I'm thinking about getting an RS...could use your advice

Howdy from Seattle. Hoping this group can provide some advice for me...I'm just starting to shop for a new bike and a 1200RS/1250RS is at the top of my list. I've been riding a 1998 Honda VFR800 for the past fifteen years and its time to upgrade.

There are plenty of reasons why i'm wanting to finally upgrade, such as getting something that has ABS and traction control and all the latest safety features. One of the main reasons though is to get something with better wind protection on long trips. I've tried slightly higher than stock windscreens on my VFR and it just makes the wind noise really loud around my helmet, so i've gone back to a stock windscreen, but any rides over 300 miles in one day are exhausting and I can't really do rides that have more than a few hours of riding at freeway speeds (70-80mph)...so whatever I get it needs to have much much better wind protection than what I've got right now.

Does the RS with a larger aftermarket windscreen give you enough wind/weather protection to tour all day at high speeds without feeling exhausted?
I'd like to find a bike that would be fun for day-long rides as well as week-long tours but not necessarily be as large and heavy as a 1250RT or a Yamaha FJR. thanks!

I agree with Wessie. There are so many variable on wind screen selection only you can make a choice.

FWIW my 2 cents. I found the stock 2016 windscreen the right height but not wide enough, and it dropped rain right on my chest. I like to look over the windscreen most of the time (in low position) and only put in high very infrequently ( very hard rain/hale). The stock screen allowed rain to funnel up the center of the headlight fairing and drop in on my chest.

I also wanted less noise (very subjective) so I chose a screen with minimal curves (less turbulence??). This is straight as a ruler in the vertical inclination and smoothly rounded in the horizontal axis. I chose on that is about 3 inches wider than stock to move the rain off my shoulders .

I chose the Calsi medium height.

This has worked for me over 30k miles. Not saying it is the best but good enough for me. There are so many screens to choose from.

I would recommend riding with the stock screen for a while, including in the rain if you are a long distance rider to know how the stock work well and not so well. That will give you some insights to what you want different in an after market screen

Welcome to the site Bud.
Wessie's 1st sentence pretty much says it all.

The RS is the best motorcycle I have owned in over 50 years. It has a clear set of features. Each of them involves a compromise or choice. Some, like suspension, are there for the asking.
Wind protection is only to a certain level. The standard design suits me. If more is wanted, I have my Volvo.
If you want a bike with more wind comfort, the RT is an excellent choice.
It is not mine, but there is no denying what it does.

Speaking of Honda VFRs: My son-in-law is still riding my old 1986 VFR700FII. It now has 115,000 miles on the clock and still runs like a top. It still has the original chassis parts and the engine rarely needs its screw-and-lock-nut valves adjusted. The only issues have been constant electrical stuff, like replacing the voltage regulator every couple of years. Here are two photos of the bike taken four years ago.

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Zitat von bud im Beitrag #1

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...Does the RS with a larger aftermarket windscreen give you enough wind/weather protection to tour all day at high speeds without feeling exhausted? I'd like to find a bike that would be fun for day-long rides as well as week-long tours but not necessarily be as large and heavy as a 1250RT or a Yamaha FJR. thanks!

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Welcome to the site. I've had my RS for about 8 months after many years of VFRs and Interceptors. I had an '85 500, '93 & '94 750, & '07 & '14 800. They were all good bikes and I thoroughly enjoyed them. For me the RS is better all around. I find the wind protection much better, even with the stock screen. The riding position is much easier on my aging body. I was reaching the point on the last Interceptor that an hour was enough to pain my wrists and neck. So what do you give up? I have to admit I loved the sound of the V4, especially when it came up on cam or the VTEC kicked in. I thought the Interceptors handled a little quicker. Not necessarily better, just a little quicker. A shorter wheel base is likely the reason. So what do you gain? As I said, wind protection is better. The stock bags are way better than those on my '07. Same for the '14. Those were also pitifully small. I do not miss oiling a chain one bit. Cruise control, yes, you'll use it. Heated grips, how did I ever do without those? I just find the bike much more comfortable. My '14 had a quick shift for up only but I used it. The RS works both ways and I use that as well. By the way, I'm about 5'-10" with a 30" inseam.

thanks all for your input, I really appreciate it. I totally agree that something like wind protection is a largely subjective topic but it does generally sound like the RS will be a better tourer than what I've got right now without going all the way over to a big (RT,FJR) touring bike. I do wear earplugs...I couldn't imagine riding all day without them :) I put heated grips on my VFR a few years ago, I'd have a hard time going back to a bike that didn't have it. Thanks again! I'll get out on a test ride soon.

Looking at the aero sport website, they only list screens for the 1200rs, not the 1250rs

Are these interchangeable?

A VFR750FJ was my first bike after I passed my test and now I have a 2015 RS in Granite Grey, apparently there are other colours. The 1200 is a better bike in so many ways mainly I think because Honda has never really developed the VFR apart from the VTEC update. I'm 5' 10" and use the screen in the higher position and have no issues with noise or turbulence and unlike with the VFR I now use earplugs. I bet if you search the forum you'll find more posts about screens than anything else so a test ride is vital, not that I did I just liked the colour.

I should add that my RS (and just about all of my other motorcycles) handled better than the 1986 VFR with its 16" front wheel and 18" rear wheel. That combination was not one of Honda's better choices. The front would tuck in when turning. You didn't want to be too aggressive when cornering. What is really amazing is that neither I nor my son-in-law ever crashed the bike, although it has fallen over a few times when the side stand folded up while the bike was idling and parked on a downhill slope. On thing about BMW boxers they don't tend to "tuck-in" when cornering. The just kind of plow ahead and run over whatever gets in their way.

Welcome! As most others have said, it all depends on you really. I am 5'7" with a 30" inseam and the wind noise doesn't bother me at all. I have been in rain but it did not seem to bother my vision any worse but definitely better than other bikes I have owned.

Coming from a naked bike I've found the RS both good and bad in respect to wind buffering.
Great in that I feel no wind resistance to the body or head. Bad for my speed. Bad that I have wind turbulence so the screen redirects all the wind to the top of my helmet. If I duck down a little it does disappear.
My Schuberth C3 Pro seems better than my Shoei Neotec, either way, both are noisy to the point I've invested in some ear protection for the first time. Not tried them yet as they only arrived today.
I have also ordered a Puig Touring screen hoping that taller and wider might improve things though that is not always the case.