Questions about windshields?

[CoreyP]

The bike I bought came with a Memphis fats windshield, 19 H 22 wide.

I usually ride with no windshield which is fine, I prefer it but for a long haul I need a shield.

I did some test riding and I did get the shield to work with baker air wings which also came with the bike. Without the air wings my head bounces around terribly and the shield is a little to tall. I don't like having to look through my helmet and a windshield along with rain bugs etc, on the windshield.

So the plan is this. I'm going to trim 2 inches off the windshield. Testing will then happen as to what effect that has? It will get the windshield lower so I can see over it. Wind wise,not sure what will happen?

My question is do any of you run narrower windshield and what effect does that have on over all wind flow? I'm think of just buying a smaller sport shield but I really don't know how these things work on a cruiser?   Example https://memphisshades.com/products/pop-top-sportshield

I'm going to cut down my windshield and go from there but looks wise I would like the smallest windshield out there that keeps my head from bouncing around and keeps a decent amount of wind off my chest. I figuring you guys have probably tried out just about everything at this point... 

I also don't like the loss of performance with a windshield, it is very noticeable with the windshield I have now.  Goal is simple. Smallest windshield I can get that keeps enough wind off of me for 400 miles in a day without making me dead tired. Cold is no concern for me, it's rare I ride in the 40's. Most of my riding is 60 to 95 degrees F. That's the climate I live in not by choice. August is my least ridden month of the year. Every day here is 80% humidity and about 92 degrees, day after day in August. 

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

Out of curiosity, have you ever ridden the bike with the Baker wings but no windshield? I only ask because I have a Honda accy shield (same as the tourer factory shield but w/ no logo) and I know that my excess wind and buffeting comes from around the sides. When I put my feet out to the highway pegs, the air amplifies because it "ramps" up my legs. If the wind is controlled well by the wings, maybe a minimal shield is all you really need to open up a pocket when at highway speeds.

[jnicks01]

I can easily do a good hundreds of miles a day with the National Cycle Street Shield.  Quick release too.  Enough to keep the wind off my chest and into my face shield.  Took me a few times to get it right, but once I did, very minimal buffeting and plenty of air to keep me cool.  For the price, I wouldn't complain or change a thing.

[Bagger John - #3785]

Why trim it?

Memphis offers a number of Fats windshields in different heights. Put yours in the Classifieds and buy one 2" shorter.

I have several in different heights plus a Bat Wing and a Bob Dron fairing for use with my Tourer. In extremely warm weather I put the Dron on the bike, else I run one of the shields or the fairing. It all depends on what the temps will be like that day.

[signart]

Try kicking the bottom forward about 1" with some flat .080 or.100 aluminum stock. I did this when I was running a MS and was amazed at the improvement in the way it performed. I replaced the original MS plastic with some acrylic that I cut using the original as a pattern and trimmed it 2" shorter.
I might have some pics I can dig up of the extensions I fabbed up on my shop computer.
By doing this it kicks the top of the windshield back considerably more than 1", can't remember exactly how much,

[TDuff]

Clearview Windshields has a sale on this weekend.  I have a shortened on on my I.S. and like it.

Terry

[CoreyP]

Cut my shield down to 17 inches which went surprisingly well.

As far as performance, I'm still getting a head bounce over over 60 MPH much less than what I was getting with a 19 inch shield height. The shield is better like this than the original shield height.  Didn't put on the air wings. I am close to getting it right. I think my next thing will be to push the windshield out with some extensions which will lower the shield more but I think more importantly to allow more air to get through the gap between the windshield and headlight.

To the comment of sell this shield and buy a shorter one. I think I would just like to experiment with this one until I can figure out the aerodynamics of this bike. The air wings stopped my problems so the air is coming up from below but it's a matter of figuring it out as far as what will work that I like. 

I got this weeks project planned. Extend the bottom out, we will see what happens.

[h13man]

I think my next thing will be to push the windshield out with some extensions which will lower the shield more but I think more importantly to allow more

I had to do this to get my Slipstreamer 17" Classic to fit right. I made 1 1/4" spacers to get the clearance over the speedo/tach to get the right shield angle and get a tight fit to the headlight.

[6adan]

  I went with a Gustafsson on my 2000CT. You can get just about any color you want and add what they call a euro flip all at no extra cost. You can see my bike on there website, it is the two tone green with light green windshield.