MRA Vario touring screen: longwinded review

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by Spectre, Jun 21, 2009.

  1. Spectre

    Spectre New Member

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    TwistedThrottle.com : MRA VarioTouringScreen Windshield for Honda VFR800 VTEC Interceptor, '02- - MRA.01.035.VT

    I'm 5'9", and my motorcycle's handlebars are unmodified, without any bar risers, etc. Also, I wear either a Shoei TZR or RF1000 full-face helmets, along with earplugs.

    Regarding windscreens, I've used the Zero Gravity's Double Bubble touring screen, as well as Givi's touring screen, but neither provided sufficient protection from wind buffeting and bug splatters even at moderate speeds, although I found the Givi to be the better of the two.

    So, I recently purchased (from TwistedThrottle.com) an MRA Vario touring windscreen because it features a 7-position adjustable spoiler at the top of a touring-shaped windscreen. At any rate, yesterday I rode 225 miles with this MRA windscreen, and I offer the following thoughts and opinions...

    1) Build quality & appearance: Made in Germany, the MRA Vario touring screen (dark smoke tint) exudes quality. It is finely crafted and manufactured, and not only does it look great on the VFR, I think that it enhances the bike's appearance and imparts a more 'sophisticated' look. In other words, it looks like it belongs on the bike rather than looking awkward and out of place.

    2) Aerodynamics, airflow, bug protection, etc.: First of all, it's my opinion that any aftermarket windscreen for the VFR is rather hamstrung from the outset by the fact that regardless of how differently they are shaped at the top margins (where airflow can be better deflected above the rider's face), they must first fit into the preexisting drill-holes of the stock screen. In other words, the aerodynamic angle of stock screen on the VFR is too low to begin with, rather like that of a true sport-bike, in which a low windscreen is often just about as useless as no windscreen at all when street riding, yet the VFR is supposed to be a 'sport-touring' motorcycle. (This is precisely why, in another thread, I bitched that if the VFR were a real 'sport-touring' motorcycle, Honda should've offered at least the factory option of an electronically adjustable windscreen on the 6th gen. models. How much would this option cost? Well, at this point I've so far spent ~ $500.00+ trying to find an effective aftermarket windscreens for the VFR, and that's about what an optional electronic windscreen costs on a BMW, for example.)

    OK, getting back to the MRA Vario touring windscreen, I've found that when its spoiler is set to the highest position, it is superior to the other windscreens I've so far tried and eventually rejected. For example, at speeds up to 40-45 mph, I can now keep my face shield flipped up while wearing prescription sunglasses, without constantly getting little gnats and other small particles flying into my eyes. This now happens much less often, and I'm liking it, especially now that hot weather is back again.

    Secondly, while riding at higher speeds where I must lower my face shield, I'm noticing much fewer bug splatters and a longer period of time before I have to pull over and wipe down. In addition, my helmet is quieter, and long runs on highways at high speeds are definitely more tolerable.

    With the MRA Vario's spoiler set to its highest position, wind blast is now mostly hitting my upper face and forehead rather than right smack in the middle of my face, but the differences here are marginal rather than huge. I've experimented with setting the spoiler to lower position/angles, since this could possibly lead to better airflow overall, but at higher speeds I've found that the spoiler is best kept fully raised. Overall, this is the best performance I've found so far among these various aftermarket screens for the VFR, but YMMV.

    3) Visual 'clutter' or obstruction factors: When you look at photos of the MRA Vario touring windscreen, you might well wonder if the spoiler, when raised to its highest position, might annoyingly interfere with your forward gaze. I've found that the answer is quite decidely 'No.'

    4) Which version of the MRA Vario is best? In my opinion, be sure to order the 'touring' version for the best possible wind and bug protection. (See the above web link.) For those riders who are tall, the MRA Vario touring screen will surely be better than a lot of other options, but even if you're not using bar risers, etc., don't expect too much, and don't forget to wear earplugs.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2009
  2. robski09

    robski09 New Member

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    Great review, appreciate the writeup RedRover.

    I just moved over to a new VFR (ABS) from an FJR. Since I'm 6'3" with no helibars, would you suggest the Givi or the MRA for Sport Touring application?

    Cheers,
    Rob
     
  3. TravelingViffer

    TravelingViffer New Member

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    I've had my MRA vario screen for a few months now and I really like it. I have Heli-Bars on my bike and I'm around 5'10". It's nice to lower the spoiler all the way on hot days so you can get a little "air conditioning" - but if you get on the highway or if the temperatures drop you can raise the spoiler up and get rid of wind buffeting and keep the cold air off your upper body.

    I've actually considered putting the OEM windscreen back on because it's been SO HOT outside lately and I'll take all the air conditioning I can get!
     
  4. mello dude

    mello dude Administrator

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    Rover - got any photos?

    MD
     
  5. Spectre

    Spectre New Member

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    I just posted a photo of the MRA Vario touring windscreen at my VFRWorld.com photo gallery. (My computor skills are rather lacking, and I've yet to figure out how to attach my photos to posts. Seems like I can't get the file sizes small enough.)

    At any rate, this photo leaves much to be desired in terms of composition, etc., but it is representative and it will have to due for now until I take some better shots. I took this one photo in my garage earlier this evening right after a 250 mile ride in which it rained during the last 100 miles. At any rate, I continue to find that the MRA Vario touring windscreen is the best I've found so far. YMMV.

    I've also today added a couple of photos of my VFR from last April, right after I washed it and detailed it with Zaino polishes. No magazine quality photos here, just a couple of driveway shots.
     
  6. VA NTCPTR

    VA NTCPTR New Member

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    Vario MRA screen

    I just installed mine,here's a few pics.I'm 5'8 and weight is 160lbs.The stock screen put the wind right at my shoulders and my sport touring screen had the wind right around my eye level but I hated the way it looked on the bike.

    The screen is cool because I can now adjust the wind flow from my shoulders all the way up to the top of my helmet.Now I just wish it was electric.

    [​IMG]
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    [​IMG]
     
  7. robski09

    robski09 New Member

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    VA NTCPTR - Looks really good, thanks for the pics and the info. I ordered the clear version of the screen, and it's on the UPS truck already. BUT after seeing yours in the tinted version, I wish I had ordered that instead of clear. Dangit!
     
  8. robski09

    robski09 New Member

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    Also what kind of seat are you using? It looks much better than the OEM seat. I only have 700 miles on the VFR so far, but am noticing I slide forward on the seat - towards the tank, same as what my ST1100 did until a seat replacement. Thanks
     
  9. VA NTCPTR

    VA NTCPTR New Member

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    Thank you, I got a smoking deal on the screen from Twisted Throttle,it was in their scratch & dent section and I got it for $104 bucks,called them last Monday and it was at the house on Wednesday!

    The seat is a Sargent and it is super comfortable.
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2009
  10. mello dude

    mello dude Administrator

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    Looks interesting - a screen for the long haul....So it comes assembled ready to bolt on the bike?

    MD
     
  11. VA NTCPTR

    VA NTCPTR New Member

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    Yes and it looks like you could actually replace the top spoiler with a bigger piece of an older cut screen or plexi-glass and have even more wind protection.
     
  12. jasonsmith

    jasonsmith Member

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    Curious if the hardware can be bought somewhere. I have no problem drilling holes in my screen and making one of my own.
     
  13. jasonsmith

    jasonsmith Member

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    I took the plunge and ordered this screen, hoping to get it before our Kootenay Ride. I'm 6'0" with stock bars (so far) and with my arm length the wind off the stock windscreen hits me on my neck line. At high speed the wind wants to lift off my helmet and my broad shoulders take the brunt of it shifting me from side to side. I'm hoping that this screen will fix something. Been thinking hard about defecting to another bike but figured I would give this a try.
     
  14. donald branscom

    donald branscom New Member

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  15. jasonsmith

    jasonsmith Member

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    My Review.

    Okay... I got, I installed it, I rode it, I love it now let me explain it.

    It didn't do what I thought it was gonna do which was move the air stream over my head. What it does do is very interesting though...

    First let me say my seating position with stock bars and a Sargent seat used to put the air flow directly at my chin on the helmet. It was a solid steady firm stream of air coming off the wind screen. As my speed increased the air pressure against my torso also increased kinda making me sit up a tiny bit. That motion made the air stream hit just at the bottom of my helmet.

    Symptoms:

    - Helmet lift off feeling at high speed.
    - Head dancing around in wind shifts or head position shifts.
    - During a shoulder check at speed my head would wanna rotate.
    - Air pressure on upper torso just below shoulders.
    - Higher pitch wind noise in my not so quiet HTC helmet.
    - No buffeting though unless I ducked my head about 3 inches.

    So all that being said I had the expectation that this windscreen was going to launch the air over my helmet and leave me in a windless void of butterfly's and roses or at least that was my wish. What it does though is even better. This wind screen slows the air volume down as the air passes the screen and the adjustable visor... significantly too. I can no longer judge my speed by the wind noise or feel as I was used to dooing, it's all different now. The feeling of going 40kmh is now 80kmh, the feeling of going 80kmh is now 120kmh and even at speeds higher that which I'm not going to post, all the above symptoms are gone.

    This isn't a magical screen and I don't want this to sound that way. It just happens to be perfect for my seating position.

    The screen has 7 adjustable positions but I found out today that I will most likely only ever use 2... fully down and stowed and fully up and extended. Fully down it is great up to about 80-90kmh, it's even better than the original screen above that but if I flip up and extend the visor it gets twice as good.

    In all cases I still get air to my head and helmet. With the visor down the air stream moved up about an inch or two but it's kinda harder to tell as the air stream is way softer and slower and not a firm line like you would feel if you lifted your hand just behind the screen at speed. So I still get air in my helmet for cooling and I guess I may still get bugs but some of them may go splat a little less forcefully.

    The quality is top notch as stated above and the fit was about a 8/10. 10 being stock and 1 being a elcheepo after market knockoff cowling piece that would require refab before fitting. It needed a little guidance to seat into the forward hook spots so the bolt holes would line up but wasn't bad at all.

    Adjusting the visor while riding is not recommended as per the booklet which yes I did look at and I know why. It's not that easy because the detents for the hinge are quite stiff. For me to go from fully down to fully up one handed takes about 6 movements. 2 to effectively unlock the visor, 2 more to get it hinge mostly up all the way and 2 more to get them both fully up. I'm gonna try a two handed approach with my throttle lock on but obviously that needs to be done in a very perfect and safe situation which doesn't always present itself.

    I'm thinking that I may even see some better fuel mileage due to the lack of air hitting my body. Time will tell I guess.

    Bottom line I was fully expecting this to either work or not work and was planning it's sale prior to it's arrival. I am however very happy with it and it will remain part of the family.
     
  16. jasonsmith

    jasonsmith Member

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    Well after getting back from the trip and logging about 2000kmh on this screen I am still very happy with it. As I stated above you still get wind noise albeit less then stock and not as high pitched. You also still get wind into your helmet but at a much reduced speed which made the ride on the saddle much more stable and less effected by wind pressure and turbulence.
     
    VFRIRL likes this.
  17. RockSlide

    RockSlide New Member

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    I added the MRA Vario a few weeks ago just prior to a 1000 mile ride. I agree with the descriptions and experiences reviewed here. I have Gen Mar risers, a stock seat and am 5' 11'. For touring, I do think this beats the stock windscreen.

    The screen is easy to adjust, and as mentioned, it's a nice feature to adjust the screen as necessary depending on how you are riding and the outside temp.
     
  18. jasonsmith

    jasonsmith Member

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    Well folks after riding this screen through about 10 tanks of fuel I can say for sure that my mileage has gone up approximately 3+ mpg or 45+ km extra per tank. I'm just not getting the wind on the torso anymore. I figure the screen will pay for itself in a couple years. Good argument to sell to your finance manager if so required.
     
  19. Make56

    Make56 New Member

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    Another thing no one has mentioned yet, is that the adjustable Vario Touring screen gives you possibility to change the air direction to your visor in rain. I noticed that when I had the regular MRA Touring screen, the wind in normal driving speed (90 kmh) hit to my forehead and did not blow water off from visor. With Vario Touring you can push the spoiler 2-3 points down to get the air flow blow the water off.
     
  20. CrazyRussian

    CrazyRussian New Member

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    Do you still have your Givi Spoiler?
    I am thinking about it on my 2007. I am 5'10" so it may work in South Florida.
    Gino
     
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