Big Bike Parts fork wind deflectors...

[98 T]

I just got my Big Bike parts  wind deflectors - they look like they'll work.. but the fork clamps are poorly machined... at least the allen screws. They barely catch and the clamps are not large enough.  Valk forks have a slight taper to them and get larger further up.  Where I  WANT to attach them - not a chance!!

Ended up barely getting them to attach 2 inches lower and had to grind out the interior diameter some (but I don't really have the right tools to really machine them).  I'm not really happy.  The folks at HDL told me I can't send them back and should talk to Big Bike Parts.  The people at Big Bike Parts told me HDL should handle the return but I can't return them because I already put them on the bike"!!


I asked Big Bike Parts to send me 2 new fork clamps and they won't have them for months!!  They mumbled something about $159 for 2 clamps - I only paid $129 for the whole thing from HDL!!

Anyone else have problems with this?  I really am looking forward to the wind deflection next summer.

Is there a  Clamps-R-US around that would work better and still look good?

[BonS]

Mine were a hassle to get on as well. I purchased some longer bolts and just threw away the originals as they are simply too short. After that that they mounted okay and work very well in conjunction with the Baker air wings on my IS. Heck, the Baker's weren't made any better than the BBP wind deflectors.

[98 T]

That's probably what I'll do - get longer bolts and can move 'em up higher.

I'm just a little put off that the BBP people told me they would send me replacements for $159 additional dollars - I asked her if they would fit better and the lady told me they were the same thing I already had.  

Why would she think doing the exact same thing again would work better this time???
I have Baker Airwings too and I like them and I have a brand new clearview windshield that's 3 inches taller than stock I just got a month ago.. I think next season the helmet buffeting will be a lot better or gone all together.

[BonS]

You should be sitting in a pool of calm with all that in place. I love that I can adjust the Bakers and scoop in all the wind I want - when I want it. Too bad about the quality though.

[Flrider]

I got the BBP wind deflectors and had the same issues.
I used my bench grinder to carefully grind down some of the inside of the clamps.
I was able to put them on but since I have an I/S, I had to angle the deflectors to the inside or they would hit the pods when I turned handlebars all the way to either side.
The deflectors should face to the outside.
They do help with the wind, so I kept them on.

If I had to do it again, I would NOT buy them.
I just did not want to go through the hassle of returning them since I had gotten them from ebay.

[scoot]

I've got a pair of these setting on my bench right now. I had them on the bike for several years, and they worked great. Mid summer one had come loose on the way home from Mackinaw City. I stopped to tighten it up and the threads were gone. Then a couple months later same thing happened with the other side. I tried to contact BBP a couple times (phone and e-mail) just to be ignored.

[hubcapsc]

I got the BBP wind deflectors and had the same issues.

If I had to do it again, I would NOT buy them.

I hate to hear about y'all having trouble with expensive parts like that. They look pretty cool
in the picture. For anyone looking for something similar, don't confuse BBP with BBT...  the
BBT stuff isn't quite so fancy, but it sure has been trouble free for me...



http://www.bigbikethings.com/winddeflectors.html

They also have a similar set that works as a lightbar...

-Mike

[salty1]

I have Memphis Shades lowers and they are solid with a good fit. Sorry about the BBP problems. 

[NITRO]

I had the same problem with mine. Those clamps are junk and now I can't keep them tight enough so the reflectors slowly slide down until they're flopping in the wind. A friend is making some hondaline deflector copies for me, that should fix the problem.

I strongly recommend looking elsewhere if you're buying fork deflectors. The big bike parts ones are cheaply made, don't look all that nice, don't install as they should, and don't last.

[98 T]

I would NOT have bought them  knowing what I now know! 

I'm not a machinist, but I can't figure out why you can tighten the allen screw tight and then it just pops loose again!! ?  It's like the threads are a shade too small for the clamp!  I think the plexiglass deflector part is nice... how freakin' hard is it to make a decent clamp that looks good???

Jim C and  Blackdog... maybe I'll have to ask your help in machining out the clamps I have to make them fit better??  Too bad Daryl moved away....

I'll take a look at the Memphis Shades lowers....

[MP]

I got them on.  Have not had any problems with them moving.  I do agree not the best mount, but have NOT had any problems with them.

MP

[BonS]

I looked at my BPP installation again. I remember, now, that when I tightened the original screws they stripped right out because they were too short and too small. I not only changed the screws for longer ones but I also drilled and tapped for the next size screws. I don't remember whether they're 8's or 10's but they're larger and they are holding tight.

[Dorkman]

I have Memphis Shades lowers and they are solid with a good fit. Sorry about the BBP problems. 

Ditto that.  I have the Memphis Shades batwing fairing with the lowers.  The bike runs like its on railroad tracks...no buffeting.  I had the same setup on my Harley, but the Valk is smoother yet.  I believe the VTX lowers also fit the Valk...not sure as they were on the bike when I bought it. 

[keepinon]

I like the look of the Big Bike Things lowers/mount, but I had already ordered from Rifle shields. Been an excellent product, perfect fit, clamps have held for two years now.

http://rifle.com/Classic%20SS%20Lowers%20for%20Honda%20Valkyrie-VTX%201800-P1912.aspx

[MacDragon]

I've got the Memphis shades Lowers and they work fine.  Stopped the buffeting and the clamps are strong and made well.

[Daniel Meyer]

Be sure you don't have them low enough that they will interfere with the slider-covers as the suspension moves (and DON'T remove the slider covers).

Hard to tell from the pic...but you could be in the danger zone...

[98 T]

Thanks Dan for the advice on mounting them too low.... I have them "tentatively" mounted - still have to road test 'em next Spring and am a little unsure how much thread is holding on the mounting screws as they sure seem to be a shade small.  I fully hope to re-mount them higher up where they are supposed to go IF I can get the bracket problem solved.

Michelle at Big Bike Parts has indicated they may have some new brackets available in January and depending on what sort of "deal" she can give me, I'll either get all new brackets and find bigger screws  OR order the Memphis Shades models and call it an EXPENSIVE lesson. 

[JC]

I wrote my set off as an expensive lesson.  

Couldn't mount them high enough because of the taper, and didn't want to grind them to make them fit.

[NITRO]

Sorry they didn't work out. Mine made it 3 seasons before getting to loose to use. Thankfully there are some other options.

[Michvalk]

I had mine on for 7 years, and they fit like they were supposed to. I didn't get them adjusted just right at first, and they hit the pods. I ended up taking a screw into the hardware and getting some with allen heads that were just a little longer. WAY cheaper than new clamps or something else. And they worked perfect tilted inward, as they cut the buffiting, and added air to the radiator when running slow. Win/Win

[olddog1946]

Be sure you don't have them low enough that they will interfere with the slider-covers as the suspension moves (and DON'T remove the slider covers).

Hard to tell from the pic...but you could be in the danger zone...

No doubt in my mind those are too low. I had some memphis shades deflectors from another bike that I tried to use, but the shape of the plexiglass was wrong and I used the brakets to mount my running lights and the side markers. Had them in about the same place and bent my covers on a big bump. Had to move em up.

[Steve K (IA)]

I got the BBP wind deflectors and had the same issues.

If I had to do it again, I would NOT buy them.

I hate to hear about y'all having trouble with expensive parts like that. They look pretty cool
in the picture. For anyone looking for something similar, don't confuse BBP with BBT...  the
BBT stuff isn't quite so fancy, but it sure has been trouble free for me...



http://www.bigbikethings.com/winddeflectors.html

They also have a similar set that works as a lightbar...

-Mike

Agree 100% on the BBT deflectors.  Have had them on my Std for several years.  Work just as well as the Honda ones on my I/S but if you want to take off the BBT's, takes about 30 seconds after you have the wrench in your hand. 

[Ken Tarver]

Memphis Shades

[John U.]

+1 on Big Bike Things deflectors. I've been running them for 4 years on an I/S and a Standard. They need to be angled inward to avoid the pods in the I/S but work great that way.

[scoot]

I wrote BBP again, and invited them to check out this thread (even gave them the link). I finally got a response:
 Scott,Thank you for your recent Big Bike Parts Inquiry. Yes I did receive your first email and responded on Oct 2nd asking for some more information; unfortunately I did not hear back from you. I will be happy to assist you please call me when you have time at . Best Regards, Michelle Einum Customer Retail RepresentativeBig Bike Parts, Inc.
 (I don't recall recieving an e-mail back. I suppose it may have gone to the spam, or I may have deleted it because it didn't show as BBP.)
 I called her back, and she needed me to get the part number before she could tell me I could buy just the threaded side or if I had to buy the entire clamp. So, I looked the part number up over the weekend ( I guess she didn't have the capability too do this ), and emailed it to her. She called this morning to say that the entire clamp is available, and it is $56.95 plus shipping. I told her thanks, I would have to think about it.

[Flrider]

I wrote BBP again, and invited them to check out this thread (even gave them the link). I finally got a response:
 Scott,Thank you for your recent Big Bike Parts Inquiry. Yes I did receive your first email and responded on Oct 2nd asking for some more information; unfortunately I did not hear back from you. I will be happy to assist you please call me when you have time at . Best Regards, Michelle Einum Customer Retail RepresentativeBig Bike Parts, Inc.
 (I don't recall recieving an e-mail back. I suppose it may have gone to the spam, or I may have deleted it because it didn't show as BBP.)
 I called her back, and she needed me to get the part number before she could tell me I could buy just the threaded side or if I had to buy the entire clamp. So, I looked the part number up over the weekend ( I guess she didn't have the capability too do this ), and emailed it to her. She called this morning to say that the entire clamp is available, and it is $56.95 plus shipping. I told her thanks, I would have to think about it.

WOW, so much for standing behind their product.
I should have sent mine back from the start, just did not want to go through all that trouble.
Maybe that is what they are hoping for.
Lesson learned, DO NOT GET THEIR WIND DEFLECTORS

[98 T]

A little follow up - I just got a call from Michelle at Big Bike Parts...  I told her that a number of us in our group were all grumbling about the quality of the clamps  on their product and were actively looking for alternative suppliers.  She said she would keep me updated if they get any clamps in stock and call me- she did not indicate she would send me new clamps free of charge.  And if they're the same as the ones I got, they won't work without re-machining them anyway! 

So, I think I will experiment with larger diameter, longer screws for the clamps and if that won't work, buy the Memphis Shades deflectors and chalk this up as one expensive lesson!

[scoot]

When I talked to her last week I asked if they had made any improvements (change) to the clamps, she said she wasn't aware of any. The thing that was the final turn off for me was when she wanted me to get the part number, so "we could be sure we were talking about the same wind deflectors".
 I intend to just drill the screw holes streight thru, and tap them so I have plenty of thread. Then I will use longer screws, and a little thread lock.
 I think that'll work.