Best windshield for a '99?

[sjo5531]

I've had my '99 for about a month now and tried two different National Cycle switchblade windshields, one was the two up and the last one was the shorty. I get pretty bad wind  buffeting from both, less from the shorty. I really like that I can pop them on or off, that's a great feature but anything over 60 mph and I'm getting a terrible beating.

Any suggestions?

[hubcapsc]

Maybe try some fork deflectors and/or AirWings to change the air flow... I
know some folks with your shield who like it a lot... I like the "pop off"
feature...

There's a guy on here who really likes these ginormous shields:

https://rifle.com/Classic-SS-Windshield-for-Valkyrie-P1897.aspx

It's been a while since I looked at air wing$  ...

http://bakerbuiltairwings.com/products.php?cat=11

This is a good place, he still makes fork deflectors for our bikes:

https://www.bigbikethings.com/Air_Deflector/p4325477_16655907.aspx

OEM shields are great. Clearview still makes the shields but the OEM
hardware is no longer available except for an arm and a leg used on ebay
and stuff...

-Mike

[MarkT]

My first shield on Deerslayer was a Rifle SS (Super-Size) shield.  It was basically a barn door.  Lots of bike buffeting.  I gave it to a friend with a Boss Hoss.  I had lucked out and traded another friend some welding work for his cut-down OEM shield, then I replaced the OEM plastic to get it back to original size.    Then I tipped it for streamlining, several other advantages - enumerated at my tech page here - http://horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/Windshield_Tipping/windshield_tipping.html

I have since gone to Clearview for the plastic both on this bike and on my 97 Tour, Jade.  Handy to me, Clearview is local, north of Denver now.  I modified the mounts on Jade so I can raise/lower the whole shield as well as tip it different amounts, on the road in a few minutes.  I always look over the shield unless I want to duck behind it in a storm.  I also use Baker wings on both road bikes.  Good air management.

[sjo5531]

Thanks for the replies. This was my first post here. Next time I'll have to be more specific about my Valk, it's a '99 GL1500C standard with less than 15k miles. Pretty much bone stock, just the way I wanted it. I was lucky to find it. Now I need to figure out how to post a pic...

[sjo5531]

Posting a pic of my '99 Valk, hope this works! 

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

[h13man]

I went with a SlipStreamer 17" SS 30 Classic but it's a hard mount and requires a bit of a revision to work properly but it does a fine job @ 75 mph. as far as buffeting is concerned. Remember thieves like quick detach shields also. I haven't rode w/o a shield in 60,000 + mi. I made set lowers that work too good as to the point they cause excessive heat but work well in cooler temps. (fall/spring)

[-mike-]

I do prefer the stock windshield mounts.
Replacing a delaminated OEM shield with a  Clearview one in stock dimensions with optional vent insert makes it even better.

-mike-

[RustyValkry]

I believe my bike has a Memphis Shades windshield.  It's fairly large which works for me because I'm so tall.  On my recent trip from Daytona Beach to New Jersey I too noticed a fair amount of head buffeting.  I detemined the source of the buffeting was air comng up from the fork area, a fairly common problem.  If I put my feet on the highway pegs the buffeting stopped or lessened.  I'm betting you're getting the buffeting from the same source.  Some kind of air deflector in the fork or engine guard area should help you.

[RustyValkry]

Maybe try some fork deflectors and/or AirWings to change the air flow... I
know some folks with your shield who like it a lot... I like the "pop off"
feature...

There's a guy on here who really likes these ginormous shields:

https://rifle.com/Classic-SS-Windshield-for-Valkyrie-P1897.aspx

It's been a while since I looked at air wing$  ...

http://bakerbuiltairwings.com/products.php?cat=11

This is a good place, he still makes fork deflectors for our bikes:

https://www.bigbikethings.com/Air_Deflector/p4325477_16655907.aspx

OEM shields are great. Clearview still makes the shields but the OEM
hardware is no longer available except for an arm and a leg used on ebay
and stuff...

-Mike

Thanks for those links.  Due to buffeting I experienced on my ride from FL. I was thinking about deflectors.  The ones shown on the Bigbikethings site might work for me.  The others would be in the way of my legs.

[sjo5531]

I installed a set of Memphis Shades lowers and it made a HUGE difference. So much that I probably won't be taking the windshield off this season. I was having to avoid 65+ speeds because of the pounding I was taking and now that doesn't happen.

I had to get creative with mounting, there was only one place where the brackets could go and clear the turn signals and triple clamp. Also ended up redrilling the holes in the clear plastic so I could flip them 180 to have the curved end up and make a better intersection with the windshield. I'm going to contact Motosport to see if I can get a set made without the holes pre-drilled and then I do my own to make a better fit and not have the two extra holes.

I do have more heat hitting my thighs but I can live with that. Thanks for all the comments, all of them were spot on.

[RustyValkry]

I installed a set of Memphis Shades lowers and it made a HUGE difference. So much that I probably won't be taking the windshield off this season. I was having to avoid 65+ speeds because of the pounding I was taking and now that doesn't happen.

I had to get creative with mounting, there was only one place where the brackets could go and clear the turn signals and triple clamp. Also ended up redrilling the holes in the clear plastic so I could flip them 180 to have the curved end up and make a better intersection with the windshield. I'm going to contact Motosport to see if I can get a set made without the holes pre-drilled and then I do my own to make a better fit and not have the two extra holes.

I do have more heat hitting my thighs but I can live with that. Thanks for all the comments, all of them were spot on.

I searched on the Memphis Shades website for lowers for Valkyrie and found nothing.  What deflectors I did see looked nothing like yours.  Can you paste a link to where you found those?  Thanks.

[sjo5531]

I got them from Motosports. The link here is for both the bracket and the clear shades.

https://www.motosport.com/memphis-shades-custom-lowers-plastic-with-mounting-kit?variant[MEM000O]=MEM000O-X001-Y001&variant[MEM000K]=MEM000K-X001-Y013

Hope this helps.

[camfromchilla]

I lucked out with mine.  I had a Vulcan that I need to get rid of parked next to my Valkyrie that had the genuine accessories. I noticed that the mounting points for the light bar and screen were all there on the Valkyrie so naturally they all migrated over. I just had to move the gauges up a few inches and all the Kawasaki gear bolted straight in. It's a quick remove so 2 screws each side and it pops off.

[Flat 6 man]

I too bought a Switchblade, because I prefer the look of my Valkyrie without a screen. I only use the screen for long, high speed trips. I chose Chopped because I don't want to look through the screen. Like you, I also experienced uncomfortable buffeting (I'm 6'2", but with most of my height in my legs). In researching it, I noticed almost all other screens have a flat top. So I cut two inches off the top of the screen (measured from the peak), and no more buffeting.

[Chrisj CMA]

Looks like to me some buffeting may be caused by how high the shield is mounted. That's a big hole over the headlight for air to be forced through and attack you. Maybe a taller one so you can put it down where it belongs.

[MarkT]

Looks like to me some buffeting may be caused by how high the shield is mounted. That's a big hole over the headlight for air to be forced through and attack you. Maybe a taller one so you can put it down where it belongs.

The way mine works, the air coming in over the headlight actualy HELPS buffeting of your head, as it fills air into the vacuum behind the shield so air behind your head doesn't try to fill the vacuum and batter your helmet.  I have deliberately lifted my Clearview shield (with OEM hardware) and tipped it back for streamlining to make the hole bigger.  And added a vent when I ordered the shield - but it's superfluous - don't need it with the shield raised.

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Clearview on all my bikes.
Last forever.
I always buy tour models.
Hard bags and the windshield are priceless.