Last Updated on: September 10, 2024

Windscreen spoilers can at best be one answer to windscreen buffeting and/or wind noise problems. One of many potential solutions.

Unconventional? AliExpress spoiler on BMW 1250GS with Puig Sports screen.

Some would or might say the best is to remove the windscreen completely. Fair point, it could be “the source of many evils”. But unless the motorcycle in question is (specifically) designed to be used without a screen, e.g. naked, removal may lead to more, or different challenges, with regards wind and wind noise.

A naked solution might work well at lower speeds, but can change dramatically at higher. Then of course comes the weather protection, or lack thereof, aspect.

Windscreen spoilers spoil?

For the most part, windscreen spoilers do more good than harm. But any results depends, on shape, size, and positioning. Not to mention adjustment flexibility. Then comes the windshield on which you mount the spoiler.

Not all combination work well of of course. You learn by trying and failing. Sometimes the most surprising of solutions turns out to work okay. Or even great!

Windscreen spoiler & Puig touring screen on a BMW 1200GS Adventure. Didn’t work well for me.

The sheer number of factors, and of variables, is (almost) astronomical. This is not exact science, by any standards. But with the spoiler you can adjust, direct and affect airflow towards your head and (upper) body. This is one of the main reasons why I keep coming back to spoilers. To have more possibilities to trim the airflow.

For, as we know, you have wind, and then you have wind.

Small things, big changes

Finding the right type of spoiler, not to mention size, isn’t easy. And you need to consider the windscreen you mount it on, and how it fits the screen size, shape, and form. The first time I added a spoiler was on a BMW 1200RT. It has had a massive electrically adjustable windscreen.

For tall people it causes or can cause buffeting, plus makes riding in hot weather almost unbearable. But that’s also down to the fact of the overall weather protection this motorcycle offers.

Clip-on spoiler on a 2010 BMW R1200RT. Small, but made a big difference!

With a little clip-on spoiler I could direct air onto my body, and away from the “buffeting zone”. Plus eliminate at least some of the noise caused by the windscreen. it worked quite well and cost me less that 20 dollars USD.

if I were to give any advice it would be to look for a cheap solution before you begin looking for an expensive one. Especially since your first attempt might be a miss. So better make it a cheap one, before it evolves into something more elaborate and expensive.

Just to put it out there, I’ve come to find that overpriced spoilers made by, or branded by, well known brands, don’t necessarily mean everything is well designed. Like clamps or mounting brackets. But I’ll come back to that.

Non-transferrable “solutions”?

I’ve tried to transfer experiences and “solutions” from one bike to the next. For the most part that doesn’t work, or work poorly. I also have tried a solution that didn’t work on one bike, on another. In hope that it would, the second time, work well. But no.

The Puig Touring screen, with spoiler, didn’t work for me on the BMW 1200GS Adventure, nor on a KTM 1290 Super Adventure S.

Puig Touring screen with spoiler on KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. Didn’t work here either.

This was a downer, especially since a high touring screen potentially can have advantages. Especially in cold weather, and in poor weather conditions. The Puig Touring Screen has an appealing design, and is of high quality. The windscreen spoiler is mounted in drilled holes, which permits low positioning. Clip-ons almost always means a higher line, and you cannot so easily get it low enough.

Reality is often different from theory. As I’ve come to find, the taller you are, the more issues you might face with windscreens. Which is where the windscreen spoilers come in. However, on two occasions the spoiler of choice have actually worked pretty well, on two very different motorcycles, with ditto different windscreens. Those are the exceptions though.

A $20 mono block mount spoiler on a KTM 1290 Super Adventure S (OEM screen).

Every so often you might stumble onto some basic principles that works for you. If you’ve got a small arsenal of cheap windscreen spoilers, then you might be at an advantage. I don’t really care about the design that much. Because time and time again I’ve been surprised.

Windscreen spoilers, mounting

Some manufacturers, among them Puig, have produced a fairly expensive spoiler with clamps. Looks appealing but it has one pretty dramatic flaw. A cheap one from Aliexpress had superior mounting brackets. But of course, the plastic is cheaper, without rounded edges.

Puig (rear photo) and Aliexpress spoilers. Note clamps differences

The clamps don’t grip nearly well enough. If you over-torque the screws you brake the threads for the screws (plastic)ø. If you wash the screen with soap, the spoiler might fly off. That happened to a friend of mine. Mine came loose after wash, while adjusting height (standstill).

But the Aliexpress spoiler one uses clamps I’ve seen on, among others. a KTM spoiler. They firmly attach themselves to the windscreen with two Umbraco screws on both clamps, that presses towards a plastic piece, underneath rubber wrapping. The downside with Aliexpress KTM clone is that you cannot adjust it while in motion.

Final words

Well this turned out to be a lot more comprehensive than initially planned. Some points of potential interest from the rant:

• A windscreen spoiler can solve turbulence and/or buffeting issues
• It can also assist in air distribution that reduces overall noise
• Being adjustable the spoiler can also give better cooling while riding in high temperatures
• It can be a lot cheaper than buying a new screen, although there are ridiculously expensive ones available
• Get some cheap ones first, but don’t expect everything to be perfect.

I hope you found it useful.  Good luck with your own testing!