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ADV ProductsErmax High Screen: Improving Wind Protection for the Africa Twin

Ermax High Screen: Improving Wind Protection for the Africa Twin

Improve the Africa Twin's comfort and reduce fatigue on long highway rides.

Published on 07.16.2018

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.

Honda Africa Twin CRF1000L Adventure Motorcycle Ermax High Screen


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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.

Honda Africa Twin CRF1000L Ermax High Screen

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.

 Ermax High Screen  for the Honda Africa Twin CRF1000L

Honda Africa Twin CRF1000L Adventure Motorcycle Windscreen
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.

Ermax High Screen for the Africa Twin

Ermax High Screen Honda Africa Twin
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.

Honda Africa Twin CRF1000L Adventure Motorcycle Windscreen

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-height version?

Ermax High Screen Specs

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

Shopping Options

Moto Machines
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Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.

Author: Rob Dabney
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4 Comments
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Mario Peters
Mario Peters
July 17, 2018 10:43 am

I have the same issue with the stock screen at 6’1″. This looks like a great value!

Brian Kohlman
Brian Kohlman
August 12, 2018 6:28 pm

It does not appear to be compatible with the 2018 Adventure Sports. Can someone confirm it does, or does not?

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
August 12, 2018 10:33 pm

Looks like the new Africa Twin L2 has 2 extra screws added but the top bottom holes may still match up. We’ll be get getting an L2 in a few weeks for testing. We’ll see if it fits and follow up.

Brian Kohlman
Brian Kohlman
August 13, 2018 6:33 pm
Reply to  Rob Dabney

That would be very much appreciated.

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