Life with my Suzuki V-Strom 800DE has been pretty great, but as with any new bike, as the miles rack up, the imperfections emerge. Hours in the saddle have highlighted some clear areas that could use improvement on the V-Strom, and as a dirt person coming to the license-plate world, it’s the highway speeds that I find the least comfortable. A big step in correcting this area is by improving wind protection, since the 800DE has a stock windscreen about the size of a toenail. As an avid dirt rider, I’m not looking to upsize to a touring windscreen, either. Fortunately, aftermarket companies such as Puig and GIVI have a pretty easy and inexpensive solution in the form of clip-on windscreen extensions. 

For this evaluation I compared Spanish brand Puig’s (pronounced “poog”) Multi-Adjustable Visor 2.0 Clip-On ($76)  with Givi of Italy’s Shield+ S180T Universal Deflector ($160). And although put to the test on my V-Strom 800DE, both of these units are universal, meaning they can accessorize just about any windscreen. 

Nuts & Bolts

The GIVI Shield+ S180T Universal Deflector is 9.5 inches (240mm) wide and 4.8 inches (122mm) tall—a little bigger than an eye-port of a helmet—providing a decent additional wing of wind protection. The screen is 4mm thick and made of a lightweight polymeric material that is available in clear or smoked. We opted for the clear version.

There is a single centrally located mounting cleat, which is made of CNC-machined billet aluminum, anodized for a clean finish. It mounts to the windscreen by way of four Allen screws (Allen key included) and is fitted with a quick-release lever for toolless adjustment. Height can be adjusted along with the angle of the visor. There are no preset notches or angles; the GIVI freely adjusts to whatever height and angle you prefer. All in, the GIVI Shield+ is a solidly built, lightweight and very clean-looking accessory. Clarity of the screen is exceptional; it actually made the stock windshield look dingey by comparison. 

The Puig Visor 2.0 is a larger unit than the GIVI, measuring at 11.8 inches (300mm) wide and 5.1 inches (130mm) tall for a wider span of protection. It mounts by way of two clip-on brackets. The height of the Visor 2.0 is adjustable by sliding the windscreen along built-in tracks, and both brackets modulate to allow angle adjustment at any height.

The Visor 2.0 is constructed of polycarbonate with a scratch-resistant finish. It is available in clear and light smoke—again, we opted for the clear version. The pair of “clip-on” fixings are constructed of polyurethane and secure to the windscreen with one Allen screw on each side (Allen key included). The height and angle of the Visor 2.0 are adjusted by the brackets rolling along the tracks, and depending on how tight you run the set of phillips head screws on each side (instructions suggest a torque spec of only 0.7 ft-lbs), can be adjusted by hand after initial setup.

Use & Versatility

The compact size and clip-on installation initially suggested that these extensions could be easily taken on and off as needed, meaning when I get to the trailhead, I unclip the shield and stash it in the tail bag. When the trails get rowdy, bigger windshields can become obtrusive, even a downright hazard, smacking you in the face on tricky uphills. In the event you need to get your weight forward and have your head over the front fender, a sudden bump in the terrain can send the lip of the windshield into the eye port of your helmet (ask me how I know…). In less extreme cases, it’s always better to have less of your windscreen getting splashed with mud or scratched up by rocks on the trail.

The GIVI Shield+ in particular, with its slick-looking CNC-machined billet aluminum quick-adjust lever, might make it appear that it could clamp on and off very quickly. However, this is not the case. The lever is for making on-the-fly adjustments to the position of the windscreen extension—NOT for releasing the clip-on accessory from the bike. Removal of the unit from the windshield only requires the use of one small Allen key, but when you do remove it, prepare for the little plates and rubber boots to want to fall apart into pieces. When it’s not clamped to a windscreen, there is nothing holding the mounting equipment together, making it a delicate procedure to remove it and stow away on the go.

The Puig Visor 2.0 isn’t much easier to remove on the fly, though it is simpler with only two screws, and doesn’t fall to pieces like the GIVI (though you need to be careful when loosening the screws to adjust the visor position on the Puig, because it can result in parts falling to the ground). The bit of on-off I’ve done since testing these units has already started wearing down the sticky mounting grippers on the Puig, suggesting that it prefers to stay put once perched on your windshield. The point is, neither of these are designed to be a quick on-off accessory. You also wouldn’t want to re-mount either one to a dirty windscreen, so I’ve since moved on from my fantasy of a frequent stow-and-go visor clip-on, and tested these for their intended purpose.

On The Trail

The good news, however, is that I so far haven’t found either clip-on to be especially obtrusive out on the trail. Each comes with the option of lowering the height to minimize any interference, which has definitely helped out while riding rutted-out up-hills, which can send the front end of the bike rebounding up toward your face. In more extreme terrain, I’ve found it’s still best to remove the clip-ons all together, lest I get an eye-level karate-chop from a solid slab of polymer. But it’s rare I’ve felt the need to completely remove the clip-on (either one) rather than simply lowering it down.

The compact nature of both clip-ons means they didn’t disrupt any movements or body position on the bike, even on busy trails. I also never noticed the slightest bit of movement from either unit—both remained firmly in place, both attached to the bike, and in their respective mounting positions. The look of the Givi and its single centrally located mounting point makes it appear (to me) less stable than the Puig, but again, neither one ever budged. It’s worth noting that I elected to tighten the Phillips-head screws of the Puig using a stronger torque setting than the recommended 0.7 ft-lbs because the off-roader in me needs the security of everything being snugged down and firmly secure. That tightening of the screws also had the side effect of sacrificing the toolless adjustability of the Puig screen.

Pushing air up and over your head also translates to pushing dust over your head when in the dirt, which is a nice effect, but limited by the fact that you’re typically standing up off-road. If you’re sitting down on a long gravel road, there is some benefit here, but mostly it is the highway touring miles where you’ll appreciate these accessories.

At Speed

The minimal wind screen size of the stock V-Strom 800DE speaks to its sporty nature, as many off-road-minded ADV riders would prefer to keep the aesthetics as compact and streamlined as possible. Another thing a lot of ADV riders prefer is a moto or dual sport-style helmet with a peak. There’s a fundamental problem here when you combine minimal wind protection with wearing a wing on your head. Many ADV helmet manufacturers have put a focus on aerodynamics in order to counter the highway discomfort of wearing a helmet visor, but an accessory windshield is also a great way to help get that extra bit of 80-mph wind over your head instead of straight into it.

As mentioned above, it’s the freeway miles I find the most unsettling when ADV riding. Oftentimes I’m simply enduring the hours-plus of high-speed miles in order to meet up with friends or get to the fun stuff. And yes, most of the time I’m wearing my motocross helmet, which, to me, is the most secure and comfortable thing to have on my head when the going gets rough. Plus, I just don’t understand how anyone rides without a sun visor, especially in the morning or afternoon hours. Seriously… how do people just ride with the sun right in their eyes? I don’t get it. Anyway, this is where the main benefit of the Puig Visor 2.0 and the GIVI Shield+ comes in.

At speed, both visors do a great job of pushing air up and over my head, and not catching the visor of my helmet. It’s that much less uncomfortable to wear a moto-style helmet and goggles on the freeway, though I still won’t venture to call it “comfortable.” It might be more accurate to describe it as violent turbulence becoming tolerably gusty. Due to the fairing and windscreen shape of the 800DE itself, I suspect more air is coming at me around the sides rather than over the top of the windscreen, and these clip-ons only aid in the latter. If you want a calmer riding compartment then a full touring windscreen might be the ticket. But for the size and cost of these little visor add-ons, the difference is worth the price of admission.

It’s tricky trying to dissect the differences between the Puig and the GIVI at speed, since there is still a lot of turbulence coming through the sides, as mentioned. But the highway experience with either of these visors versus without one is undeniable. There is far less pressure on the forehead and it doesn’t feel like there’s a hand grasping the visor and violently shaking it until your vision blurs. I also notice less of a lifting feel when wearing a moto-style helmet. At 5’8” it’s not especially a “tall” order to get wind up and over my head. Both visors can stretch up to higher positions than I ran them at, but taller riders might run into a limit. 

The wider shape and mounting points of the Puig Visor 2.0 give you the ability to leave an eyelet of space in between the top of the windscreen and the bottom of the clip-on, which can allow some added airflow through to the rider compartment. I like having this ability since it feels more stable at speed, and offers a slightly wider envelope of wind protection, particularly in cross-winds or gusting conditions. The difference isn’t major, and I will say that both visors are exceptionally stable and planted at speed, zero vibrations or movement. But a point goes to Puig for the on-road feel at speed.

The Devilish Details

When compared side by side, the Puig also wins for its greater range of height adjustability. The GIVI has approximately 1.75 inches of vertical range while the Puig has nearly an extra inch at 2.65. I’m less interested in maximum height; circling back to my concerns about it being in the way during off-road riding, I’m looking for a lower minimum height. Puig can duck down just a touch lower than the GIVI, so it gains an advantage here. Point for Spain.

Check out specifications below for actual measurements we recorded. You’ll also notice the lighter weight of the Puig clip-on, but I won’t pretend that two ounces makes a noticeable difference on a 500-pound bike, so no points awarded there.

While I feel that the Puig wins for height adjustability, I have to admit the GIVI gets a bonus point for its toolless adjustability feature, and the quick-release tensioner that can release and re-grip the visor to your desired position. Adjusting the height or angle of the Puig isn’t quite as slick. A firm tug will alter its position; I found the up and down position a little more willing than the angle adjust. The notched tracks on which the visor slides can get a little gritty in the dust, and you can also easily get it uneven from side to side. As mentioned earlier, I most often had the screwdriver out to adjust the Puig whereas the GIVI’s quick-release lever gives you the confidence of knowing the visor is snugged and secured every time you touch it. It’s also worth mentioning that the Puig will only adjust to four different angle positions whereas the GIVI is analog. Goal for Italy.

As for the quality of the screen itself, the “clear” advantage goes to GIVI. (See what I did there?) The lightweight polymeric material is ultra-clear and doesn’t distort vision around the curved edges like the Puig does. It’s rare that you’re actually looking through the clip-ons themselves, but I still have to give a nod to GIVI for the higher-quality material.

The looks category is entirely subjective, of course, but since you asked, I prefer the more streamlined appearance of the Puig. The single mounting point of the GIVI is clean and secure, but the metal cleat front and center on the windscreen just has a sore-thumb vibe to it. The Puig has a cleaner look that blends better with the lines of the 800DE. Point for Puig.

Another important win for Puig is the price point. The $80 Multi-Adjustable Visor 2.0 Clip-On is almost half the price of the $152 GIVI Shield+ S180T Universal Deflector.

The Verdict

Both of these accessories will remain in my garage for the foreseeable future, as they are quick and easy add-ons that can improve the ride comfort on just about anything on the street. In a head-to-head comparo, there are slight advantages to each. The GIVI is more compact, higher quality polycarbonate shield and billet aluminum mounting bracket that can be adjusted on the fly.

The Puig has a wider stance, greater range of adjustability and might appeal to the set-it-and-forget-it type of rider. Then there are subjective factors such as the look and price tag that come into consideration. As for my points breakdown above, it may seem that between GIVI and Puig break about even. For my personal needs, I gave the nod to the latter. The Puig Visor 2.0 has found a permanent spot on my 800DE. I enjoy the more streamlined look of it, the better height adjustability, and the quality of airflow on the highway.

It’s not a major transformation in highway comfort, and it’s far from the plush latte-sipping, music-blaring, open-face-helmet cigarette-smoking experience you’ll find on a full-dresser, but an improvement in comfort for the highway miles on my way to the dirt, however minor, is very much appreciated. 

Specifications

Puig Multi-Adjustable Visor 2.0 Clip On

Weight:          7.2 oz.
Width:             11.8 in.
Height:           5.1 in.
Height adjustability range:    2.65 in.
Min height*:    11.7 in.
Max height*:   14.3 in.
Price: $76

GIVI Shield+ S180T Universal Deflector

Weight:          9.9 oz.
Width:             9.5 in.
Height:           4.8 in.
Height adjustability range:    1.75 in.
Min height*:    12.0 in.
Max height*:   13.7 in.
Price: $160

*Measured from the bottom of the stock windscreen.

Photos by Jean Turner and Rob Dabney

Author: Jean Turner

Jean Turner is a freelance journalist/photographer in the powersports industry. She has been riding and racing motocross and enduro for over 18 years, during which she has worked for a number of publications such as Cycle News, Dirt Rider magazine, Dirt Bike magazine, Racer X, Motocross Action Magazine and international publications in Europe, Japan and Australia. Jean grew up riding in the Southern California desert with her family and has traveled the world as a media correspondent covering and shooting motorcycle races, manufacturer intros and off-road/adventure tours.