would be hating life behind the stock shield. 

Now I'm running the Euro Cut Cee Bailey's, and I'm quite happy with it.  I never put it up more than half to two/thirds of it's travel.

To the OP, you should check out the thread http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=914.0.  It was very enlightening for me to try a couple different shields before buying one.

[alexx45]

When I bought my 09 new it, of course, had the stock windshield on it. Worked great till I raised it full up. Then it was nothing but noisy buffeting. With a week some one on this site had a Kawasaki tall windshield on sale cheap. I bought it & have never looked back. It has been perfect for me. Now I'm 5'10" with a 34" inseam & I ride with it down most of the time. I put it up when it rains and I'll put it part way up when it is cold. I live in Houston, TX so getting cold doesn't happen much here. The windshied is a vast improvement over the shorter stock windshield and if you can find one on the cheap I'd say get it. JMHO

[curly]

Don't waste your money. I've had both. Keep the 08-09 for summer and get a proper sheild for the other seasons.

[jimmymac]

I enjoy rocking the 08 shield in the Summer, for more air, and I have a Laminar Lip on the 10 shield for the cold Months. With The lip on the 10, it works perfect. Vewy Vewy quiet.

[CrashGordon]

Don't waste your money. I've had both. Keep the 08-09 for summer and get a proper sheild for the other seasons.

I agree. I bought the tall Kawi screen about a week after I bought my '09. About a year later, I bought a V-Stream and sold the Kawi screen.

[jjsC6]

I have a 2010 bike......with a 2008 windshield on it.  I only put the stock (taller) windshield on in really cold weather - and even then not always.  I'm actually thinking of cutting down the short windshield.  I happen to like some wind from my chest up. 

But to answer your question - if you don't want a wind blast the newer one is better and calmer.

[Tim]

I put a 10 windshield on my 09. This was in an effort to send the bugs over head. It moved the bugs from the center of my visor to the top part of my visor. Today, I run with the 10 shield down about 1 1/2 inches, as it makes the helmet have less noise. I do not have helmet buffet with an AVG modular no matter where the shield is. I do have buffet with my BELL. Over all I like the taller 10 shield even though the bugs didn't make it over the helment.. More protection when it's cold out and still plenty of air flow in the summer for the mesh. 

[lt1]

I have a 2010 bike......with a 2008 windshield on it.  I only put the stock (taller) windshield on in really cold weather - and even then not always.  I'm actually thinking of cutting down the short windshield.  I happen to like some wind from my chest up. 

But to answer your question - if you don't want a wind blast the newer one is better and calmer.

Similar situation here - 08 with both OEM windshields.  Short in hot weather, tall when cooler.  I'm planning on cutting the short one a few inches.

[So Cal Joe]

The screen on my 09 was useless, one of the first things I bought was a Ce Bailey Ultra tour domed shield, when I run it down I get a blast of air on my chest, about 1/2 way up and no turbulence at all, all the way up and I look through it.

[SonnyC]

Replaced my OEM 09 windshield after 1 year to the taller version Kawaski offered.  I think it is pretty much the same as the 10-11 as far as dimension is concerned.  It was a dramatic improvement.  I then Added a Laminar lip which gave me about 40% improvement.  All the way up, I have no buffeting.

[quiet and invisible]

I was never much of a windshield person prior to purchasing my Concours. After a while I decided I needed to do something so I bought an 08 windshield for $50 bucks and did this to it.
I use it for the summer months when the temps are above 70 degrees. Then I put the stock 08 shield back on. I've never tried a taller one because I just don't like the looks of them.

[AirplaneTim]

I enjoy rocking the 08 shield in the Summer, for more air, and I have a Laminar Lip on the 10 shield for the cold Months. With The lip on the 10, it works perfect. Vewy Vewy quiet.

I do exactly that same thing.  Works perfectly for me.

[freebird6]

I was never much of a windshield person prior to purchasing my Concours. After a while I decided I needed to do something so I bought an 08 windshield for $50 bucks and did this to it.
I use it for the summer months when the temps are above 70 degrees. Then I put the stock 08 shield back on. I've never tried a taller one because I just don't like the looks of them.

I am running the Cee Baileys tall domed model. I am thinking of throwing the stock shield back on or cutting it down a bit. This looks good. May need to give it a try. I can 't remember if there should be any attention paid to the screw size between the 2. It has been so long since I put the CeeB. on that I can't remember if I swapped out the screws or not.

Anyone know this answer before I get started?

[quiet and invisible]

I wish I could help but I have all stock hardware on mine.