Windshield advice needed

[planecrazygal]

As many of you know, we adopted a 2002 Wing to keep Tim's Valk company.  It has windshield issues - can't see through it in direct sun or at night, but it's short enough that my short stature can see over. Pretty sure it's the OEM. Tim tried to buff it out, but it turned cloudy. So we've resigned ourselves that we need to replace it. Got it narrowed down to either CeeBailey's or F4. My question is this - the CeeBailey's is $225 and the comparable F4 is $450 - why such a huge difference? Is there something I'm missing that makes the F4 a "better" shield?   I've asked on the Wing forums, but would love some input from our VRCC brethren.  Tim has a Memphis on the Valk, but don't think that's a good fit for the Wing.

[Jess from VA]

CeeBailey/Clearview/and most aftermarket shields are Lucite/acrylic/plastic.

The F4s are top quality polycarbonate/lexan, and the highest optical clarity.  Polycarbonate is over 30X more impact resistant than acrylic.  Even steel wool won't scratch it (so they say).

If you take good care of a plastic shield and don't abuse it with windex or ammonia or sandy grit, it will last a long time.

[5_19]

I would talk to John Lauk at www.clearviewshields.com and ask him what they can do for you.

~TJ

[WDAN]

Go to Bill's Plastic in Dallas and have him cut you a new shield. He's been doing it for years.

[.]

Whatever shield you opt for you might check into a cleaning product called Plexxus that is readily available from Cycle Gear. It is expensive but I haven't found anything else that works as well. I've been using it for several years with good results on my older windshields. I'm sure it will help maintain a new one.

[planecrazygal]

Thank you everyone for your input.  Armed with the info about the material we understood better what to look for and what pricing was reasonable.  In the end, Tim found a dealer that offered a much better price on an F4 with my preferences and free shipping.  Now we'll see if it arrives in time to be installed before GOTF.  In the meantime, we'll see what we can do with the one I have now.

[Jess from VA]

If it doesn't come or get swapped in time, and the old one is beyond help and really cloudy (which can glare badly in the right light) and difficult to see over without sitting to attention... just chop off an inch or two with it on the bike, and sand the rough edge.  It's not like it has to be a perfect job or you care about it.  Just for the trip.  Looks like you wear a full/flip face anyway.

[planecrazygal]

Doing the happy dance!  Tim got an email from the windshield folks that it has shipped and will arrive on Tuesday.