Shortening Interstate windscreen

[blastedbugler]

When riding I like to look just over the top of the windscreen.
With my riding position ( solo seat installed ) I need to trim about 30mm off the top of the screen.
Are there any problems I could encounter by cutting the screen.
If anyone has undertaken this process, could you give some advice & method / tools to be used.
Don ( Aussie )

[98valk]

search is your friend, don't be afraid. 

been addressed 100s of times on this board and the archive board. 

[miscott]

Hey Don..
  I have an excellent 4 page article from the April 1999 Motorcycle Cruiser magazine, in PDF form.  The file size is only 2.12mb.
  Tells you everything you need to know about trimming the windshield, what to do, how to do it, what to be careful about, what tool to use. Step by step w/ pics!
  I've been collecting magazines off of e-bay that have articles about Valkyries in them. Figured I might need this one myself someday soon, so I scanned it and converted it to PDF to store in my puter.
  You'll need Adobe Reader, or similar program to open the PDF File. Open Office is a great FREE program that I use instead of Microsoft office.
  Send me your email addy and I'll be happy to send you the article. Tons of info there, with pics.
  My email addy is miscott57@hotmail.com
  Would love to see some before and after pics!
  Just remember, measure twice=cut once! You can't put it back on!
     Michael
      

[Tx Bohemian]

I've cut down my Memphis shades windshield by 4".  And did a bunch of "bohemian riggin" shaping/cutting on Memphis lowers attempting to fight buffetting and engine heat.

Not sure about an Interstate windshield but I'd imagine it is similiar if not the same as mine.
I haven't seen the videos mentioned here but I can tell you how I did it.
Really good advice that was mentioned here already is the "measure twice, cut once" statement. I probably measured mine 10 times before I was confident enough to get started!  And I will say it is a great job.  There is one little flaw but unless I point it out noone notices.

I used a handheld jigsaw, and if I remember(it's been a few years) a metal cutting blade. That was the rough cut, then I cleaned it up with a handheld beltsander and softened the edges with a block sander. Taking my time through each step.

Little sidenote:
I heard there was an independant bike builder here in my town that cuts down windshields and I approached him if he could do mine. 
He evidently has no clue there are other bikes out there besides Harleys. When I told him it was a Memphis shades on a Valkyrie he asked "what's a Valkyrie?" 
When I told him it was a Honda he didn't want to mess with it! 

He did give me information on how to do it though (blade type, sawspeed).

[F6BANGER]

I just recently did it for a friend. Just put some blue painters tape where you are gonna be cutting it. I used a magic marker to mark where it to be cut. I used a Harbor Freight 4" grinder and cut about 1/16" away from the line. I used a belt sander to finish it up and smooth out the crooked cut. He then spray painted the inside black. His is only about 10" tall on his interstate. It looks good.