Author Topic: Short Shields  (Read 6229 times)

Offline elvin315

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Short Shields
« on: May 23, 2011, 11:43:33 PM »

Pictured above is my favorite shorty shield. There have been others but I keep coming back to this one. I designed it with a dip in the center so my sight-line wasn't blocked when looking down close, ahead of the tire. I cut it super low for summer heat. What about foul weather riding? I've been caught in some serious rain with it and have to say it's not that bad. Let's be real. Ride a motorcycle in the rain and you will get wet. A tall shield hinders visibility when covered, inside and out, with droplets, fog, and mist. I'd rather deal with a wet faceshield. I can clean it with one swipe of my glove.

I've had good results cutting shields using a Dremel rotary cutting bit. It looks like a conventional drill bit except the cutting edges protrude in an outward spiral, like an auger. It comes with a depth guide/shield. You use it as a mini-router. I hold the Dremel with a pencil grip and get my eyes closer to the action (don't forget the eye protection).

I leave the screen mounted on the bike and cover the dash and tank with an old bedsheet. Then I cover the area to be cut with masking tape to prevent scratches. I mark the cuts on the tape. When I cut down shields I don't cut exactly on the line. Setting the Dremel at a low to medium speed I plunge the bit into the shield and apply light pressure above the cut line. If you push too hard the bit will pull to one side. I follow along the line but stay off it.

After cutting use a high speed router bit to file down to the line. Don't use a grind stone. The plastic melts into the nooks & crannies. Don't leave sharp edges or corners. Radius the corners and chamfer the edges. A foam sanding block followed by an emery cloth, then steel wool, gets rid of the file marks and polishes the edge. Leave the tape on until all the cutting and finishing is done. It's easier than it sounds. That's my method. Read the Motorcycle Cruiser article for another.
http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Attachments/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=565
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/how-to-cut-down-motorcycle-windshields-safety
 
Here are some short Concours shields. You can find more in my Album:
http://www.pbase.com/image/7041113 http://www.pbase.com/image/7671218
http://www.pbase.com/image/8452566 http://www.pbase.com/image/1612947
http://www.pbase.com/image/4418507 http://www3.pbase.com/image/16939898
http://www3.pbase.com/image/19125224
« Last Edit: April 02, 2015, 10:40:58 AM by elvin315 »