Tobinators in the wind tunnel

[Vern]

At the risk of leaving myself wide open to a slanging off for some unknown reason,here goes a bit more useful info gained in the wind tunnel yesterday.

The 1150 had a set of Tobinators fitted,and to tell the truth,the bloke who owned the bike didn't realise that they were there,or what they were for until they were pointed out to him.he had said that he was getting a lot of wind noise and buffering from the wind,so we had a play with them for him.

It only took about five minutes to get them absolutley perfect for him,and he was well chuffed with the result.He called me after his 150 mile ride home,and said the bike was transformed.He said he was actually riding faster,and felt a lot more relaxed when he got home,instead of felling like he had been dragged through a hedge.Overall,a well happy bunny.

The white coats couldn't beleive that they were made by just a bike rider who wanted to cure a problem for himself,they were well impressed with the whole set up.

Basically,if you have a set of Tobinators,then it is well worth the effort to spend an afternoon messing about with them to get it perfect,and we couldn't see a normal human being a size where they wouldn't work ie height/lenth of arms/weight,so just keep trying.

The main problem in the first place is the screen is a crap shape(not my words)but it can be made a whole lot better if you play about a bit.

Apart from that,they're crap,(bitter and twisted,Moi)

 

[Cheesy Mike]

So if this isn't a stupid question (which it probably is as I specialise in them) what would it cost me to go into a wind tunnel to get my Tobinators setup? I've had them for a while and still can't get to what I would call a perfect setting.

Failing that, what advice from people on the best trial & error approach to setting them up?

Mike

 

[MikeP]

So if this isn't a stupid question (which it probably is as I specialise in them) what would it cost me to go into a wind tunnel to get my Tobinators setup? I've had them for a while and still can't get to what I would call a perfect setting.

Failing that, what advice from people on the best trial & error approach to setting them up?

Mike

I like that idea. Maybe a group discount?

As for setting-up, after disturbing mine I really noticed a difference. I now have a sort of basic setting for whenever I disturb the screen;

If I can ride at 70 mph with my visor up and the wind is deflected over the open visor it's about right. (For what that's worth given different screen etc.)

(I'd also like to see how my TT 41 litre Sonderset perform in the tunnel too).

 

[Vern]

I was trying to suss some way out of setting them up really well,and then trying to extort money out of Tobers for it,but gave up in the end.If it's any use to you,we had all the fixing just pinched up,and then moved the screen about untill it was spot on,and then tightened everything up.

It might be worth trying each extreme as well,we were going further and further back,and it was getting a bit better until one of the smartarse white coats told us we were going the wrong way,Doh!.

 

[Tsiklonaut]

Vern, good info as well!

Makes me wonder how good the MRA Varioscreen-like windscreen performs in terms of turbulence and noise - maybe good idea for next time?

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

we set my tobinators up - when out with mr tobinator himself - by riding along with the bolts just nipped up.

using your clutch hand - move the screen up / down - then hold your clutch hand in front of your helmet and move it up and down until you feel the airflow.

TOP TIP : - you want the airflow to just hit the top of your helmet above the visor - this will stabilise your helmet better than if you set the airflow to go above it completely.

 

[Tobers]

Jeez - that's another £10 I owe Vern then (or probably more for this sort of positive PR!)

Ta for the wind tunnel info though Vern - v.useful.

Easiest way to set them up is to pay me lots of money for a "personal consultation" in Guildford. Alternatively, as the chaps say, get them "nipped up" and then make lots of small adjustments. Adv screens can be particularly tricky as, being quite large, even a small adjustment changes the airflow a lot, so take it easy and take your time.

I found it easiest to find a piece of dual carriageway with a couple of close exits/roundabouts, but enough room to get up to 70-80mph in between. Wang down the road, check airflow, stop at the exit/roundabout and do an adjustment, and wang back the other way, and repeat. Try and note down your before & after positions each time (but to be honest, nobody ever bothers really do they?) and keep at it until you're sorted.

Generally, the closer to you and more leant back the better, but I've seen setups which are completely the opposite which I simply cant figure out how they work. Wierd.

It'd be best to avoid adjustments whilst riding! Legal disclaimer etc etc.

 

[Tobers]

"The white coats couldn't beleive that they were made by just a bike rider who wanted to cure a problem for himself,they were well impressed with the whole set up."

With lots of help & feedback from loads of people on here and Advrider

 

[Sugarcube]

Tobers,

Is there a rough rule of thumb for the positions of the Tobinators based on the type of GS and the height of the rider?

 

[Vern]

Tobers,

Is there a rough rule of thumb for the positions of the Tobinators based on the type of GS and the height of the rider?

Of course there is,one end bolted to the screen and the other bolted to the bike.

 

[Packer]

Bump

There must be lot of people with 1150's since this excellent thread last saw the light of day.

 

[mr_magicfingers]

I recently bought a set of second hand toby's, thought it turns out they're the earlier ones that are non-adjustable at the front. They've completely removed the buffeting but due to the large gap between the silver base and the screen you get a lot of wind through there and I get much more pressure on my chest than before.

Guess I'm going to have to either buy the new ones or go the mra vario route.

 

[Packer]

I recently bought a set of second hand toby's, thought it turns out they're the earlier ones that are non-adjustable at the front. They've completely removed the buffeting but due to the large gap between the silver base and the screen you get a lot of wind through there and I get much more pressure on my chest than before.

Guess I'm going to have to either buy the new ones or go the mra vario route.

You could always be a cheapskate like me and pop rivet a bit of roughly shaped stainless steel sheet to the bottom of an old scratched screen to see how well it works. Still using it almost six years later I did have to get a bit technical and stick some closed cell foam rubber along the lower edge.

 

[Grim Rider]

Vern, good info as well!

Makes me wonder how good the MRA Varioscreen-like windscreen performs in terms of turbulence and noise - maybe good idea for next time?

I have had an MRA Vario screen for last few years and had no great problem with it but acquired a set of Tobinators secondhand to see if they could improve it - after spending a couple of weeks adjusting them every which way I could have taken them off. Found I could ride at higher speed with my visor up so was getting more cold wind coming up under my helmet and increased wind noise. Also no good with a headlight protector fitted as got a lot of light reflected up against the screen at night which was annoying. If anyone wants to try a set, shall be selling them soon!

 

[Popeye]

Blimey Kev, I thought that was The Angel of The North for a moment then.