Author Topic: Windshields  (Read 13690 times)

Offline elvin315

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Windshields
« on: May 18, 2011, 10:54:32 PM »
Where windshields are concerned there is no one solution. Whatever height and width you decide on it'll be a compromise.To get a turbulence free cockpit you'll probably need a taller, wider shield. But that also means you'll get a hotter cockpit. Naturally a such a windshield will be affected by head/cross/tail winds as well as truck wakes. It's no more than a see-thru sail at that point. That movement will move and shake the bike. The Concours is a large faired bike and is affected by the wind already so I think a taller shield will make things worse in that regard.

The tall/short shield question is complicated by whether you want to look over or through the screen. I won't argue the benefits and drawbacks here. You know what they are already. Just remember that adding taller or shorter bars changes your helmet's relationship with the windshield in regard with the airflow. Same goes for a new seat. It might lift or lower you. Make those changes before buying an expensive piece of clear plastic you can't use.

Before taking suggestions determine their torso length (height - inseam = torso length). The head of a 6 foot tall rider with short legs will sit higher than a 6 foot tall rider with long legs. You'll have to find the right screen height for yourself. I suggest buying a small piece of cheap lexan, plexiglass, whatever, and duct tape it firmly to the top edge of your current screen, on the outside. Set it so its top edge is in your normal line of sight. Take it for a test ride at moderate speed. You don't want it to come loose and hit you in the face. This should give point you in the direction you need to go. Adjust the height until you're satisfied. Now you can go shopping or make a screen of your own.

WINDSHIELDS

The Kawasaki shield is poorly designed. The flipped upper edge is supposed to deflect air over the riders but in reality increases the turbulence to the pilot's head. Many end up either getting a taller shield to move the tumble zone higher or just cut the flip off. Kawasaki makes it easy for you to go elsewhere for a solution by pricing their shields in the stratosphere.

Rifle's vent system reduces turbulence by equalizing the air pressure ahead of and behind the screen. As the bike is pushed through the air an area of high pressure is created ahead of the windshield along with a corresponding low pressure area behind. The high pressure air tumbles over the edges of the shield to fill the void and equalize the pressure. The vent in the Rifle base allows high pressure air to enter the low pressure area. This increases the pressure behind the shield. The vent creates a laminar flow against the inside surface of the shield and reduces the turbulence spilling over the edges. In the rain any droplets entering the vent are swept up and over the pilot by the laminar flow. This seemingly magic vent also reduces the amount of ""Back Draft" air which pushes on you from behind. The Rifle shield is brittle though. Star cracks appear if the mounting screws are too tight. Chamfering the holes seems to help.
http://www.rifle.com/rifle/images/CONC01M.JPG
http://www.rifle.com/

Another vent system from Rifle, but this one can be added to any windshield including the OEM Concours shield.
http://rifle.com/Motorcycle-Windshields/Accessories/Air-Balance-Windshield-Vent-Kit.aspx

Cee Bailey is a long time maker of screens for general aircraft and BMW motorcycles. They make them for the Concours molded with a Rifle-like vent or without. The vents function the same. One thing peculiar to the Cee Baily is that they curve more than other screens so the top edge comes closer to your face. Since the manufacturers measure height from bottom to top of the screen, a 24 inch Cee Baily may not be quite as high as a 24 inch Clearview for example. Cee Bailey uses a thicker plastic than the other screen makers and it doesn't seem prone to the star cracks around the mounting holes. Chamfering the holes is still a good idea.
http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_99&products_id=108
http://www.ceebaileys.com/kawasaki/concoursws.html

Clearview makes good shields in touring and sport heights with a variety of different vent options. Their vents are primarily for cooling and ventilation. Clearview also has a wider than stock shield available as well as a shorter Sport Shield. All their shields bolt directly to the fairing like the OEM shield.
http://www.bikescreens.co.uk/models/gtr1000.html
http://www.clearviewshields.com/
http://www.pbase.com/elvin315/image/16241028
http://www.pbase.com/elvin315/image/16241029
http://www.pbase.com/elvin315/image/16241031

I have no direct experience with GIVI shields except for seeing them on other bikes however, if the quality of their luggage is any indication, it should be a nice product. They are quite pretty as windshields go. Shop around. There are many COG Industry Members that carry GIVI products.
http://www.casporttouring.com

A 15% discount (coupon #5544-33) has been arranged for COG members with Gustafsson Plastics. They are a long time maker of quality motorcycle windshields. Heights of 11 inches to 25.5 inches tall. They also offer the G-Force and SS "Double Bubble" sport type shields. In addition to 'CLEAR', their windscreens are available in 15 colors for no extra charge. They all come minus mounting holes.
http://www.bikescreen.com/products.asp?cat=87

MRA is a German manufacturer that recently started distributing in N.America. Their Arizona model is the Concours shield. Wider than stock and without the flip. They also make a accessory adjustable wing called the X-Creen you attach to you existing screen.
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/1394/
https://www.mrashop.de/erp/catalog/navigationPath//1.Sortiment/0.html?mral=1&type=%283234%2C19%2C0%29&form=%28376%2C20%2C0%29&spr=D

Baker-Built makes a Windshield Extender. It's an adjustable vane and cheaper than a new shield. They don't list or display it on their site. You can see it installed on Marc Kleefstra's GTR.
http://www.pbase.com/image/6945611
http://www.bakerbuilt.com/

Along the same lines Saeng makes Winglets and Wing-Tips. Prettier than the Baker but you'll pay a steep price for style.
http://www.saeng.com

Another windshield accessory is the Laminar Lip. It attaches to the shield and accomplishes what the flip was supposed to. It's not as adjustable as the previously listed wings or extender but from the reports I hear it really works.
http://www.laminarlip.com/concours.jpg
http://www.laminarlip.com/

Now comes the last alternative. The Do-It-Yourself Windshield. It sounds harder than it really is. Slow and steady is the secret. Mark it with masking tape and a Sharpie, and cut with a saw or Dremel Tool. Lexan takes a file and sandpaper nicely and a little work will yield a nice professional looking edge. I use this Dremel Multipurpose Cutting Kit.
http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Attachments/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=565
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/how-to-cut-down-motorcycle-windshields-safety

I had to include this one by Brian Snowberg. An adjustable Windshield. It's very well done.
http://www.pbase.com/elvin315/image/47648974
http://www.pbase.com/elvin315/image/47648975
http://www.pbase.com/elvin315/image/47648976

Browse through my albums for pictures of these windshield solutions:
http://www.pbase.com/image/14814912 http://www.pbase.com/image/11719286
http://www.pbase.com/image/11719293 http://www.pbase.com/image/11719294
http://www.pbase.com/image/5435717 http://www.pbase.com/image/6406384
http://www.pbase.com/image/6945611 http://www.pbase.com/image/7041113
http://www.pbase.com/image/7671218 http://www.pbase.com/image/7881097
http://www.pbase.com/image/8452566 http://www.pbase.com/image/1612947
http://www.pbase.com/image/1612970 http://www.pbase.com/image/1695625
http://www.pbase.com/image/2185209 http://www.pbase.com/image/2185208
http://www.pbase.com/image/4418507 http://www.pbase.com/image/4492930
http://www3.pbase.com/image/18627059 http://www.pbase.com/image/17467005
http://www3.pbase.com/image/16241028 http://www.pbase.com/image/16241029
http://www3.pbase.com/image/16241031 http://www3.pbase.com/image/16939898
http://www.pbase.com/image/17328847 http://www3.pbase.com/image/19125224
« Last Edit: June 14, 2014, 05:06:16 AM by elvin315 »