Update to AF214 GIVI AirFlow Windshield

I just purchased a GIVI AF214 AirFlow windshield at Helmet Cycle and the total price is now $278.67 free shipping.
FYI

Wow, that's a lot more than others here have paid for it! I'd been holding off on buying - I'm a defense dept. worker facing furloughs in July. Now it looks like I'll be waiting even longer.

That's now about the same price as the Madstad, which is more adjustable (both height and angle). Lots to think about.

That`s why I made the post....BIG jump in price.

I`m sorry for the error...it was HelmetHead Cycles

Every thing going up for the price,I bought my windshield at HelmetHead cycle over year ago only $ 215.00 with free shipping.But I really enjoy this windshield very much.

I took it on a 70 mile run today and it is the best windshield I ever had on a maxi scooter....worth every penny.

I have found that the AF214 works well in still air but any side winds will be strongly felt and any size vehicle ahead even a good distance will cause head buffeting. I am short so I can raise the shield to look thru it and that helps some with side winds but the optical quality of the adjustable piece is very poor at best.

My helmet fits fairly tightly but on a long trip my ears were sore from the constant buffeting on interstates. The AF214 was not a good investment for me. I hope you continue to enjoy yours. Different stokes etc.

I agree, to try and look thru-it is not a good idea...ever...however, the wind buffeting is very,very low compared to an OEM or GIVI tall....you are ALWAYS going to have SOME buffeting. As far as side winds go...when I took it out on my last small run, the average wind speed was between 15-25 MPH with gusts up to 35....no problems what-so-ever.
As you stated Different strokes....at least I hope you meant strokes.

Stokes was definitely an unfortunate error.

1Wingman1 wrote:

I have found that the AF214 works well in still air but any side winds will be strongly felt and any size vehicle ahead even a good distance will cause head buffeting. I am short so I can raise the shield to look thru it and that helps some with side winds but the optical quality of the adjustable piece is very poor at best.

My helmet fits fairly tightly but on a long trip my ears were sore from the constant buffeting on interstates. The AF214 was not a good investment for me. I hope you continue to enjoy yours. Different stokes etc.

If you want to ship it to the Uk Ill buy it from you mate

The problem with Maxi scooters and buffeting---is the basic design of the scooters---YOUR NOSE IS TOO FAR FROM TIP OF SCREEN!! SilverWing 600 with GIVI Adjustable Windshield, Baker Air Wings, home-made air shields around feet----Can be made the most buffet free and comfortable of Maxi scooters-----I have purchased 10 new since 1990 and threw money at the problem---and ridden near 300,000 miles on them.


Want comfort from wind----try Vespa GTS with proper look over shield----but in US try to find dealer if you are in trouble!

Or you could wear earplugs when you're riding behind your Airflow.

Meldrew wrote:

Or you could wear earplugs when you're riding behind your Airflow.

+1

I really like my AF214. I bought it at my Honda dealer for about $235.00 back in Sept. 2011. I just saw it on PCA for $227.00 and change. Well worth the money. IMHO.

Certainly you misunderstood that my ears were sore from the small movements of the snug helmet rubbing during several days on the road. I wear a shield so there are no eardrum problems.

I will save the Airflow for country rides during our Florida summers when we beg for just a little breeze. I have stated that it works in clean air.

As for the reply where the poster had no problems with strong gusts, we definitely live in different worlds because I have been batted around quite a bit especially in the Southwestern US.

Does the AF214 fit all year bikes as it says on the website that they fit bikes up to 2009 and mine is a 2010

I haven't have side wind problems at all with any shield. I ride with gusty side winds on my commute, up to 80mph or so (really!). Every bike I have had feels those winds and I need to steer and lean into the gusts a bit, but it is definitely controllable.

The screen fits all the 'old' style Silverwing600 maxis
My first was 2009 and my current one is 2010 and both have the AF214 adjustable.

Cheers mike ill order one today

Ordered one £129 delivered hope its worth it !!

Don't worry, it will be.

Be sure to fit the additional bracket that requires drilling out the plastic to locate the captive nut behind. People in the past have used an electric drill ands have drilled the threads. I suggest you either use a hand drill (yes people still have the 'original cordless drill') or if using an electric drill use a very slow speed and use some counter force so that you are pushing down with one hand and pulling up with the other. Go very gently however you do it. Don't forget it is only plastic that you are drilling.
Cheers,

+1

I reckon that if the drill-bit is sharp - I bought a new one for the job - one could just about make the hole by turning the bit by hand if one drilled a small pilot-hole through the plastic first.

Mike,
That is probably the best way to do it. A pair of small vice-grips gripping the drill bit could be used to give a bit more leverage.

Cheers,

+1

For what this shield costs...it seems strange that we are expected to modify the install? And risk messing it up? Just curious.

The only 'modification' is to the bike.
I don't know the ins and outs of why the bike frame has captive nuts in just the right place but drilling through the plastic is all that has to be done in order to expose them.

It's far less invasive than drilling the rear spoiler to mount a topbox; one has to do it in order to mount even the official Honda one.

next question !! is there a pictorial cus ill only balls it up lol

There is a link to the .pdf file here on the initial post.

https://www.silverwing600.com/t46-givi-windshield-installation-pictorial?highlight=airflow+installation

Actually it is very easy. Two of the things to watch out for is take care removing the plastic cowling below and to the side of the screen.

When removing and installing the six screws that hold the windscreen on dont push down on the screwdriver or the well-nuts will fall into the scooter (never to be seen again!).

This is all stated in the installation file.

Cheers,

I had to adjust the bend of the two metal brackets to get them to lie flat between the windshield and the bike fairing. Without doing that the two screws that pull the front cover and glare shield ends together left a gap. After reconfiguring the angle and position of the bend they went together nicely. I think it's important to install the brackets because they stiffen the windshield mounting by taking a load off the plastic front cover. It's been a while since I installed my Givi Airflow Adjustable and I still think it was the best modification to the bike one can do. It's really far superior to the OEM screen.

Thanks Guys Hopefully it will be here today and ill fit it tonight

I ordered this windshield here in NB Canada at a local dealer after checking at three places . My cost was $191.99 plus tax for a total $ 216.95

I have it installed and have found a difference in the wind conditions with the new Givi much more pleasant

Scroller.

I guess I should have shopped around a little more

I've just remembered it's over a year since I fitted the second replacement top screen to my Airflow and hurriedly fitted my M.A.R.S. the Meldrew Airflow Retention System in time to go off for a trip to Germany.

Since then everything has been fine, I made a few minor adjustments to the original components after I got home and also fitted a deflector to the top of the Airflow lower section to channel away rain droplets and that works too. I've also put a sticker on the inside of the top screen showing me the various Euro kph speed limits with their mph equivalents next to them.

You can temporary stick markers around the speed gauge on the black plastic
Cut small straps from electrick tape.

Eddy

Good Morning Meldrew: Would you post details and pictures of the mods you have made to your air flow windshield I am sure there are lots of us members would be interested .

Cheers,

Scroller.

I'm sure they would, but I informed this forum and my regular UK maxi forum when I lost my original Airflow top screen in July 2011 and again in May last year when the replacement flew off. In the last two years no one else has reported on either forum that they've lost a top screen on the Silver Wing or on any of the other scooters you can fit an Airflow to. That's the Yamaha T Max 500, Majesty 400, X Max 125/250, the '97 onwards Suzuki Burgman 400, the Honda SH 300i, and Silver Wing SW-T 400.

It only seems to be me who has experienced this problem with my Airflow despite doing regular tightness checks on the lock nuts and cam levers. After being hit on my helmet by a flying top screen at 70 mph and then losing another that narrowly missed me and could have struck my wife. I needed to ensure it would never happen again and made what I call the M.A.R.S and fitted it to the second replacement top screen for my or our safety.

As you see fit ,needless to say I for one will not ask of you anything in future !not sure why you even bothered to mention the mods if you are so adamant about not sharing the info. So be it. It,s your choice. No need to respond as I am not going start a p----ng contest with you or anyone else. Life is too short and I am not here for a long time just a good time.

Scroller.

+1

Ayup Meldrew,after this request ....

Scroller wrote:

Good Morning Meldrew:  Would you post details and pictures of the mods you have made to your air flow windshield I am sure there are lots of us members  would be interested .

.... before posting ....

Meldrew wrote:

I'm sure they would, but I informed this forum and my regular UK maxi forum when I lost my original Airflow top screen in July 2011 and again in May last year when the replacement flew off.

.... did you think to look at Scroller's forum joining date ?? he like myself & many others have become members since your original post & may find your experiences in how to overcome a specific problem helpful

Quite so, Bern. I searched long and hard and eventually found the post in which Meldrew tells of his woes.

https://www.silverwing600.com/t3482-givi-af214-airflow-windshield

But even there, I found no details.

As Sour-puss wrote:

I ... made what I call the M.A.R.S and fitted it ... for my or our safety.

And that's all we need to know!

Cheers for the link Colin read that through & deffo looks like a safety issue & seems to have affected a few other members in varying degrees,would be good if Meldrew could see his way clear to posting pictures with explanatory text

I'm not holding my breath!

 

Name calling from Colin B now that's funny, when someone called you a name on that UK scooter forum you denied ever being on for being a bit of a pompous arse, (complete with large full colour IAM badge on your posts  and you're still plugging it here) you slunk off in the huff to Burgman Riders UK where you could be a large fish in a small pond.

You were quite happy to take my advice on tunnel bags and fork protectors weren't you, remind me what you've passed my way.

I'd just like to remind you, Stroller, and Pastor Ron etc that my post earlier today was mainly an update for the benefit of the forum members who were around when I lost the first screen two years ago and also when I made the original mods after losing another screen last year. I also was asked what I'd done by a couple of members then and I declined to answer then exactly as I'm doing now. Of course none of you three were members then were you. As I said earlier no one else has had a problem with their Airflow screens, and you and the other two haven't had your screens on long enough yet to get a decent coat of dead insects or road grime on them.

Why do any of you need my screen retention mods for a problem you don't have? Check the lock nuts for tightness now and again, and if you're that concerned I'm sure you could sort out your own fix.

Meldrew wrote:

Name calling from Colin B now that's funny,

Well I never, Meldrew finds something funny - he DOES have a sense of humour. A weird one it must be said.

Meldrew wrote:

You were quite happy to take my advice on tunnel bags and fork protectors weren't you.

And I acknowledge the fact.

Good advice, like a good product would be foolish to ignore. To refuse to give information that has (according to you) a known benefit, especially when it has been politely requested, is beneath contempt!

Meldrew wrote:

remind me what you've passed my way.

Who's keeping score? I thought the forum operated for the benefit of all.

Colin B wrote:

To refuse to give information that has (according to you) a known benefit, especially when it has been politely requested, is beneath contempt!

That's bollocks, I also refuse to give out the known benefits of my PIN numbers, passwords, and personal information to spammers and cold callers that politely request it. Is that beneath contempt too?

That is a fatuous comparison Meldrew. Please tell me you are not a First Aider!  

  

I couldn't be happier with my AF214. This is the best mod I did. I am in Knoxville, TN this week and we have had a lot of rain. I rode 7 hrs in the rain Saturday getting here and the wind screen worked great. I like being able to adjust the height for different weather conditions. Especially when it rains.
I need to look over it without stretching like I had to do with the screen ( XL Givi 214) that came with the bike when I bought it.