wreker
28th November 2005, 02:38
Here it is on my sporty. There are more pics in my gallery.
Bought it direct from Nat. Cycle. Part number N8513
http://tinypic.com/hvyv88.jpghttp://tinypic.com/hve8m9.jpg
I picked this up to help me ride more comfortably in the cold.
It's not the prettiest thing going, especially when you consider the custom fairings that a couple members here are putting together.
I did set it so I look over it. If you stood about 10 feet in front of the bike and looked at me, the top of the shield would be at my lips. I can't go any lower without cutting, or I'd loose the handlebar deflection.
Installation wasn't bad. Instructions are cheesy, but accurate. A lot of test fitting. It's not really meant to mount on drag bars, but it does work. I doesn't fit as close to the bike as it looks in the pictures on nationalcycle.com, perhaps due to my fork mount turn signals.
Forget "on the fly" adjusting. By that I mean you can't just pull over, losen the thumb screws, adjust, tighten again, and go. For the drag bars, you'll need to losen the allen bolts on the bar mount and adjust, and retighten. A longer process.
While riding:
As I said I look over it.
Looking throught it, objects are somewhat distorted, and closer than they appear. Looking over it is a good thing. I noticed I kept 4 seconds between myself and traffic moreso than usual. In that case, it's a good tool to force you to keep your focus on what is ahead rather than what is directly in front. Same for turns; I find I'm looking further through the turns than usual.
The air around my hands is still. That's what I was looking for most. My hands usually get cold faster than the rest of me, probably because I don't have decent winter gloves. (I will soon, and I'll review them as well.) The windshield makes a big difference.
Without a helmet I feel the wind just above my eyebrows. Had it up to 85 today, but my glasses kept falling forward on my nose. Had it not been for that, it would have been very pleasant. Slowed to 65 and all was well.
No more tears. I have regular ray-ban prescription wrap around sunglasses. They were expensive, I need them, and I don't wear contacts. I usually wear a helmet, but for juants around town, I would skip a helmet and just go with my "street shades". No tears till about 40, and forget 50+. Now with the windshield, I have no tears whatever. I'll get a lanyard and tighten up the shades.
With a helmet I had it up to 70 for a short time and noticed no extreme buffeting. Notice the rake follows the forks in the pics.
My sides feel the wind rather than my chest. No big deal.
My Harley cover still fits. Nice.
Some unexpected behavior:
The windshield successfully deflects the sound of the valvetrain directly to my ears. My ride is now more noisy then normal.
It creaks ocasionally. Actually it sounds like cracking.
There is enough room for my fork bag which mounts above my headlight.
My fork mount turn signals kind of light it up at night. A little annoying, like when the dash lights in the car are too bright. I'm just not used to having "light" reflecting like that at night.
I don't know if it's my perception, or reality, but the bike doesn't seem as "light" as without the shield for handling at speed. It's not clumsy, it just seems a little slower to respond. As I said, it could just be me.
With no idea of what to expect, I hoped it would be like an oasis behind the shield. It's not.
It does really cut the wind and that is what I wanted to keep me warm.
Not bad for 179.00.
As soon as it's warm again, I'll take it off, though I wonder if I'll replace it with a smaller one.
Bought it direct from Nat. Cycle. Part number N8513
http://tinypic.com/hvyv88.jpghttp://tinypic.com/hve8m9.jpg
I picked this up to help me ride more comfortably in the cold.
It's not the prettiest thing going, especially when you consider the custom fairings that a couple members here are putting together.
I did set it so I look over it. If you stood about 10 feet in front of the bike and looked at me, the top of the shield would be at my lips. I can't go any lower without cutting, or I'd loose the handlebar deflection.
Installation wasn't bad. Instructions are cheesy, but accurate. A lot of test fitting. It's not really meant to mount on drag bars, but it does work. I doesn't fit as close to the bike as it looks in the pictures on nationalcycle.com, perhaps due to my fork mount turn signals.
Forget "on the fly" adjusting. By that I mean you can't just pull over, losen the thumb screws, adjust, tighten again, and go. For the drag bars, you'll need to losen the allen bolts on the bar mount and adjust, and retighten. A longer process.
While riding:
As I said I look over it.
Looking throught it, objects are somewhat distorted, and closer than they appear. Looking over it is a good thing. I noticed I kept 4 seconds between myself and traffic moreso than usual. In that case, it's a good tool to force you to keep your focus on what is ahead rather than what is directly in front. Same for turns; I find I'm looking further through the turns than usual.
The air around my hands is still. That's what I was looking for most. My hands usually get cold faster than the rest of me, probably because I don't have decent winter gloves. (I will soon, and I'll review them as well.) The windshield makes a big difference.
Without a helmet I feel the wind just above my eyebrows. Had it up to 85 today, but my glasses kept falling forward on my nose. Had it not been for that, it would have been very pleasant. Slowed to 65 and all was well.
No more tears. I have regular ray-ban prescription wrap around sunglasses. They were expensive, I need them, and I don't wear contacts. I usually wear a helmet, but for juants around town, I would skip a helmet and just go with my "street shades". No tears till about 40, and forget 50+. Now with the windshield, I have no tears whatever. I'll get a lanyard and tighten up the shades.
With a helmet I had it up to 70 for a short time and noticed no extreme buffeting. Notice the rake follows the forks in the pics.
My sides feel the wind rather than my chest. No big deal.
My Harley cover still fits. Nice.
Some unexpected behavior:
The windshield successfully deflects the sound of the valvetrain directly to my ears. My ride is now more noisy then normal.
It creaks ocasionally. Actually it sounds like cracking.
There is enough room for my fork bag which mounts above my headlight.
My fork mount turn signals kind of light it up at night. A little annoying, like when the dash lights in the car are too bright. I'm just not used to having "light" reflecting like that at night.
I don't know if it's my perception, or reality, but the bike doesn't seem as "light" as without the shield for handling at speed. It's not clumsy, it just seems a little slower to respond. As I said, it could just be me.
With no idea of what to expect, I hoped it would be like an oasis behind the shield. It's not.
It does really cut the wind and that is what I wanted to keep me warm.
Not bad for 179.00.
As soon as it's warm again, I'll take it off, though I wonder if I'll replace it with a smaller one.