SCREENS AND LUGGAGE

I’m writing after reading Alan Dowds’ report on the R1250RSE in the December issue.

First, luggage. It strikes me as an ideal relaxed touring bike, but how much luggage do you need?

Back in 2003, my wife and I made a two-week trip to visit my brother in Spain, riding all the way from Caen and back on my R1100RT with only the standard panniers (the ones with the big cut-out for the exhaust) and a Givi 45-litre top box (which I still use). Was Al taking his kilt and a set of pipes for Hogmanay ?

As to screens, my experience is that less is more, unless you have a fully-faired bike with an integral screen. Of course, the 1100RT with its electrically adjustable screen rather spoiled you, but I also recall a French camping trip on an R850R with a big, bar-mounted screen that was purgatory due to the turbulence. Currently, my old X-Max 250, which is great for moderate touring, came with a big, full-width Givi screen which leaves the rider in a bubble of calm air at all speeds but gives you a cold back (I’ve never

ridden it with a pillion), while my Guzzi V7, a really great bike, has the factory-fitted small touring screen which is more subtly shaped than it first appears and is just enough to take the pressure off the upper chest and chin, though even so, riding without it leaves you in calmer air. Both my old G650GS, which had a tiny but very effective screen, and my old 1200GS, had standard screens that seemed to work perfectly well.

Perhaps someone with a knowledge of aerodynamics would like to comment, but I suspect there is no complete answer other than a motor car. Sorry, I’ll go and wash my mouth out with soap. John Gudgeon