Decided to go naked this summer, but thinking I need a tool I don't have

[TexasBoxer]

I bought the bike (R1200R) with a windscreen about a year ago.
The other day I decided that the thing had to go. Too much noise
starting at 60kph. I have to get the GPS mount off to get the
windscreen mount off. The GPS seems to have a unique allen
female. It has wierd flairs at the tip of each point. Does anybody
know if it requires a BMW mechanics tool? Also, is there anything
you might be able to tell me about getting the thing off or putting
it back on that would save me from myself?

I stood up on the pegs the other day and found the helmet (Arai Profile)
was much quieter on its own than with the screen.

Any thoughts about going naked? This is my first experience.

[DDT Rider]

I bought the bike (R1200R) with a windscreen about a year ago.
The other day I decided that the thing had to go. Too much noise
starting at 60kph. I have to get the GPS mount off to get the
windscreen mount off. The GPS seems to have a unique allen
female. It has wierd flairs at the tip of each point. Does anybody
know if it requires a BMW mechanics tool? Also, is there anything
you might be able to tell me about getting the thing off or putting
it back on that would save me from myself?

I stood up on the pegs the other day and found the helmet (Arai Profile)
was much quieter on its own than with the screen.

Any thoughts about going naked? This is my first experience.

Are they torx bits?

[rtfm]

Do they look like this:



Torx head. Very common.

Drivers are readily available at any home center and bike parts/accessories store across the land.

[Kamikuza]

Noise is turbulence ... you might find that shifting the angle of your screen (you can do that on a BM, can't you?) just a tiny bit might help tremendously.

[TexasBoxer]

Yeah, that's what it must be, torx bits, thanks. I'm off to the tool shop tomorrow.

This screen doesn't adjust at all that I can tell. The buffeting against my helmet is
deafening at highway speed and I'm finally fed up. I use wax plugs whenever I'm
on the highway and that helps, but I want to find out what it is like without.
The screen-deflected wind hits my helmet dead on.

Would anybody like to weigh in on whether they prefer naked or with a screen?
N = Naked S = Screen

[Kamikuza]

I'm tall enough that the bikes I've had, the deflected wind from the screen hits me in the chest ... flow over the helmet is mostly clean, so it's not too noisy. Hunching up my shoulders eliminates turbulence around the bottom cuff of the helmet and reduces noise by like, 75% ...

Try it without. Or a shorter screen?

[jeanroule]

Advantages with naked :
- Less turbulence
- In summer, it is cooler for your body
- You have more sense of speed, which is fun and *can* make you more aware of "gosh I ought to slow down to avoid speed tickets"
J.

[Phorest]

Going naked but missing a tool? I feel for you, man.

[haildamage]

you'll definitely need a good set of torx wrenches with that bike. might wanna get one for the road tool kit and one for home. they arent difficult to find at larger home centers.

l like windscreens for fall/winter/spring riding. they cut the wind and more importantly cut the rain. i like as little wind blockage as possible when its hotter though.
therefore, i find that i want to change my windscreens depending on the season. i use a luminar lip on my 800GS for fall/winter/spring, and take that off for the lower stock windscreen to get more wind in summer. i also switch between the stock - non windscreen for summer, and a bigger givi screen for the other three seasons on my scoot.

when choosing a windscreen i always read reviews on the forums of the guys that are about the same height as me. what might be good for your height might create buffeting, etc for a taller or shorter rider.

[DDT Rider]

Not sure on your bike, but my 1150GS and 1200GS both had the required torx wrenches in the tool kit. If your tool kit is still intact, they are in here. My bike has three sizes.

For my augmented bike kit, I use those. For at home, I have a set of torx sockets which can be purchased for 10 to 20 bucks for the full range.

Someday, if and when he fasteners start to get rusty, I'll switch them out with a stainless kit, and those generally come in hex style.

Hex has some advantages in that I can use the "multi-angle" hex keys or sockets, which allow you to access hard to reach fasteners at an angle, as long as excessive torque is not needed...

[TexasBoxer]

DDT,

Thanks. I went ahead and checked the tool pouch and found the tool.
It removed the GPS mount and screen easily. The top arm mounts are
torqued down pretty good. I read up that either heat or penetrating oil
will loosen them up. From what I read they are talking about WD40 or
the equivalent here. I'm going to look for a little more leverage to get
this done.

I rode a minute over to the garage and it felt like a different bike.

[TexasBoxer]

not much of a job in the end, but done - just naked a little early is all.
the 556 did the trick along with the new set of torx bits.
damn, i am falling in love again. love the look.

thanks for helping the nube "mechanic".