Stock Touring Windshield - tweaks to make it better?

[8Track]

Hi all,

I have a '99 Valk and recently fitted the OEM windshield to it. Just had a nice 2,000km ride over 4 days and found that I am not really that impressed with the shield. I still get buffeted around the top of my helmet, visibility is poor when the shield is wet, and the wind resistance has increased fuel consumption by 15-20%.

Has anybody experimented with reversing the lower mounting bracket so that the mounts are moved forward, thereby increasing the rake angle of the screen? If so, has this helped the fuel consumption?

Any thoughts or observations would be much appreciated. Where i am at right now is thinking about taking it off and leaving it off for good.

Cheers,

Mark

[sandy]

My shield is tilted back by making a bracket 1 1/4" with holes measuring 1" between the holes. It reduced buffetting. I've never run without a shield so I have no info on gas mileage.

[Hoser]

Hi all,

I have a '99 Valk and recently fitted the OEM windshield to it. Just had a nice 2,000km ride over 4 days and found that I am not really that impressed with the shield. I still get buffeted around the top of my helmet, visibility is poor when the shield is wet, and the wind resistance has increased fuel consumption by 15-20%.

Has anybody experimented with reversing the lower mounting bracket so that the mounts are moved forward, thereby increasing the rake angle of the screen? If so, has this helped the fuel consumption?

Any thoughts or observations would be much appreciated. Where i am at right now is thinking about taking it off and leaving it off for good.

Cheers,

Mark

Some fork deflectors wll get rid of the buffetting, I use the memphis shades version.  Hoser 

[salty1]

Hi all,

I have a '99 Valk and recently fitted the OEM windshield to it. Just had a nice 2,000km ride over 4 days and found that I am not really that impressed with the shield. I still get buffeted around the top of my helmet, visibility is poor when the shield is wet, and the wind resistance has increased fuel consumption by 15-20%.

Has anybody experimented with reversing the lower mounting bracket so that the mounts are moved forward, thereby increasing the rake angle of the screen? If so, has this helped the fuel consumption?

Any thoughts or observations would be much appreciated. Where i am at right now is thinking about taking it off and leaving it off for good.

Cheers,

Mark

Some fork deflectors wll get rid of the buffetting, I use the memphis shades version.  Hoser 

+1 Lower shields helped a great deal in my case.

[Freep]

I'm 6'1", mostly torso. I have a hondaline shield.

First thing I did is tweak the lower brackets forward to tip it back. That helped some.

The second thing I did is pull the shield, pull the stays off, mask off the inside everything above the top of the horizontal stay and spray paint it satin black. That reduces the glare off the headlight bucket (which I still may paint flat black one day) and hides all the water spots that are impossible to get off without taking the shield off when you wash it. I suppose you could color match the paint to the bike. Maybe even get clever with the masking tape and match graphics. . .

Some years later I bought a Clearview shield (http://www.clearviewshields.com/) 2" shorter than stock with a 'Wing vent that sits on top of the horizontal stay. That helped a lot.



Were I to do that over, I'd have them move the vent up 2" or so, for visibility of the clocks and to get a little more air on the chin vent of my full-face helmet.



I tried riding distance with no shield down to Phoenix and it was exhausting on the interstates. But it gets seriously hot behind anything approaching the size of the stock shield. So bought another shield on ebay that has some road rash. I'm going to narrow it by 3" per side and take about 4" off the top in an effort to make a 'quick-change' shield for hot weather. If that's still too warm I'll cut it down some more until it does what I want it to do. I'll post up the final result if I think of it.

Keep us posted on what you end up doing!
Cheers

[bentwrench]

Baker air wings got  rid of that buffeting on my tourer,fork deflectors help some too.After 7 years I'm still not crazy about how they look,but boy do they work.Almost no bufet and coolair to legs

[8Track]

Thanks all for your replies. I does seem odd that something on the forks would affect the wind around your head, but if it works I think I will look into it.

[Pete]

Thanks all for your replies. I does seem odd that something on the forks would affect the wind around your head, but if it works I think I will look into it.

But of does in a major way....

[bentwrench]

That big windshield makes a lot  of pressure in frt. of it.Wind that comes up from under it causes more turbulance than what comes over the top,at least that how it feels to me.I you move your hand around in front of you up,down to the sides and sense where the air coming from you'll see what I mean.Just closing the upper half of the bakers cuts more down buffeting than anything else I've tried.

[Patrick]

I don't like looking thru the shield or the buffeting, so, I just made a little bracket extension to pull/push the bottom of the shield forward which lowered the top a couple inches. Problem solved.

[Freep]

I don't like looking thru the shield or the buffeting, so, I just made a little bracket extension to pull/push the bottom of the shield forward which lowered the top a couple inches. Problem solved.

Thus far I've just bent the lower mounts forward but I've been thinking about doing something like you mention. How long are your brackets? What design?

And of course without pics, it never happened. 

[Bone]

Using search I found a picture of the brackets I made to tilt the windshield on my 98 Tourer.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,47854.msg454880.html#msg454880

[Freep]

Using search I found a picture of the brackets I made to tilt the windshield on my 98 Tourer.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,47854.msg454880.html#msg454880

Yeah, that's pretty close to what I had in mind, though I was going to use aluminum angle.

I trust it's worked out well?

[Bone]

Yes I hate to take them off. I get a lot more air movement behind the shield even with the Baker air wings. I'm 6' and can see 2 inches over the shield if I sit erect. Of course rain comes along with the air. I take them off in the fall when the average temps start falling.

The tabs are made from L shaped corner brackets you can find anywhere. I lost the original post that showed the purchased brackets.
Cut one L into 2 pieces. You have to drill one hole in each piece I think the holes are 1" apart.

[Chiefy]

When you're riding, use your left hand and arm to see if air is rushing up under the shield (probably) and see if you can lessen or stop the buffeting by moving your arm around.  If so, lowers or Baker airwings will probably help.  The Bakers are large and kind of dorky looking, but they do a good job of tuning out the buffeting.

[MarkT]

One of the first mods I did.  Wrote up a tech page on it in '98.  Details the benefits and how to do it.  http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/Windshield_Tipping/windshield_tipping.html

I did this first with a Rifle shield then with my Hondaline.  Probably is doable with other makes too.

Here it is with the Hondaline.  Only takes about an hour to make & install the 2 braces and it's reversible as well as you can make it adjustable if you want different amounts of tilt.  However 1" on center with the holes has been perfect for me & I leave it there all the time.

[SteveBC]

Mark,

      In my opinion you answered your own question in your opening post mate.

Take the screen off, all the bracketry too, hang it up in the garage and never worry about buffeting, poor vision or being baked by the heat from the engine again.

Added bonus is you then have a better looking bike

Job done.

Reading all the many posts on this topic, it seems that most of the chaps with screens, no matter what mod's or extras they fit, are never truely 100% happy with the result.

Steve.

[Freep]

If you're gonna do that, why not sell the lot on ebay?

I did that once, rode down to Phoenix, 'bout 600 miles.
It was exhausting, much more work without that windshield out there breaking wind (pun intended).

I've got a fairly small national I used one year but it attaches to the bar and won't work with the gps in current config. Might fiddle with that over the winter.

[SteveBC]

If you're gonna do that, why not sell the lot on ebay?

I did that once, rode down to Phoenix, 'bout 600 miles.
It was exhausting, much more work without that windshield out there breaking wind (pun intended).

I've got a fairly small national I used one year but it attaches to the bar and won't work with the gps in current config. Might fiddle with that over the winter.

Valid point mate, yes one could indeed sell it, should buy a few tanks of fuel. Even more valid if you do not intend to sell the bike at sometime in the future, as if you do and it is a Tourer the buyer would maybe be pleased to know you had the original screen in storage.

Personally i prefer the 'naked' bike, and find that without the screen and being in 'clean' air it is far less tiring then being subject to the buffeting. I regularly do trips of 600 miles or more.

As for winter riding, that's something i do not have to worry about being here, but i was of  the same opinion with my Valkyrie before in the UK.

It's all a matter of personal preference, and it seems Mark was thinking along my lines too.

Steve.

[Freep]

If you're gonna do that, why not sell the lot on ebay?

I did that once, rode down to Phoenix, 'bout 600 miles.
It was exhausting, much more work without that windshield out there breaking wind (pun intended).

I've got a fairly small national I used one year but it attaches to the bar and won't work with the gps in current config. Might fiddle with that over the winter.

Valid point mate, yes one could indeed sell it, should buy a few tanks of fuel. Even more valid if you do not intend to sell the bike at sometime in the future, as if you do and it is a Tourer the buyer would maybe be pleased to know you had the original screen in storage.

Personally i prefer the 'naked' bike, and find that without the screen and being in 'clean' air it is far less tiring then being subject to the buffeting. I regularly do trips of 600 miles or more.

As for winter riding, that's something i do not have to worry about being here, but i was of  the same opinion with my Valkyrie before in the UK.

It's all a matter of personal preference, and it seems Mark was thinking along my lines too.

Steve.

Fer sure, personal preference. I found that if my average speed is under say, 60, no worries without the shield. Over that, little more tiring. Running down the interstate at 80 with the turbulence from semis in the mix, lots more tiring. Running down the interstate with semis and a 40 mph headwind, holy crap.

But then, I'm old. My kid was with me on that Phoenix trip, no shield on his Magna and no worries--he was 22 at the time. . .

I've got a shield and hardware with a bit of road rash I got on ebay. Gonna cut it down a bit at a time until I find the sweet spot of protection and airflow. When I get 'round to that I'll post it up.

[Pete]

Mark,

 
Reading all the many posts on this topic, it seems that most of the chaps with screens, no matter what mod's or extras they fit, are never truely 100% happy with the result.

Steve.

Nope, with a windscreeen trimmed slightly and Baker air wings, I am a happy camper.
Actually manages better quality for me than and IS.

[SteveBC]

Mark,

  
Reading all the many posts on this topic, it seems that most of the chaps with screens, no matter what mod's or extras they fit, are never truely 100% happy with the result.

Steve.

Nope, with a windscreeen trimmed slightly and Baker air wings, I am a happy camper.
Actually manages better quality for me than and IS.

Pleased to hear it Pete, you are indeed a rare beast riding an every increasingly rare beast....

This screen issue is like the great oil / tyre / exhaust / seats / de-smog etc. debates. Nothing is perfect for everybody, we all have different likes and dislikes, it all helps to make life interesting.

Ride safe mate.

Steve.

[big poppa pump]

Mark,

 
Reading all the many posts on this topic, it seems that most of the chaps with screens, no matter what mod's or extras they fit, are never truely 100% happy with the result.

Steve.

Nope, with a windscreeen trimmed slightly and Baker air wings, I am a happy camper.
Actually manages better quality for me than and IS.

+1.

I trimmed the stock hondaline windshield by about 4 inches so it sat right below by noseline. I also added Baker wings and with the Baker uppers closed, I get absolutely no helmet buffeting or any kind of wind noise. I get a nice breeze blowing on my face and it makes the ride very pleasant.

[ricoman]

Thanks all for your replies. I does seem odd that something on the forks would affect the wind around your head, but if it works I think I will look into it.

the air banging your head around comes up from the sides of the tank.
Lowers deflect that air and greatly reduce the buffetting.
Memphis Shades is a good product.
Also a vent in the shield lowers pressure behind it and helps too. They are available and can be installed in any shield.

[8Track]

Well it looks like the shield is off the bike for good. I like the Valk stripped down and adding other deflectors and air-wings? No way! I might as well just be done with it and get a Goldwing!

It is a shame. I bought the Hondaline windshield and mounting brackets as a NOS item last year for a pretty penny. It was in the original box with the protective plastic and all on it.

Cheers,

Mark

[Freep]

Well it looks like the shield is off the bike for good. I like the Valk stripped down and adding other deflectors and air-wings? No way! I might as well just be done with it and get a Goldwing!

It is a shame. I bought the Hondaline windshield and mounting brackets as a NOS item last year for a pretty penny. It was in the original box with the protective plastic and all on it.

Cheers,

Mark

VRCC classifieds or ebay.

[8Track]

Thanks Freep. I doubt the VRCC classifieds would be any good. I'm in Australia and the shipping the the USA would kill a potential sale for sure.

Not really convinced I want to sell it, even though I don't like it. Will thing about it for a while.

[Freep]

Thanks Freep. I doubt the VRCC classifieds would be any good. I'm in Australia and the shipping the the USA would kill a potential sale for sure.

Not really convinced I want to sell it, even though I don't like it. Will thing about it for a while.

Hey, you never know--there's a few VRCC-ers from down under and ebay has an ebay.co.au site. . . jus' sayin'.

I know that when I decided to be rid of the studs and concho look I got a plain seat off ebay for $125 and sold mine for the same. . .

[G-Man]

Rifle Lowers