1998 Tourer windshield

[Bonzo]

My windshield was so scratched and cloudy I was going to buy a new one. I tried some head light restorer product and I discovered that the problem was on the Inside of the windshield! A film was flaking off and the windshield was looking brand new. It took about an hour of hard rubbing but it looks almost brand new. I used Meqiar's Plastx, but I am sure any brand would work. It took three applications.

Does the stock windshield have a coating on the inside?  What a difference! I need to take the windshield off to finish it all.

[gordonv]

Yes. Honda does it this way.

There has been a lot of write up on this issue. Seems yours came off easier than others. I've had the best success with using tape. But since most new-to-me bikes, I've wanted a different size windshield, I've replaced them with a better one, and didn't have to go through all that trouble/time to get a see through one.

[Led]

Yea!!!!    I will spring for a new "Clearview" windshield,  before I spend HOURS, working over the old one.   Of which I STILL may not be happy with, when I am done!!!

YMMV!!!!!       

[BobB]

The plastic coating is actually a sheet and is on both sides.  It may be easier to remove it than you think.  I taped a piece of paper to my shield a few days ago with packing tape and when I removed it, a little of the coating came off with the tape.  I'm considering starting at the edge and trying to peal off the sheet...

[Beardo]

I've got a 98 tourer with a pretty bad windshield too but I think I'll just pony up for a new one whenever it annoys me enough or makes it unsafe due to poor visibility.

Should there be any concern for removing this film? It probably holds the windshield together in the event of an impact with a rock or whatever, much like laminated windshields in cars. 

Considering the original one lasted 17 years, it's not like it's a big expense to replace them that often. Just like regular maintenance, IMO.

[Jess from VA]

I finally broke down and ordered two Clearviews to replace my two OE '99 IS 15.5" polycarbinates.

Neither one is terrible, but both have seen better days, nicked and scratched, and both giving me some trouble with internal lines and spalling/fuzziness/spider-webbing which interfere with clear vision under certain lighting conditions. 

The idea of trying to resurrect 16-17yo polycarb shields with a lot of buffing, sanding and polishing does not appeal to me.

I will miss having those OE add-on wings on the sides of the OE shields, but my clearviews will both be 5" wider than stock (with no wings).  Whatever Honda made those wings from, it is way softer than their polycarb shields, and the wings are much more beat up than the shields.