How To: the $40 Windsheild - Page 4

**cagie** · 05-19-2009, 08:43 AM

It dawned on me that I didn't point out an important bend. If you look at the third post (How To: the $40 Windsheild) note the uprights where they attach to the cross member. They are bent to fit around the cross member. The purpose of this is to reduce the stress on the metal and allow more even pressure of the metal to lexan contact (that make sense?)

Also wanted to point out that the second mounting idea (post #19) didn't work as well as I had hoped. They seemed to cause too much vibration which lead to cracking of the lexan.

I want to thank everyone who has tried this or is thinking about trying this. Do you think it would be a good idea to compile all this into one document that could be downloaded? I suppose once we get some reports back about personal experiences in building one, results, etc. that could go into it...

**Guba** · 05-19-2009, 09:28 AM

I noted those bends. As for the mounts, I'm pretty sure I'm using the original design. I think it would be great to compile it all into one document. At this point I wish mine was done, but yardwork seems to call and it won't wait.

**bB2NER** · 10-11-2009, 10:37 PM

Cagie, Replaced the plastic on that shield ya made. Made it 2" taller and filled in around the headlight. Thanks again Bro!

**ASE-Tech** · 10-25-2009, 10:37 PM

Ok, I am "attempting" to do this project. Its not very often I take on something like this, so wish me luck.

I did notice that the 1 aluminum piece (48") isnt enough for the 14" cross, 2 10" down supports AND the 4 4" fork supports, but talked with Cagie and said to reduce the fork supports to 3 1/2" and drill the side plates accordingly it shouldnt be a problem. But if you wish to go the 4" route then you will need an extra length of aluminum and drill all the pieces as they are on the template.

So far so good, I have the pieces cut out, workin on drilling, tapping and finishing the metal, and sanding the "roughly cut" lexan edges.. lol I will be posting some pics of my progress soon. Or as time allows. Everything I cut, I did with a jigsaw, and I dont have the steadiest of hands so please excuse the crudity of my process.

**flitecontrol** · 10-25-2009, 11:08 PM

Don't sweat it. You can rasp/file/sand a lot of unsteady saw marks out and only you will know!

**cagie** · 10-25-2009, 11:10 PM

Don't forget the plastic polish, from experience I know it works.

JunkyardDog · 10-26-2009, 01:08 AM

You all enjoy your windshields. I've tried several, and will never use one again. They interfered with the bikes handling, causing headshake, they quickly got so covered with bugs you couldn't see through them, which made the bike look terrible, and instead of blocking the air for a smooth quiet ride, like on a Goldwing, they caught the air, concentrated it, and it all wound up hitting my face shield, causing my helmet to move around, and a lot of extra wind noise. I like it so much better without a windshield, except for the stock Goldwing windshield. I don't know why those work so well. Jerry.

**ASE-Tech** · 10-26-2009, 07:58 AM

Rather than spend $80 for a ws, gona save half and have some kind of project instead of falling asleep in my chair at 6:30.. lol

Some are braver than I, but on a ride last year they took us down a packed gravel road and I got pelted badly with some loose gravel and I really didnt enjoy it especially when it hit my face shield. If I had a half, or open face helmet, it woulda really sucked.

Figured I could atleast give it a shot, some swear by them, and others not so much. If I catch a rock and it cracks the lexan, I can replace it cheaper than a new face shield or tooth... lol. And if I dont like it, there's always craigslist or ebay.

**flitecontrol** · 10-26-2009, 10:51 AM

I have shields on both bikes. Really reduces wind buffeting at highway speeds, and I like that. Yeah, bugs are a problem, but the cooler weather is taking care of that issue. If they don't hit the windshield, they'll wind up on the faceshield, so there is no avoiding them. Have to clean the windshield on the cage too!

JunkyardDog · 10-26-2009, 06:17 PM

The last windshield I had, a Memphis Shades on my Vulcan 750, was so bad it was downright dangerous at freeway speeds. It would catch the wind like a sail, and destabilize the bike, resulting in sometimes severe headshake. The helmet buffeting was so bad it would try to blow my helmet off, and my face shield STILL got covered in bugs.

I clean the windshields on my car and truck when I put gas in them. Takes a couple minutes. Took over an hour to clean the bike windshield, had to remove it (was just a matter of loosening 4 Allen screws, and it came right off), soak it in the bathtub full of water long enough to soften up the bugs, wash it gently, then blow the water off of it with compressed air, to avoid spots and scratches, and put it back on, only to have the same thing happen on the next ride. I paid $300 for this windshield, and the bike specific mounting hardware, and wound up selling it to a Harley rider for $50. I threw the hardware away. This was my last windshield, and an expensive lesson. No more windshields for me. It did look cool on the bike, when it was clean, but made every ride an unpleasant experience. Jerry.

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