Ermax High Screen: Improving Wind Protection for the Africa Twin

[Advpulse]

I’ve had a rough relationship with the Africa Twin’s stock windscreen starting with the first time I rode the bike in 2016. While attempting to lift the front wheel over a step up, the windscreen hit me in the face when I nearly went over the bars. My fault for forgetting to turn traction control off. I’ve also bemoaned that stock screen for being too short after taking a beating from the wind on several long highway slogs.

It’s not that the stock screen is poorly designed. It actually works pretty good for riders around 5’10” or under. However, at 6’2” I don’t get wind protection from the eye level up. And when you ride with a Dual Sport helmet, all that wind is directed right at the peak causing a lot of extra wind noise and buffeting that can get pretty annoying on a long trip. Fighting the wind force on your forehead at 65+ mph for long periods can also wear you out.

Another thing that’s not great about the stock screen is the soft plastic it’s made of. If you happen to get it dirty (ride off-road much?) and try to wipe it clean with a glove or wet towel, it scratches easily. Spraying it with a hose until the crud finally comes loose is about the only way you can remove baked-on dirt and grime safely.

With some big summer trips coming up, it was time to finally upgrade the stock screen with an aftermarket screen that provides improved wind protection. After checking out the options, we decided to try out the Ermax High Screen in clear. It’s taller than stock, but not so tall that it’s going to get in your way off-road. We also chose a clear screen over tinted, since it’s easier to see the ground in front of you when going down steep descents and you get maximum visibility on the road. The Ermax is also made of hard acrylic that is a bit more scratch resistant that stock, and it’s got a nice shape that gives the Africa Twin a sharper look.

Testing The Ermax High Screen

Putting on the Ermax High Screen didn’t take much time at all, and within minutes I was on the road. The stock windscreen comes off with four screws and the new screen goes right on with the existing hardware and two new rubber spacers. The only tricky part to the install is making sure you don’t push the lower grommet backing nuts loose because they can fall into the headlight assembly.

The high-quality acrylic of the Ermax screen looks as clear as glass compared to the stock screen on the Africa Twin.

Visibility is noticeably improved with the new Ermax Screen. Its high-quality acrylic looks as clear as glass. On the highway, there is a big difference in wind protection. The airflow gets directed over my head now and a nice bubble of clean air behind the windscreen quiets down the ride significantly at 65 mph. I can now listen to spoken word podcasts on the headset without laying down on the tank. Long-range touring is also less fatiguing now that the wind isn’t constantly pushing against my forehead.

Riding off-road, the Ermax High Screen doesn’t seem significantly taller than the stock screen and it hasn’t hit me in the face ‘yet’ (as long as I remember to turn TC off…). After getting it dirty, the screen also cleans up nicely without having to be overly careful about putting visible scratches it.

The Ermax Windscreen comes with a dashboard protector for those that park their bikes outdoors for long periods in direct sunlight.

Who’s It For?

The Ermax High Screen is for riders that are looking for an improvement in wind protection on their Africa Twin for long stints on the highway, especially those riders who are taller than 5’10”.

Our Verdict

We liked that the Ermax screen is easy to install and has an appealing shape that enhances the look of the Africa Twin, without looking “too tall” for the trail. It offers a lot of bang for the buck at just $104, and the high-quality acrylic should last a long time. But those looking for something even more scratch-resistant and durable for frequent off-road use should opt for Ermax’s polycarbonate windscreen at $166. Both screens have the same shape and are highly-effective at blocking wind on the highway.

What We Liked

• Big improvement blocking wind on the highway.
• Enhances the look of the Africa Twin.
• Easy enough for novice mechanic to install.

What Could Be Improved

• How about an adjustable-h version?

Ermax High Screen Specs

Colors: clear, smoked, light black, gray
Materials: Standard Acrylic or Polycarbonate
Height: 50cm
MSRP: $104.00

Shopping Options

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