Windshield position

[dubsider]

When I got Flat6 Baby she had a Memphis Fats 22" windshield, so I have to look through it.  I prefer to look over it especially when I ride at night or ride in the rain... What is your preference??

[Mr. Nuts]

The stock windshield was too high for me and I hate looking through a windshield. The angle of the wind in relation to the windshield was also too acute which resulted in heavy buffeting. Both problems were fixed with a few cheap brackets on the bottom which tilted the shield back (and down at the top). This solved both the buffeting and adjusted the windshield top to just the right height. Many here have done this fix and I benefited greatly by their sage advice and photos...



It is amazing how much a little tilt at the bottom lowers the top!

[hubcapsc]

I got a (four inch?) shorter Clearview shield after looking through the
OEM windshield in a few rainstorms  ...



Since you don't have OEM windshield brackets (and they're becoming
unobtainable) a Clearview wouldn't work for you... maybe you could cut
the  Memphis Fats down?

-Mike

[dubsider]

I got a (four inch?) shorter Clearview shield after looking through the
OEM windshield in a few rainstorms  ...



Since you don't have OEM windshield brackets (and they're becoming
unobtainable) a Clearview wouldn't work for you... maybe you could cut
the  Memphis Fats down?

-Mike

I am not sure I have the skills to cut it professionally.. for not a huge amount of money Memphis sells replacement plastic..(I just have to use the straps and mounting h/w off of the retiring shield.  I am thinking either the 17" which may be a little short, or the 19" which may be slightly tall..  If anyone in the group has cut one to size please share the technique and tools..thanks.

[BigAl]

Cutting one is easy.

If I can do it anyone can.

FIne tooth Jig Saw, a little sanding and you got it.

Swing an arc on a taped up windshield and a string with a sharpie on the end, cap off of course.

Then you have a radius to guide you .

DOne it before will do it again.

Al

[dubsider]

Hey Big Al...
so If I understand correctly, you put tape on the windshield ... is that to prevent splintering???

then swing an arc from a point across the tape and cut away then sand to perfection...  I may give that a try.

is that correct?

[olddog1946]

Riding at night and in the rain, you can't see "Squat" by looking through the windshield, so looking over it is the way I go..I have a memphis shades fats,  17" that works great...but I don't like the fact that it will scratch if you look at it wrong..have to polish it every time I ride, just to ensure it's clear..even though I don't look through it, I like it to be clean and clear..

[Russell Rice]

When cutting a shield, tape the heck out of it before you cut!! a roll of tape is tons cheaper than a new shield. You can use the tape to draw the arch you want to cut it at and will also protect it from being scratched up while cutting After you cut it you want to sand it down with some fine sand paper until you are happy with the way the edge looks. I use a heat gun and put some heat on it to help melt it smooth then sand then heat then sand until I like the way it looks. Just be really careful with the heat so you DO NOT melt more than you want.

[dubsider]

Riding at night and in the rain, you can't see "Squat" by looking through the windshield, so looking over it is the way I go..I have a memphis shades fats,  17" that works great...but I don't like the fact that it will scratch if you look at it wrong..have to polish it every time I ride, just to ensure it's clear..even though I don't look through it, I like it to be clean and clear..

agree 100% I like a clean shield.. Pledge works wonders... I prefer Lemony Pledge.

[bigdog99]

i look over, the stock shield on my IS has always caused me to stretch a little. i put the Cee Bailey's 2" shorter than stock and its great. still get good deflection and i can look over it too.

[Stanley Steamer]

i look over, the stock shield on my IS has always caused me to stretch a little. i put the Cee Bailey's 2" shorter than stock and its great. still get good deflection and i can look over it too.

+1.....

[BIG--T]

I believe the rule of thumb is to have the top of the shield somewhere between the tip and bridge of your nose. 

[BIG--T]

Has  anyone ever tried MEGUIAR'S  PLASTX on their  shields?

[Jabba]

I was trimming one with a fine toothed sabre saw, and broke the shield.  I switched to a Rotozip... bada BING done.  I made a template from the original arc of the shield, and transferred it down.  Marked it with a sharpie, and RotoZipped it off.  Then used a belt sander to smooth it out till it looked nice.

I recommend a Roto Zip.  ANd like they said... LOTS of tape.

Jabba

[Tundra]

I'm a "lookover" guy... I cut mine @ 17" from the top of the headlight cutout. This puts the top of the windshield roughly between the tip and the bridge of my nose. Just trace out the original pattern. Honda windshield.
  1. Better visability
  2. About the same wind protection, believe it or not.
  3. Eliminates disstorted vision (looking though, in the Florida sun)
  4. Eliminates fogging. Well it doesn't eliminate it, but you don't have to struggle to look through  
      anymore.
  5. It just plain looks better
I honestly haven't discovered any downside to this. If your not sure where to cut or how much to take off, try to ride someone elses, or cut off a couple inches at a time.
  I like mine so much when it comes time to replace the windshield I will order one the same size from Clearview.

[hubcapsc]

cap off of course.

D'OH! 

Oh well...

-Mike

[bigfish_Oh]

good topic, before cutting my shield(wasn't brave enough yet) I was trying these options I was planning anyway. I'm in the process of tilting mine and pulling it back to fall lower with the headlight radius. I have made a gauge bracket to relocate gauges back and apart to allow 3+2 motosen's between them. I will follow with pics in a new post and do plan on making several brackets(sst,al,br). Time is closing in on INZ

I had posted the question about a F15 or F16 shield in the tech section