First report on the Tobinator

[retroman]

Works a treat

At first I had the screen too far forward which left a big gap between the base of the screen and the instrument shield ... I found that the airflow was directed to just under my chin

With the screen raked back this is solved, head buffeting now gone, I'm now more conscious of the airflow on my upper arms and shoulders but that was there before anyway

Full marks Tobers, it does exactly what it says on the padded envelope



PS 6X your oil cooler cover is by Touratech and is a quality fitting. All the best GSes have them

 

[Wreford Miles]

OK done a good few miles now...

1st found a great position for high speed motorway work then decided to have a play a screwed it up small changes make big diffrences!

Tried it in the highest position and did not like it allthough my pillion found that the best so far... but hey it's my bike so I come first.

last night droped the screen to the lowest setting on the back both on the scren and tob slots and it's as far back as it will go (limited by the front tobs touching the original mount)

Result: rode 100 fast miles 70 of those with TimD on his Randy rep I use to run my GS without any screen cause I liked the smooth air flow but the upper body wind was a pain over 85. Now I've found the perfect set up good clean air (much quiter helmet) less wind on the bod.

You do notice the wind blast over 85-90 (but only when your cruising) and I supose I wont keep this set up through the winter cause it'll get to cold and wet!

But for now I have the perfect set up for my summer blasting which will include trips.

This is comparing it to:

Standard screen all positions
No screen
MRA all positions
4in taller screen

The other benefit is the screen being lower makes the bike seem smaller and more chuckable... t'was really a great ride last night

 

[wessie]

1. Delivery. Spot on. Sent via Royal Mail recorded delivery. Arrived

exactly as promised.

2. Fitment. Simple. One allen key and a 10mm spanner from the bike

toolkit. Instructions provided were comprehensive but not really

necessary. Only criticism is that access to the nuts on the studs is

not ideal using the 10mm spanner in the BMW toolkit. My 10mm socket

would not fit over it either. You really need one of those nice slim

jobbies to slip over the nuts.

3. Setting up. With the screen set in a random position I set off on a

50 mile circuit. Allen key/spanner in pocket, I stopped every few miles

to adjust something. (Take a pen & paper to note the positions as I

forgot one good setting and had to find it again by trial and error).

You soon learn which general position offers the best compromise and

then just tweak one adjustment at a time to see if you can make an

improvement.

4. Final position. Screen fully upright i.e. bolt in the lowest of the

3 positions. Tobinator fully down i.e. bolt in top of slot. The screen

remained in this position for my entire 2700 mile return trip to Italy.

5. Effect. Reduced airflow to the helmet region (evidenced by the

incredibly clean visor and bug splattered screen). Increased airflow to

shoulders (evidenced by the insects splattered all over my shoulders

and the constant tugging of my jacket under my armpits and neck at

speed). Wind noise is just as evident as before as the air moves over

your shoulders/neck region causing turbulece at the base of the helmet.

6. Good points. Reduced head buffeting enabling clearer vision at

higher speeds. 100mph cruising (in Bavaria of course) now possible

without having your eyes water. Visor remains relatively bug free.

7. Downside. Noise levels remain as high. Airflow at high speed to

shoulder/arms can cause discomfort if you have a loose fitting jacket

(or undo the zip a bit as I did in the heat of Italy). I need to try it

out with my snug fitting leather jacket. Also, with the screen raised

somewhat, a shortarse like me does not see completely over it - not a

problem on the move, just reduces what you can see properly when

looking at close objects.

In summary, the Tobinator did what it said it would i.e. reduce the

annoying head buffeting. This enabled me to cruise at a higher average

speed on my recent 2700 mile trip to Italy and back. Especially on the

last day which was a 725 mile motorway thrash from near Geneva to

Abergavenny in 15 hours (including a 2 hour delay in Calais due to Sea

France cancelling the 16.45 ferry).

 

[Tobers]

Tobinators

Hi folks - back from my hols now.

Thanks for the great feedback. I'm working on a Mk4 design which will enable further rearward angling of the Tobinator legs (or arms??) - as noted by a few people, they currently hit the angled screen mounting on the instrument binnacle preventing further rearward angling.

Also, I've had a much closer look at the Adventure mountings. I think I'll need quite a redesign for the Adventure as the mountings are not parallel so the Tobinator wont adjust properly. I think I'll need to make a mounting to put on the mounting to make things parallel, and then another mounting to fit to the screen itself. The Tobinator legs will need to be dog-leg angled to compensate for the thickness of these new bits. Hmm....

Those who've put orders over the last week whilst I've been on hols, I'll get your orders packed up and sent off ASAP.

See you at the Hog Roast if you're going.

Cheers

Tobers

 

[Invicta Moto]

Any change in ride comfort for the rear seat rider?