Hello everyone.
In my previous post, I shared my riding impressions of the wind protection offered by the X-ADV's stock five-position adjustable screen.
As a 167 cm rider, I came to the following conclusions.
- The stock screen is very good
- But I wanted to reduce the slight wind that still hits the top of my helmet
- So a screen whose top edge flips forward (a "spoiler" or "flap" shape) would be ideal
While I was searching for that ideal screen, I recently found one with exactly the shape I was after listed on an online auction site.
It was an unbranded item with no maker's name, but the shape was just what I wanted, so I bid on it straight away and won it.
In this post I compare the shape of this smoked screen from the auction with the stock screen in detail, and show the usual cleaning and protection I do before fitting it.
If you are interested in a different screen for your X-ADV, please read on!
Overview of the unbranded smoked screen from the auction
The part I got is a screen in a tasteful light smoke tint that you can see through.
There is no maker's name or logo moulded into it anywhere, so I can't tell who made it. However, the plastic (acrylic) moulding is clean, and it is designed to match the mounting bolt positions of the X-ADV's stock screen.
Let's put it side by side with the stock clear screen I removed and look closely at the differences in shape.
[Shape comparison] The stock screen vs the auction screen
Looking at the shape, this unbranded screen had the features I hoped would give me the wind protection I wanted.
1. From the front: a smoked tint for a sharper look
The stock clear screen next to the smoked screen I bought
The smoked screen held in front of the bike, seen from the front
You can see that the shape is almost the same as the stock clear screen. The smoke tint tightens up the look around the X-ADV's cockpit and gives it a sharper, sportier adventure style.
2. From the side: the upturned top edge that should push the wind over my helmet
The stock screen and the smoked screen overlaid, comparing their shapes from the side
The upturned top edge of the screen from another angle
The key point is the shape of the very top of the screen. As you can see in the photos, while the stock clear screen has a gentle slope, the smoked screen's top edge flips sharply forward into a "spoiler" shape.
This lip should lift the oncoming airflow higher. It looks like it could greatly reduce the wind and wind noise hitting the top of my helmet, which was my problem as a 167 cm rider.
[Prep before fitting] Coating with Plexus plastic cleaner
This time I used Plexus, a plastic cleaner that is widely used by motorcyclists.
In Japan it used to cost about 3,000 yen, but it has become much more expensive. I'm making a can I bought before the price rise last as long as I can.
Benefits of using Plexus
- Benefit 1: It fills tiny, invisible scratches in the plastic surface and leaves it smooth
- Benefit 2: It cleans well, removing dullness and grime from used parts
- Benefit 3: Its anti-static effect helps stop dust and grit sticking to the screen while riding
Cleaning steps with Plexus
The smoked screen on the workbench with a can of Plexus
Spraying Plexus onto the surface of the screen
Plexus sprayed over the whole screen
The steps are very simple. Spray a suitable amount of Plexus onto the screen and wipe it gently with a soft microfibre cloth.
Finally, buff it dry with a clean, dry side of the cloth, and the acrylic regains its clarity and the smoke tint gets a nice gloss.
Plastic care and screen options
Here are a few things for looking after delicate acrylic parts such as motorcycle windscreens and helmet visors.
1. Plexus plastic cleaner, protectant and polish
A plastic cleaner that cleans, makes fine scratches less visible and coats the surface, all in one can.
2. Branded X-ADV screens with a spoiler
If you would rather have a branded screen with an upturned lip and a warranty than an auction find, European brands such as MRA and Puig offer screens with adjustable flaps (I haven't used them myself).
Summary: unbranded, but the shape is just what I wanted! Next time, riding impressions after fitting
That was my shape comparison of the unbranded smoked screen I bought at auction for my Honda X-ADV.
I don't know the brand, but above all, the spoiler shape with its sharply upturned top edge looks like it could solve my problem. The Plexus coating is done, so I'm ready to fit it.
The X-ADV is a high-quality bike, so changing a prominent exterior part like the screen and seeing how the silhouette changes is very exciting.
In the next post, I'll fit this screen to the X-ADV and report on how the wind protection and wind noise changed on ordinary roads and motorways.
Enjoy your motorcycle life!
I've since fitted this screen. The fitting steps and a closer comparison with the stock screen are here: