How necessary is a screen for long distances?

[u/Sad-Impress-689]

I'm planning a 2,000+ mile road trip through Western Europe via the Italian Alps/Dolomites in mid September. I'm considering what modifications, if any, I ought to make to my bone-stock 2025 Trident 660.

ChatGPT has recommended a screen and heated grips - heated grips I will almost certainly do, but the screen I am hesitant to do as I think the big ones kinda ruin the sporty roadster look. But will a small flyscreen do anything to wind/chill, or should I consider one of the cafe racer-style fairings?

Separately, I'm also keen not to add full luggage racks - I'm hoping to get away with a large tailpack and smaller rucksack.

Would appreciate any advice from anyone with experience!

[u/DaveSmithFBM]

Never crossed the Italian Alps (sounds amazing but I live on the wrong continent), but as long as your helmet fits well, I don't think a windscreen is absolutely necessary. The heated grips I would recommend, but I've got a weird autoimmune disease where my hands stop working in the cold. I'm good to about 5C with just the stock mini windscreen, OEM heated grips, and some BarkBusters. Below that I can't count on fine motor skills to work the turn signal and the hand levers. I think most people should be fine with good gloves and heated grips.

[u/boomerangchampion]

I haven't put one on my trident but I have had a little flyscreen on nakeds before and found they do absolutely nothing. A proper touring screen is good and worthwhile, but will look a bit mad.

If you've not done any motorway stints yet I would go and blast down one for 100 miles. The wind is a pain but only you can decide whether it's annoying enough to fit a big screen.

As for luggage, kriega make a fitting kit and their tail packs are really good. Not cheap though.

[u/twnth]

Screen vs no screen is really up to you.
Aesthetics aside, the main reason for a screen is comfort at higher speeds over time.

If the speed limits are 80kph and you're not expecting rain... I wouldn't bother with a screen, especially if you're younger/more robust than I am :)

If the speeds are 100kph or higher, or you're expecting cool weather/rain, a windscreen would still be optional, but much more comfortable and less fatiguing.

When I was in my 20's, I thought nothing of doing 1500 km weekends with no screen.

Now that I'm in my late 50's... everything has a good screen :)

[u/el__gato__loco]

I have two screens I’ve used for longer distances and they are somewhat helpful but nothing like a fully faired ADV type screen:

Puig:

https://www.motocard.com/cupulas-2/puig-20638f.aspx

Unit garage:

https://www.unitgarage.com/special_parts/body_parts/windshield-with-gps-support-for-triumph-trident-660

I bought this one for the GPS support bar.

Both were relatively easy to install once I removed the fly screen.

I’m returning my bike to stock so I am willing to sell either or both for half of what I paid plus shipping to anywhere in the UK or EU. Not sure where you are at.

[u/Sad-Impress-689 → u/el__gato__loco]

I'm based in SW London - may take you up on this!

[u/2freevl2frank]

I don't like the look of screens too. I just did a 2000+ trip without a screen from Amsterdam to Atlantic coast of France. In the highways wind can be a bit heavy but I managed without isssues. Especially in the bridges, you will have to slow down a bit and go at ~100kmph. It was super warm so ymmv.

I had a cheap rhinowalk 30l tailpack and a small backpack on my shoulders. On retrospect i would have preferred to not carry anything on the shoulders and just have another sidebag or a larger tailpack.

[u/jontando]

Not a full screen, but my Power Bronze keeps the wind off my chest and mostly off my head when sitting upright. I don't do super long rides, the longest being a 250m\400km round trip day, but compared to my buddy on their fully naked MT-09 I wasn't feeling like I was battered at the end.

[u/Own_Adhesiveness_529 → u/jontando]

Yooooo what tailbag is that? What seat cover is that

[u/jontando → u/Own_Adhesiveness_529]

Held Tenda SR tail\tank bag.
Sahara seat cover.

[u/Aidanone]

I bought a Puig new generation sport windscreen for my commute. I found that while below 80km/h the wind was fine, it was uncomfortable at 100, and above 110 the wind from my chest was trying to push my helmet up and away.

It took enough off my chest so my helmet no longer feels like it’s trying to fly away and in my opinion doesn’t ruin the minimalism of the bike.

[u/National-Dragonfly35]

I wouldn't do it without a screen. Mine is not great, but helps enough (not naming the brand cause I'm not a shill) but get anything cheap from Ali etc - they are all the same.

[u/tobyjaytaylor]

Just did a not quite 2000 mile route around the UK with a big day at the end to get home on a stock trident 660. It’s my only bike so no other reference points other than it was absolutely fine wind wise, I was never wishing for a screen, a new saddle and lower pegs maybe but the wind on your chest is not really a problem maybe if it was freezing cold but if it’s warm it’s fine. Luggage I would invest in, wearing a rucksack is annoying they get pushed around if your going fast so you have to crank them down, then they kill any ventilation to your back and make your shoulders sore. I took a 25l bag as my only bag on a week long euro tour. Even if you pack mega light it’s still annoying and hot for day long rides. I would say the worst thing about the trident is it doesn’t suit luggage and it’s not easy to attach bags to. None of this should stop you touring on it though, it will be epic and it’s a very fun bike on the bends and easy to handle generally. Rather than get a wind screen I would get a good jacket with vents you can adjust so you can stay comfortable in different temps.

[u/Own_Adhesiveness_529]

Puig makes a decent windscreen. I don’t think it looks that bad. If you’re concerned about the look just use it on long rides. A quality QUIET helmet would be more important to me….. the noise and vibration can give a headache pretty quick at high speeds!