Tobinators - good idea or waste of time?

[118118]

I get my new GS in 3 weeks and once run in i am off on two trip cross europe.
I have been told that tobinators from Nippies are the thing you need.
at 5' 6" will i need this or can i adjust the screen to stop bufferting without?

 

[Ken H.]

Good idea.

Try the bike 'as-is' of course first. Many people never need to do anything. At 5'6" I suspect you will be fine.

But if you do have an issue, tilting the screen further back and downward, which is what the tobinators will allow you to do, can help get you into smoother air. Not less air, just smoother.

I love mine, but then I'm 6'2" (188 cm).

 

[marcus]

I'm 5'8'' in my booster shoes with a low seat I've never had any trouble with the screen, standard one, top most setting

 

[thauma]

Tobers - Great Guy & Fantastic Service.

Tobinators - great idea, well machined and thought out.

NN's equally good service

BMW GS / Adventure / 1150 / 1200 - Why couldn't they design this bike with a good screen and decent seat. Don't get me wrong I love the bike, but I came from a Ducati 996, and the seat (2 bricks and a short razor sharp plank) and screen were more comfortable and gave more protection.

Seriously I've had tobinators for 18+ months and still cant find that all elusive 'sweet spot'. I'm 6'4 and they remove the deafening turbulence / buffeting, but I can't get a nice protected air pocket. I can get a smooth air stream (which at 80-90 mph on the continent is still an 80-90 mph blast), but was hoping for something a little more

Try your bike, and see what it's like, I would guess that you'll probably not need the tobinators. But if you decide you need them, and they don't work for you, then you'll be able to sell them here / ebay without too much trouble.


Cheers

Dave#...

 

[Fanum]

118118.....(you've got a crap moustache btw......)....I'd have to say don't spend anything until you've got the bike and put a couple of thousand miles on it in different conditions.

I've got Tobinators on my Adv and I wouldn't be without them.....some people don't need then because of their height/riding position etc, and others don't like them or haven't found the 'sweet spot' for them.

Thauma's rigt, Tobers is a crackin bloke, Nippy Norm gives fantastic service and it's a great product, but I suspect you're already falling into the sparkly object trap before you've even got the bike

Get it, ride it, then tweak it when you know what needs tweaking for you

 

[gypsy]

Whats this "sparkly object trap" ?
will it fit an 1100 who sells them?
come on man spill the beans i need one

 

[araspitfire]

I like my Tobinators.... I use them at about the half way position, that way I can tilt the screen all the way UP and still have relatively non-turbulent air hitting my helmet. Or tilt it all the way down and be hit in the lower chest. (loose a bit of steering motion though)...this allows me to be cooler and have very clean air (at bike speed) on my helmet.

I've since bought a taller screen from NN... the same points above apply, but more protection with the screen raised... (quieter on the helmet at speed)

Al...

 

[JayGee]

I tried tobernators and they did make a bit of diffrence but not enough to warrant the way the screen touches the handguards nor the way the OE adjusters are no longer in line with the holes and were very difficult to use. I know the adjuster problem is probably cured if you file away the squared off holes in the screen but as I didn't really get much impreovement in buffeting & noise I just called it a day and went back to the standard screen. Maybe I didn't fiddle about adjusting for long enough and many people say they are great, I just figure they are not for me. I'm going for a cut down screen to get the cleaner air (plus more rain & bugs ).

 

[Trip]

I certainly dont want to contradict the endorsements above but you definitely want to try the bike without them first. I fitted a larger screen (from nippy normans) which helps with wind protection above 60 but dont have any problem with buffeting.

Try it first. If you have more buffeting than you like, try the tobinators. If you want more wind protection, get the screen.

I'm preparing for an eight-week trip shortly and doing long-distance tests. So far I've trialed and confirmed I will take: larger screen, replacement seat (sargent), risers (from nippy norman) since new seat sits you back more, service manual on CD, in-ear headphones (from hand-held audio), crampbuster (like a throttle rocker).

Incidentally I've never doubted for one moment that the R12GS is the bike to take. It's magnificent.

Trip

 

[guffter6969]

Bought some tobinators a while ago, put them on tried them for a while and found very little difference to turbulence, but they made life very awkward on certain settings as the handlebars kept bashing into the screen when pushing the bike around in the garage etc so I took them off and left them in the cupbaord never to be used again. Nicely made though they are for a garage ornament.

 

[FATBOY]

Hey, Guffter 6969, can I buy your Tobinators of you then, if you're not going to use them that is.
If they don't work for me, then I'll sell them on too. That way eventually somebody will use them, but I'd like to buy and try if you will. Pleeeease!
Phil.
E me on arramattic(AT)aol(DOT)com

 

[JayGee]

Hey, Guffter 6969, can I buy your Tobinators of you then, if you're not going to use them that is.
If they don't work for me, then I'll sell them on too. That way eventually somebody will use them, but I'd like to buy and try if you will. Pleeeease!
Phil.
E me on arramattic(AT)aol(DOT)com

If Guffter doesn't want to sell let me know, I'll sell you mine they are as new and certainly a nicely made gadget.

 

[power2learn]

Hmmm.

I do 4 x 115 miles a week going to work and back - I'm only 5'10", but short-arse legs and long back, and the buffeting is driving me crazy. Even with earplugs it is painful.

I had decided to get a pair of tobinators, but a few days ago came across a post in adventure rider that just said "no screen = no buffeting". Well, the screen is on the garage shelf. (Bike looks much less pretty without it, if you can see pretty in a GS to start with, that is). I'll let you know if it is better or worse after the 230 mile round trip tomorrow.

There ought to be a 'loan' pair of tobers going round the forum for tests

 

[JayGee]

Hmmm.

I do 4 x 115 miles a week going to work and back - I'm only 5'10", but short-arse legs and long back, and the buffeting is driving me crazy. Even with earplugs it is painful.

I had decided to get a pair of tobinators, but a few days ago came across a post in adventure rider that just said "no screen = no buffeting". Well, the screen is on the garage shelf. (Bike looks much less pretty without it, if you can see pretty in a GS to start with, that is). I'll let you know if it is better or worse after the 230 mile round trip tomorrow.

There ought to be a 'loan' pair of tobers going round the forum for tests

Yep, I'm doing this and then maybe cut the screen down like in Ex Cruise Me's post.

 

[LA_GS12]

I just installed them with my new Ztechnik adjustable screen

I'm 6'2 and with my new Ztech screen I was getting tremendous noise and buffeting compared to the previous Cee Bailey (+3 high +2 wide).

Fitting Tobinators turned out to be the hot ticket! With the Ztech mechanism in the up position I get a nice quiet spot for my head. If it's hot I drop the screen down and get cool clean air. The Tobinators tipping the screen back with more air getting in underneath has transformed the whole thing.

Oh- I noted a couple of things during the installation. The Tobinators were initially a bit wobbly and they looked like they would scratch the inside of the windscreen. This was cured by adding double-stick foam tape (cut to shape) between the Tobinators and the screen. I also wrapped a zip-tie around the bottom windscreen mounts to keep them firmly in their sockets. Now everything is solid and stable.

Of course you'll want to get the best position of the Tobinators before adding the tape!

 

[North]

My Tobinators made difference for me. 5 11 / 32 inch leg.

I only notice the handguards hitting the screen, if I am moving the bike around when it's off.

 

[power2learn]

Well,

230 miles of screen-less GS-ing later, obversvations:
a) much quieter
b) there's a reason why I haven't ridden a naked bike for a long time...
c) it is still quietest when stood up on the footpegs (reallly clean turbulence free air) but sure this can't be legal / practical for long trips

So, to go for titchy sport screen, hang on in the wind and grin and bear it in foul weather; go for large screen and hope to duck under turbulence (anyone tried the little Touratech 'wing' that goes on top?) or go for tobinators....??

P.S> weird third alternative - noticed today without screen that a lot of the noise could be cut out by holding hand close to helmet under chin (don't ask - it's a long journey and I was bored). Perhaps what I really need is the longer chin-gaurd / neck cuff thingy to seal the bottom of the lid better???

sigh.