Newbie questions

Lstayner

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Messages
72
Location
Central IA
Hello,

1st time posting. 1st Adventure bike. 12 years and 250K miles of riding experience on Cruisers and sport touring bikes.

Picked up a new 2020 ST yesterday. I had a 300 mile ride to get home and used to the bike. A couple of things bugged me so I started studying what might be the problem. I adjusted the mirrors before leaving. I am kind of a stocky guy. The right mirror was easy to see everything behind me but the left mirror (Important one) was about 60% blocked by my arm. In looking at the handlebars, I noticed that they weren't centered on the clamps. Is this normal or do they need to be moved to center?

The next observation was at 75MPH the windshield buffeting pretty much scrambles the brain bucket. I am already investigating a different shield to solve the issue. I see Yamaha makes side wind deflectors that are supposed to help with that issue. If I but a Parabellum shield, do I really need them?

Got home and ordered the T Rex engine guard and skid plate combo on a recommendation from a fellow ST rider. I already have a Givi top box from the bike I traded so ordered a new mount for it along with Givi side mounts. I got lucky and there was a guy selling a set of Givi outback 48L hard cases on Facebook Marketplace within an hours drive. Bought them for a little over 1/2 price last night. I also had an SW-Motech tank bag that came off the sport touring bike I traded so I ordered a new tank ring to fit the ST.

The wife is very understanding. She rides here own bike and has the same farkle affliction.

Never get to busy making a living that you forget to make a life.
 

Checkswrecks

Ungenear to broked stuff
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Sounds like the bars were simply not centered when the bike came out of the crate and was assembled in set-up. Easy to loosen the bolts and fix.
You may also search around here for the various mirror extensions and other option people have found.

You can easily take off the side deflectors to try but I think you will find they make a surprising difference. A lot of us had t do trial and error to get the right windshield. You might start by just taking it off then using taller pieces of cardboard to see what works for you.

And welcome to the group!
 

HeliMark

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2013
Messages
995
Location
Tennessee
Welcome to the adventure bike world. I had the Parabellum windshield, which worked great for me (5'9"), and like what was said by Checkswrecks, the side deflectors do make a surprising difference in the amount of wind on you.
 

Davesax36

Active Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2016
Messages
588
Location
Spring Hill, TN (Nashville ish)
Side deflectors and mirror extenders will solve it. Oh, and centering the bars. I've run the same $10 ebay mirror extenders on multiple yamahas. Get the ones with one right and one left threaded bolt so you don't lose your mind during install.
 

Cycledude

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Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
3,998
Location
Rib lake wi
My first Tenere came with those wind deflectors, curiosity made me take them off to see how much difference they actually made and for me it was pretty significant so I reinstalled them, they are now mounted on my new 2018 Tenere.
i also have the mirror extenders, bought For a reasonable price from eBay and they do help a little . I did like the mirrors on the first generation Tenere a little better, the mirror shape was a little different and that seemed to make them work better.
 
Last edited:

Sierra1

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Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
14,812
Location
Joshua TX
. . . . The next observation was at 75MPH the windshield buffeting pretty much scrambles the brain bucket. . . .
Welcome from Texas. When you were getting buffeted, where you behind another vehicle? That's the only time it really bothers me. You get the dirty air, turbulence, from the vehicle in front. As far as the mirrors go, readjusting the bars should fix it. I too am not a small person, and I love these mirrors. I've adjusted mine to where I barely see my shoulder(s), which gives me a great field of view. They give a better view than my FJ, and I thought those were good. Not to mention, zero vibes. I can read license plates in these mirrors.
 

Lstayner

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Messages
72
Location
Central IA
IMHO. A Madstad windshield mount will help any shield you get. Super adjustable. I've never seen a negative review.
I have had a Mastad on a Victory and loved it. Their website doesn't show mounts for an ST. Am I looking in the wrong place or have they stopped making them?
 

Lstayner

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Messages
72
Location
Central IA
Welcome from Texas. When you were getting buffeted, where you behind another vehicle? That's the only time it really bothers me. You get the dirty air, turbulence, from the vehicle in front. As far as the mirrors go, readjusting the bars should fix it. I too am not a small person, and I love these mirrors. I've adjusted mine to where I barely see my shoulder(s), which gives me a great field of view. They give a better view than my FJ, and I thought those were good. Not to mention, zero vibes. I can read license plates in these mirrors.
Driving at 75 MPH I put both hands on the front side just to the outside of the eyes. I am getting blasted at that point. Yah, I ride without hands quite a bit. :)
 

yoyo

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Joined
Jan 30, 2016
Messages
915
Location
Swansea UK
I also went with a spoiler to go on top of the screen, there are adjustable ones out there for far less than the cost of a new screen. I also run winglets as they make a difference and mirror extenders. The later help in two ways, they give you a better view but I'm sure they help reduce buffeting (they made a massive difference on my Strom 1000).

Enjoy your new bike!

Sent from my ELE-L29 using Tapatalk
 

JJTJ2

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Joined
Aug 14, 2018
Messages
349
Location
Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Welcome from Central Missouri. I put an adjustable lip on similar to the one you showed in a post above. I also added the winglets. Both made a huge difference in the air flow around the bike. I have read that mirror extender will also help with buffeting but I haven't tried that yet. Congrats on the new bike!
 

yoyo

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Joined
Jan 30, 2016
Messages
915
Location
Swansea UK
On a V-strom the stock mirrors are square and huge, the theory is that when in the factory position they funnel the air behind the screen which rolls up and causes turbulence, moving the mirrors out reduces this.

Sent from my ELE-L29 using Tapatalk
 

Sierra1

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Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
14,812
Location
Joshua TX
Driving at 75 MPH I put both hands on the front side just to the outside of the eyes. I am getting blasted at that point. Yah, I ride without hands quite a bit. :)
Just to confirm. . . . you are wearing a helmet? If it's not a full face, that could be an issue also.
 

Revz

Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2020
Messages
80
Location
Central Minnesota
Hello,

1st time posting. 1st Adventure bike. 12 years and 250K miles of riding experience on Cruisers and sport touring bikes.

Picked up a new 2020 ST yesterday. I had a 300 mile ride to get home and used to the bike. A couple of things bugged me so I started studying what might be the problem. I adjusted the mirrors before leaving. I am kind of a stocky guy. The right mirror was easy to see everything behind me but the left mirror (Important one) was about 60% blocked by my arm. In looking at the handlebars, I noticed that they weren't centered on the clamps. Is this normal or do they need to be moved to center?

The next observation was at 75MPH the windshield buffeting pretty much scrambles the brain bucket. I am already investigating a different shield to solve the issue. I see Yamaha makes side wind deflectors that are supposed to help with that issue. If I but a Parabellum shield, do I really need them?

Got home and ordered the T Rex engine guard and skid plate combo on a recommendation from a fellow ST rider. I already have a Givi top box from the bike I traded so ordered a new mount for it along with Givi side mounts. I got lucky and there was a guy selling a set of Givi outback 48L hard cases on Facebook Marketplace within an hours drive. Bought them for a little over 1/2 price last night. I also had an SW-Motech tank bag that came off the sport touring bike I traded so I ordered a new tank ring to fit the ST.

The wife is very understanding. She rides here own bike and has the same farkle affliction.

Never get to busy making a living that you forget to make a life.
I just put a set of T Rex engine guards on and they are great! You bought a fine motorcycle....enjoy!
 
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