This downtime lately has given me time to fiddle with my XTown---goal nice ride/nice feel/safe.---lots of 50 mile rural test rides
#1 Out of the box---tire feeling not good, not fun on TN rural roads/high crowned/no shoulder---one mistake and you could be in the woods. Should have thrown OEM tires out first day----Heidenau has fixed front end feel---Heidenau new tire in waiting for rear....Heidenau front/City Grip working ok. City Grip has 3-4,000 miles left.
#2 Top Boxes----my Givi E-46 is flat out too heavy/wide/high for XTown….like attaching rock to rear of arrow.
Box can be felt at just about all speeds---there maybe some air flow conditions, too. Solution: my smaller/narrower $40 Bestem box works much better----8 and a half pound dog is load/passenger. This box ride is steady for most part.
#3 Of the two windshields/add ons---both do not seem to bother handling but I am interest in owner comfort. A. stock shield too small--limited rider protection B. stock with Laminar Lip=better rider protection, still too narrow for comfort or use in cold weather. C. Puig Touring shield--had to cut 4 inches for safe see over=ok but not the buffet free ride I desire D. added Laminar Lip, about $70, bolted on, adjusted look over height a little=quieter more comfortable ride and about as good as it is going to get without spending more money.
Now as old/experienced 2 wheel rider and over 1.5 million miles-----when I compare Windshield performance, my baselines for comparison are: BMW twin with Heinrich uppers and lowers, or older Harley big twin with Winter windshield and tin knee shields, scooters Vespa with right height wide shield can be very buffet free! So I can be fussy.
The other windshield available for the Xtown is Givi---appears to move closer to rider----might work well cut to right height----next time free money comes my way, might try!
