Modern Vespa

I just installed my flyscreen that arrived yesterday. I rode about 50 miles and the buffeting at 45mph is bad. It's a Faco copy made in Taiwan. Anyone else experience this?

What is "buffeting"?

rolling a one paper, drinking Tequila and dancing wildly to "Margaritaville"

Oh lordy

Can you describe the 'buffeting' a little more? I have a medium size Fuoco screen and have no issues other than some wind noise.

I suspect it's the movement at the top of the screen at higher speeds that some find disconcerting, at least I did at first. I just do my prefright and check the bolts and I'm good to go.

Buffeting is the movement (shaking) your head makes makes from turbulence caused by a windshield. In extreme cases in can blur your vision.


Dave

I think gkgeiger should tell us what is meant by buffeting. I've ridden motorcycles with cheap windshields (too thin plastic) where the buffeting is the windshield itself vibrating, even though my head wasn't being affected--it was still disconcerting. Perhaps that's the issue, since it's a knock-off windshield according to the post.

But if it is the wind on the head thing, then it's an issue of having a windshield that is the "right" height for the rider.

FWIW, I have a mid-height Faco, and I don't get any buffeting of either kind.

Cary

The scoot will handle like crap without the handlebar weights screwed onto both ends of the handlebars.

I found the buffeting with the Faco mid height screen on my GTS unbearable. If I rode with ear plugs it was tolerable for shorter trips, but really ruined the ride. I switched to a short Vespa flyscreen and the difference is remarkable. No more helmet buffeting and the scooter seems way more aerodynamic. For Winter I run a Givi full sized screen that I am looking through, and no buffeting there either. I consider the Faco mid sized screen essentially worthless. There have been other threads here about the problem.

Thanks for your response. You have confirmed my thoughts.

Is the short Piaggio screen that much more expensive? I've seen only great reviews for that thing. Why go for the repro when the real thing is tried and true?

Hmmm, well that's too bad. I guess maybe it depends on how tall you sit in the seat or what helmet you wear or something? I have the Faco mid-screen and have no issues. I sit all over the seat, sometimes slouched a bit and sometimes straight up and have not had this issue. I've been at highway speeds as well. The original poster did mention that his is actually a knockoff as well, which may make a difference.

I called every dealer in Ohio, Southern MI, and western PA. No vespa brand mid height screens, so I called Scooters West they didn't have it but sold me the one I bought.

Couldn't one of those dealers order one for you? Mine didn't have one in stock, but they were happy to order one for me. (Just ordered 2 days ago.)

I was told they were on backorder.

I, too, had the mid-height wind screen. Loved the look on my scoot, but at 6'2" the mid-sized screen just forced all the air onto my face and helmet. The helmet chattered like a cold dog in a cartoon.

Riding with the mid-sized screen was far worse than riding with no screen at all. I took it back and bought the tall boy. Now life is good. I do notice, sometimes, that the screen acts like a sail and the right kind of side wind can blow me around a bit-- but it's nothing that I can't live with.

From my experience and what I've gathered from this list the ideal wind screen height is 2" lower than your line of sight.

Hope this helps
Dave

I'm confused by this thread.

I've read thousands of lines about windscreens in dozens of MV threads and the strong consensus has been that mid-sized screens generally and the Faco specifically work well, improve the aerodynamics of the scoot and (slightly) improve performance -- as well as keeping a lot of the wind off at cruising speeds.

Scoots differ, of course, and any windscreen can cause "buffeting" in a strong crosswind, but the consensus so far here seems counter to the overall opinion.

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

I'm going to take apex's recomendation and hold out for the Vespa mid height screen, and thanks to those who replied.

I'm 5' 9" and had a mid height screen (Polini) on my GTS. I ended up cutting it down to Fly screen size to get my helmet in 'clean air'. The noise and buffeting were almost unbearable.

I now have a BV 500 with a mid height Piaggio screen. The Piaggio screen is very similar in size to the Faco mid and my Polini mid. Due to seating position and handle bar height I have the quietest and smoothest ride I've ever had in all my years of bike riding.

Dave

I find with my Faco mid-size that if I am near a semi or even a large suv on the Interstate I get beat like a red-headed step child. If there are no large vehicles around it is smooth as silk.

I'm just starting to consider either a Flyscreen, or mid-height (mod?) screen for my LX. What height (from top of headlamp) would be considered mid-height? a 13" (330mm) Faco? is the consensus on this forum that I'd be better off with a 7" or 8" flyscreen instead?

I had the mid-height FACO on my GTS and it was terrible (for me).

After several attempts at shortening it and adding a laminar lip I replaced
it with genuine Vespa short screen (a little shorter than the FACO) and
called it done.

Also the Vespa screen was $50 cheaper and much higher quality.

Go figure.

I am recommending the SHORT VESPA FLYSCREEN--not a mid height screen of any brand!!!!

Oh! Thanks for clearing that up. I called my dealer yesterday and they have both. I'll take your advise and get the short. I've had other tell me the same thing.[/u]