After picking up the WR250R in August, a new dual-sport model of Yamaha's that to the untrained eye looks like a dirtbike, I expected I might need a windscreen in the future. The approaching cold weather convinced me now would be a better time than later. I like to commute on my motorcycles and the WRR hasn't been an exception. My search for others installing windscreens on dirtbikes (or the WRR/X) was like a needle in a haystack. I found one other who had done it on this bike with a single picture as evidence. Would an MRA Varioscreen even install well on this bike, how easily would that installation be, what would it look like, would I like it, how well would it perform? These are all questions I had. I hope this post assists others who own this bike, or who are just looking for straightforward instructions on installing an MRA windscreen on a naked bike.
This is the screen (smoke gray color) I purchased from TwistedThrottle, who have been excellent in providing assistance and answers to my questions by the way:
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/932/349/One thing that's confusing about the search for the screen was realizing that TwistedThrottle refers to their screens by the NAME and STYLE. Note on this screen how the style is called "VNB." This is an important factor as you can order a screen with a similar NAME but a different STYLE.
(below) The contents of the package out of the box: two parts of the windscreen (lower and upper portions), a mounting kit (bottom left), and the windscreen assembly parts (bottom right). (The mounting kit on this bike is called "HK for 7/8" or 1" diameter bars.")
(below) First thing was to assemble the windscreen. I lined the two screens up per the instructions and looked at the contents of the windscreen parts to identify what went where.
(below) I assembled the screen in about 1 minute; it's that easy.
(below) Next, I looked at and accounted for all of the mounting kit parts. There were a lot of little screws/parts as you can see.
(below) The part of the mount that attached to the screen was a ball and socket mount. This allows it to swivel obviously, but the instructions here started to become more difficult as they would say "leave these screws only partially tightened," or "don't screw these in all the way," or "tighten these down securely," depending on which screw you were installing. Here's the left ball/socket mount attached to the windscreen. (I had to take off the second upper windscreen portion to make way for the screws.)
(below) Ten minutes later, both ball/socket mounts were secured on the lower windscreen.
(below) The handlebar clamps were next and like the ball/socket mounts, they had screws which were not to be tightened.
(below) The right side handlebar clamp was first. Yep, you need the 7/8" handlebar clamp adaptors included with the kit for the WR250R/X, which you can't see here because they are under the clamp. The securing of the handlebar clamp on the bar was harder than expected, as all the semi-secured screws made the entire unit keep sliding down, which didn't allow for optimum placement of the clamp. I had to tighten some of the screws to make it so that I could hold the windscreen in one place.
(below) IMPORTANT NOTE FOR WRR/X OWNERS: I found that when I installed the handlebar clamps as suggested by MRA, I couldn't raise the windscreen to where I wanted it. On a hunch, I inverted the clamp to be on the rider side of the bars and this made it so I could raise the windscreen higher where I wanted it. If you do what the instructions say here, you will have the same problem. To make sure you know what I'm talking about, I circled the clamp which is now in the more optimized place on the rider side of the bars. This is the way you want it.
(below) Now with the left clamp secured in the better position, and the right side clamp on the way.
(below) Finally, after 2 hours of futzing with it
, both clamps were tightened down as were the other screws in the final position.
(below) This is what the screen looks like in the fully compacted position. I'm 6" tall, and with the screen in this position and riding on the highway, the wind hits me at the top of my chest and shoulders. There is wind buffeting yes, but it is minimal thankfully.
(below) Here is the windscreen in the fully raised position. While riding on the highway, the wind hits me right in the middle of my helmet's shield, and this has been flat out awesome comfort wise for riding in colder air. The air in between the rider and the handlebars is very close to being still, and again there is wind buffeting, but it is even more minimal in the fully raised position.
(below) Here's what the screen looks like on the bike. I really do like it. Good luck on installing your screen, and I hope this makes what was a blind and sometimes frustrating experience for me, although rewarding in the end, more enjoyable for you.
