No more wind on the chest, no helmet buffeting. The Isotta tall windscreen and GPS mount turned my Himalayan 450 into the touring bike I wanted.
After my first 200 km on the Himalayan 450, the one thing I really wanted to change was the wind protection. This is that change: installed, compared and tested on the road.
Why I needed a taller screen
You heard me complaining about it for quite some time: the stock screen sends the wind straight into your chest. So I bought the Isotta tall windscreen and the Isotta GPS mount from the Italian maker. I paid for them with my own money; this is not a sponsored post. I now have three windscreens for this bike, so I could also compare them side by side.
What’s in the box
Both the windscreen and the GPS mount come with a QR code inside the box. Scan it and you download the mounting instructions. The basic installation is simple, only four screws, but the Isotta screen adds two extra brackets on the sides for its wider wings.
First the GPS mount
Install the GPS bracket first, because the windscreen goes on top of it. You get two side brackets with screws, spacers, a square metal part, plastic pieces, a tube and nuts. Each side is a small sub-assembly; then the tube goes between them and you tighten both sides with a 5 mm Allen key. The mount is only fully tightened once the windscreen is on.
Then the windscreen
Honestly, the windscreen instructions are confusing. So I laid all the parts out on paper and labelled them B to H, the same letters as the manual: the M6 screws, the aluminium spacers (“funghetti” in Italian), the rubber grommets, the plastic spacers and the tubular mountings. With the exploded view next to it, it was much simpler than I expected: grommets in all six holes, aluminium spacers through them from the outside, then the plastic spacers and screws. The side mounts clip through the luggage loops. When it was on, I just had to say: look at this beauty. And at full lock it doesn’t touch the hand guards.
Original vs touring vs Isotta
Next to the original screen and the Royal Enfield touring screen, the Isotta is much larger and has wind deflectors that cover your body. Sitting on the bike, I see over it by about one head, and it is crystal clear, so the height doesn’t bother me at all. I think it suits riders from around 1.70 to 1.80 m and taller. The GPS mount has some vertical adjustment, so it takes a phone or a bigger tablet, and it feels really sturdy.
The ride test
At low speed I could already feel the air flowing along my arms instead of into my chest. On the open road, at 100 to 120 km/h, the difference was huge. There is still a little wind on top of the shoulders, but the airflow starts around the helmet peak and there is no buffeting and no helmet drag. Standing up it works fine too. For me it is the best investment I have made on this bike, and it is staying on.
I found the perfect tourer, because I could ride at 120 kilometres per hour all day long without fatigue.
What’s next on the Himi
Next I want to fit my navigation tablet, the original two-piece seat for my comfort and my wife’s, a rear luggage plate and maybe new tyres. Then the camping season can start. You can follow every change on the bike’s page in our garage.
Before you go
New to adventure riding? Start with the free off-road gear guide, and check our rider discount codes. And if you liked this one, subscribe on YouTube for the next mods and the first camping trip on the Himalayan.
