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[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

I'm on a quest this year to tour on a Zero, and stumbled on a Craigslist entry for a used Parabellum windscreen designed for a BMW R1200R. The mounting required adaptation that still needs improvement but I'm pleased with the first cut, so I'm showing it for reference.

The mounting position is two inches lower than its designed for.

Ergonomically, it's great. I can see over the shield but have a big quiet space at highway speeds.

[Day Trippin]

Looks nice on it. Will be interesting to see if any reduction in energy consumption on the highway. Definitely nice to have in the rain too.

[Erasmo]

I like it, that screen goes on my watch list.

[Richard230]

That looks like the windscreen that I used to have on my 2007 R1200R that my daughter sold to Brian.     I am happy to see that you were able to make it fit on your Zero.  I hope it isn't too large for your bike, though.  Let us know if it actually improves your performance and range.  I always felt that it was a bit too large for my BMW.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

I just went to Half Moon Bay and back to Oakland via SF on Highway 1. If I lean forward, I can feel laminar flow effects on my back!

That looks like the windscreen that I used to have on my 2007 R1200R that my daughter sold to Brian.     I am happy to see that you were able to make it fit on your Zero.  I hope it isn't too large for your bike, though.

Yes, that would be exactly the same. I wasn't sure who on the forum she was talking about.

So, Parabellum also makes a naked bike windscreen for the BMW 650 X-Country. I tend to think that'd fit the Zero better, for those interested enough.

Let us know if it actually improves your performance and range.  I always felt that it was a bit too large for my BMW.

On the DSR 13.0, I think I would have had an effective 110-120 miles of highway range (varied 55-70mph) from a full charge today (ran it down to 19% over 95 miles and still had an estimated 22 miles of range), but I wasn't focusing on efficiency per se, mainly checking dynamic stability at speed. The top does wobble a bit but I think my next mounting revision (using MRA stalks) could address it.

Everyone keeps asking for mileage improvement measurements from windscreens, and I'm unable to get reliable numbers around here; it's just too damn windy most of the time and I don't have enough free time to go back and forth on a straight clear road while taking a windscreen off and on.

[Killroy]

Do 2 test with it on and off to measure energy efficiency.

Do a constant speed out and back on the highway trying to keep, wind, temperature, SOC the same for both tests.

Then compare Whr/mile

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

Do 2 test with it on and off to measure energy efficiency.

Do a constant speed out and back on the highway trying to keep, wind, temperature, SOC the same for both tests.

Then compare Whr/mile

I agree entirely with this procedure; I have not found this convenient at all to do where I am.

[Killroy]

Do 2 test with it on and off to measure energy efficiency.

Do a constant speed out and back on the highway trying to keep, wind, temperature, SOC the same for both tests.

Then compare Whr/mile

I agree entirely with this procedure; I have not found this convenient at all to do where I am.

Yeah, I just read your last post.

I want to do this, but I have not found a windscreen that I like.

I don't want to mess around making and buying brackets.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

I just went to Half Moon Bay and back to Oakland via SF on Highway 1. If I lean forward, I can feel laminar flow effects on my back!

After reviewing California Scientific's page on fairings and windscreens, I'll clarify that I did feel back-pressure but did not feel turbulence. I think my best next effort will be to raise the mount by two inches using a bracket, which should allow more air in under the windscreen, and hopefully reduce the back pressure and make the ideal still-air bubble for riding.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

Do 2 test with it on and off to measure energy efficiency.

Do a constant speed out and back on the highway trying to keep, wind, temperature, SOC the same for both tests.

Then compare Whr/mile

I agree entirely with this procedure; I have not found this convenient at all to do where I am.

I tried taking measurements today with the windshield; any highway straight enough here offers traffic distractions from maintaining a stable 70mph (hitting the speed limiter in Eco mode) while checking the Wh/mile readout. I hesitate to make any claims with the measurements jumping around like they did - I only feel confident saying it averaged under 110 Wh/mile, which for the nominal capacity of 11.4kWh on the 16 DSR means over 100 miles of range. That's encouraging!

I need to practice taking an average using the trip meter and the "avg Wh/mile" reading while canceling out the run-up and run-down.

If I can boost that a bit more (certainly I should get a tiny bump by mounting the windscreen higher), or arrange for trip legs at 55mph, it'll be enough range to go for 100 miles per leg with a hopefully one hour downtime using a supercharger, and that'll mean a 350-400 mile per day range without much hassle. This schedule consists of: 8 hours riding in (at least) four stretches, plus 3 hours of charging between the stretches.

The downtime/uptime ratio is relatively fixed; I just need to know what my longest leg can be if I need it.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

A much longer run, nearly an entire charge spent on the highway at 70mph in Eco mode, resulted in an average 120 Wh/mile measurement by the bike. So 110 was optimistic, but I'm hoping for better tests once I've improved the mount.

[MostlyBonkers]

I think it looks great Brian. [emoji4] [emoji106]. I've even dropped a line to Parrabellum asking if they plan to make a screen for Zeros. It's just what we need! In the absence of Zero producing an aerodynamic fairing based on Craig's designs of course.

[Killroy]

Wow, that's good for knobby and your trunk.

Did it come with the cutouts or did you do them?

It looks like they perfectly clear the pointy part of the stock tank plastics. 

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

I think it looks great Brian. [emoji4] [emoji106]. I've even dropped a line to Parrabellum asking if they plan to make a screen for Zeros. It's just what we need! In the absence of Zero producing an aerodynamic fairing based on Craig's designs of course.

Thanks!

I emailed Parabellum about this when I started; they said their local Zero dealer failed to work with them before dropping support, so they don't have a handy way to do a fitting. Someone would have to visit their place near Atlanta, Georgia to work on that.

Wow, that's good for knobby and your trunk.

Did it come with the cutouts or did you do them?

Parabellum's BMW R1200R screen has cutouts for the turn signals, but the Zero's span there is a little shorter. The 650 X-Country version might work better; I should offer the Zero dimensions for comparison.

It looks like they perfectly clear the pointy part of the stock tank plastics. 

Now that I'm trying to mount them 3 inches higher as intended, the clearance there is a little small, but yes it seems to work.

[MostlyBonkers]

I got this reply from Parrabellum by the way:

Hi Tom;
We are very interested in the exponential progress of electric bikes! 
Parabellum killed the electric bikes in  Craig Vetter's 2011contest  [they wouldn't go the distance back then]
But subsequently Electric Terry added enough extra batteries and chargers to win;
Gas prices have to go back up eventually...
What kind of range do you  get per charge?
How significantly improved are the new 2016's?
Is your bike up grade-able?
We need someone to lend us a bike for fairing development.
Thanks for your interest
Charly

********

I haven't replied to Charly yet, but I thought you'd find this interesting. It sounds like they're keen to develop something!

Naughty Terry for adding all those extra batteries! ;-)