National Cycle windshield fitment question

[cookiedough]

Well, I finally got around today to ATTEMPT to fit my used vtx1800 national cycle switchblade 2-up windshield to my 98 Valk tourer. NO GO!  Even though the mount Q103 is the same,  even after I called up National Cycle,  they assured me it will fit even though windshield N21107 for VTX1800 is not    N21125 for 98 Valkyrie.  

I tried flexing and twisting it on and even put the Q103 bracket partially above the forks and still the bottom curved part of windshield hits the chrome headlight still need about 1 inch of clearance.  

Fricking National Cycle rep who said the minor difference of clearance will not matter was WRONG.  Now I am out 80 bucks or so for national cycle used windshield only will fit a vtx1800 bought used with some scratches on it and 140 bucks for the overpriced q103 new fork clamps which is a total ripoff should be 80 bucks tops for what you get.

who knew the valkyrie headlight is either up higher or bigger than the vtx 1800 headlight?  I trusted the mfg. national cycle to assure me it will fit from a vtx1800 to 98 valkyrie pretty sure they said is only about 1/2 inch difference around headlight.  Well, that cannot be since need 1 inch clearance for sure to get it in there around round headlight in front. 

Does anyone have a used national cycle switchblade 2-up windshield for valkyrie they want to get rid of?  I doubt it but just asking?  Can I cut out about 1 inch all over the bottom of the national cycle windshield polycarbonate material to get it to fit around the headlight?

[rockbobmel]

I feel your pain, Brother.    I have a 97 VT1100 and wanted so badly to put my Switchblade Chopped on my Valk.

I have a MS Fats on the Valk, but want a Switchblade, also so I can transfer the Chrome Lower deflectors once I get one. 

I might just bite the bullet and fork out for and ...........

[Fla. Jim]

Have you given any consideration to cutting the headlight cut out bigger? I know many have chopped theirs down so it should be doable.

[cookiedough]

Have you given any consideration to cutting the headlight cut out bigger? I know many have chopped theirs down so it should be doable.

Yah,  been reading reviews and seems like polycarbonate (lexan) is easy to cutout with a fine tooth jigsaw blade with tape around the 1 inch cutout pattern holding on tightly and keep going with the jigsaw then finely sanding the edges out. 

Either that, or my headlight that is on the 1998 Valkyrie is raised up 1 inch over stock.  Can anyone send me a picture of behind the front headlight of a tourer/standard to see if my headlight is raised 1 inch up since I do have aftermarket front turn signals that oddly has a bracket that goes behind the headlight for mounting purposes.   I need to know how the headlight mounts on a standard/tourer since it appears my headlight is OEM but could be raised up 1 inch or so beyond stock, not sure?

national cycle assured me it would fit since the cutout is darn near the same so maybe my headlight is raised up 1 inch beyond stock?

[Dale_K]

I have a National Cycle on my 98 Standard but I don't know a lot about it since it was already on the bike when I bought it.  National Cycle was pretty good about responding to my inquiry about a new replacement plastic shield to fit in the old frame.  It fit perfectly.

The mounting system is not so good because it's hard to get a wrench on the bolts with the windshield in the frame.  I had to mount the frame to the bike without the windshield in place and then put the windshield in the frame as a second step.

[cookiedough]

 well, national cycle emailed me back today.  They never told me when asked back in November before I bought the vtx1800 windshield but the rear brackets on back of windshield made for the valkyrie are 2 inches longer than on the vtx1800.  That would have been nice to know BEFORE I bought it used right thus the reason why I called BEFORE buying it. 

They will let me know if they can ship out, for free I hope or just cost of shipping,  the 2 chrome mounting plates on back of windshield made for a valkyrie vs. what is on there now the vtx1800.

I tried for like 3 hours messing around wondering why NOT fitting putting scratches in one of my chrome fork mount covers and few scratches on my chrome headlight since the windshield was rubbing on the top of headlight before I saw it needed a cloth on top.   

2 inch longer brackets would work I think giving me tops 1 inch clearance around headlight, if that. 

[cookiedough]

well,  restored faith in customer service with National Cycle for their windshield.  I do not go out my front door much at all so guessing a box was sitting there past week or more having the chrome brackets inside that fit the valkyrie vs. the vtx1800.  They never told me they shipped them out though, but free of charge is good customer service even though they originally said all is the same over the phone.

Will install hopefully next weekend and STOP eating BUGS....