Short Windscreen ... ??

[Bagger]

Well, I rode the Valkyrie for a couple hours today.  Various speeds from zero to 85 mph.  Mostly back 2nd'ary roads with a separated 4 lane tossed in.

I gotta tell ya, riding 85 mph without a windshield is interesting, and not all that fun for 10 miles !

I do have the tall windshield in a box in the garage, but wondered if anyone has the short windscreen?  Seems like if I can get the wind off my torso, I'm good.  I do need a different helmet, tho.  The Nolan I used was quite noisy.

Anyone have the short windscreen ... ?  ... and, what do you think?

[f6gal]

I don't have the short windshield, but I obtained the dimensions before I ordered the tall one.  It's only 6 inches tall... I'm not sure that would accomplish your objective.  

[saddlesore]

I started with a 21 in. ,cut 2 in. off after I got a new seat.  A month ago I rode a friends' Goldwing that had a lower shield and decided to cut off a couple more inches.   The top of the shield is now 18 in. above the head light and I still have enough coverage.  The mpg has gone up too.

[Ed Norton]

Here is a pic from the other Valk website   

[Bagger]

Thanx for the photo, Ed ... yeah, that thing is pretty short. 
Not sure that will fill the bill.  6" ??  Not sure what that would
accomplish.

Years ago, I cut down a HD screen on my bagger with some luck.'
Maybe Cee Baileys will come up with a couple options in smoke soon.

Guess I'll mount up the Tall and see what I think.

[imrubicon]

Thanks for the picture .

Now Im sure I wont be ordering the short screen.
Looks dont cut it and the height needs another 6 inches I think.  

[Paxton]

I'd throw caution to the wind. I rarely use windshields. Have a tiny one on for looks.
I love pushing the wind with my torso... but that's just me. 

[Bagger]

Soooo .... guess I'll try to hook up the TALL windscreen that came in last week.  Of course, there were no directions in the box.  Duh !  But, I downloaded the instructions from the Honda site.

Looks like a major pain in the butt.  I remember doing something like this on the VTX1300, too.  Too bad Honda doesn't have a 'clip on clip off' screen.

Sent Cee Bailey's an email asking when and if they were going to be making some smoked multi height screens for the new Valk.  They'll prolly get back to me next week.  I like their stuff.

[Ed Norton]

This is the reply I got from Cee Bailey's  

Ed,
 
Thanks for your inquiry and we’ve already received several requests for this application which will require an elaborate bracketed mounting system. Unfortunately with have no plans at current to produce a shield for this application in the foreseeable future; sorry we don’t have better news at this time.
 
Regards,

[Bagger]

This is the reply I got from Cee Bailey's  

Ed,
 
Thanks for your inquiry and we’ve already received several requests for this application which will require an elaborate bracketed mounting system. Unfortunately with have no plans at current to produce a shield for this application in the foreseeable future; sorry we don’t have better news at this time.  Regards,

Well, that's not good.  Frankly, I don't understand why there would need to be "an elaborate bracketed mounting system".  Nothing like this was ever done before with hundreds of their windscreens.

I was out riding for a bit with the TALL windshield installed (took me 1.5 hours to do since I'm about as mechanical as a bowling ball).  Wow!  What a difference.  Same/same helmet and the wind noise was almost nil.  And, the force on my torso was gone, too.  Temperature was nearly 80* (F) and I had same/same gloves & Cycleport Kevlar jacket on .... very comfy and not hot.

Nice addition, but a bit too tall for me.  I'm 6'2" with 34" sleeves and I'm just looking over the Tall WS.  Yeah, I'm slouching until the Utopia backrest arrives.  But, I'd like it maybe 2" shorter.

I don't understand CB's response, Ed.  Just change the size, width, style, cut out the top like their Euro-screens.  Make it wider, narrower, yada, yada.  Same/same holes ... use the same front brackets, well nuts, etc.  I don't know what Cee B is talking about.  I may give them a call.

I may cut this one down in the top like a semi-smile and use that idea. 
 

[Ed Norton]

If you call Cee Bailey's ask them if we send them a honda windshield with the holes, if they could copy it. And we will use are brackets on it   

[Bagger]

Spoke with CBs couple minutes ago.  They don't have anything in the works presently, but said maybe in the fall.

I asked if they got a stock windscreen and made a copy of it, then modified it.  CBs said they get a bike from the dealer and then make the mock up on the bike.  I'm sure someone near them could 'volunteer' a bike for a bit for them to make the mock up.  Shouldn't take more than some cardboard overlay IMO.

I may have to cut mine up a bit before fall.  Need it just a tad shorter, or sit on a phone book. 

[wobray]

For this bike, Mother Honda's accessories (most of them that is) are a JOKE !!!!!

[Bagger]

For this bike, Mother Honda's accessories (most of them that is) are a JOKE !!!!!

The New Valk is terrific !

But, I tend to agree with your post.  Seems to me that Honda did not have a 'view' of what accessories should be offered when the bike came out.  Yes, it is new ... but, what have the engineers and other at Honda been doing for the last few years as they developed this bike? 

There are even things on the bike that look like .... "Oh, yeah .. let's put this on here ... ahhh ... I mean, there".

After market will fill the void to a degree, but since this bike will prolly not sell 1000's of units, it is impractical to spend the energy, time and money to develop products for such a small segment of the bike universe.  It's not going to be a Harley Street Glide in sales.

[luke]

hey all, I found a good roadster screen that fits the 14 Valkyrie perfect [I think] I got it from twisted throttle, its a mra roadsheild,code[mra,ro] you need the standard fitting kit also.[mra,hk] cost about $135 us total, you can set it at many different angles, I think I have found it's sweet spot, it gives you chest protection without dirty air messing with your head makes a huge difference on a longer run, it fits very easily to bars [just under cable clips] and is much less [industrial] looking than Honda's effort I think is pretty pathetic considering how much it costs, also contacted madstad but only got messed around, they didn't even answer my email, I wish I could post a photo but I can't, sorry.

[hubcapsc]

Here's their photo:



The OEM windshield is certainly lacking, if this one makes the ride less buffety,
it is a good thing 

-Mike

[Jambo100]

Don't bother with the stock Honda windscreen that is the "boulevard". It only makes an extremely minimal improvement in wind protection from stock (no windscreen). It is looks only. Doesn't do jack $hit. Put one on my based on Honda bucks purchase. Basically useless and was a PITA to install. Ed Norton's pics really shows it. You can see it deflects basically nothing. Not enthusiastic to get the super tall touring one that you will be looking through in the rain. Why not something OEM in the middle? Dumb.

[mikesgotmods]

   To those who have purchased the Honda touring or boulevard windscreen and are not happy with the height, give a call to Gustafsson Plastics, www.bikescreen.com/.  They offer custom height screens using your stock screen as a starting point, and make a new screen made to your height requirement.  Then use your factory mouting hardware for a perfect OEM fit.  They can do custom tints, and even do a flip at the top lip for more wind protection without too much height. I haven't called myself, just checked out the website.

[Bagger]

   To those who have purchased the Honda touring or boulevard windscreen and are not happy with the height, give a call to Gustafsson Plastics, www.bikescreen.com/.  They offer custom height screens using your stock screen as a starting point, and make a new screen made to your height requirement.  Then use your factory mouting hardware for a perfect OEM fit.  They can do custom tints, and even do a flip at the top lip for more wind protection without too much height. I haven't called myself, just checked out the website.

Thanx for the tip.  Could have used them for several bikes.

[maddoggie501]

I had the Honda short windshield and its basically useless except for keeping bugs off the speedometer.  I called Gustafason Plastics and ordered their replacement shield which is several inches higher and has a curve on the top lip.  It fits the original Honda mounts and works perfectly and does everything I need.  Seems like the wind hits me in the face shield.  Great improvement.
 

[mrtappan]

   I hate the feel of the OEM handle bar mounted screen.  You can push on it with one finger and watch the handle bars wiggle.  Riding on the interstate with it drives me nuts.  I keep thinking "What's that vibration?" and then realize its the wind blowing on the OEM shield shaking my bars to death.  Of course this is the only handle bar mounted windshield I've ever owned so some people may be used to this and don't even notice.

    I've been toying with the idea of making some simple fork mounts for the Valkyrie and using a Memphis Fats/Slim.  I haven't even began the investigatory leg of this but it has two potential mounting points on the outside of the upper forks for their covers. 

[hubcapsc]

but it has two potential mounting points on the outside of the upper forks for their covers. 

Wimpy bolts in plastic shells... and the cat-catchers would probably interfere with a
fork mounted screen...

-Mike

[maddoggie501]

Just wondering if your shakey front end is not the windshield but the crappy front Dunlop tire with the center rain groove around the circumference.  I had this type of front tire on other bikes and felt the same crap.  It will follow and road imperfections and drives me nuts on grooved cement roadways.  I have always replaced those type of Dunlops with other tires immediately.  However, there is no replacement tire for the front as of yet.  Its a Dunlop, dealer only, tire.

[dans2014]

  I have the Honda tall and at 6-4, its great for frontal wind, could be a bit wider but then wouldn't look as good. I'm very happy!!!!

[buzzard]

Luke,
I'm interested in seeing more of the windshield you have.
Can you post some pictures of the mounted shield on your Valk?
Curious about the windshield mount angle and how the bottom of the shield matches the contour at the top of the headlight .
Thanks,

buzzard