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Windshield Question

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Old May 4, 2022 | 12:29 AM
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I mounted this Harley "Wind Splitter" windshield on my 2020 Lowrider. Around town, its OK. On the highway, the buffeting is horrible. It has a curve at the top of the shield that is supposed to deflect the wind over your head. Sounds good, but in reality, it adds extra turbulence that rattles your eyeballs. I'm thinking of trimming it off. Any suggestions on how I might do that?
Thanks

 
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Old May 4, 2022 | 01:07 AM
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I made a template of the top of the windshield and moved it down to where I wanted to draw the cut line, I then used painters tape and covered the windshield where I was going to cut, I went approx 4 inches above and below the cut line (just to cover where the jig saw was going to track), then I drew the cut line on the tape with a sharpie, I bought a jigsaw blade with a high tooth per inch count ( I believe I used a 24 TPI or 32 TPI. Go real slow and don't force it, once it is cut I used 1000 grit sandpaper to smooth the top of the windshield and round the cut edges off, just be careful not to roll the sandpaper over onto the windshield. You may even want to tape both sides of the windshield. I would also support the windshield on the side you started cutting on, once I got several inches into the cut, I used two small blocks of wood and a pair of vice-grips to just hold the edges so they didn't vibrate the piece I was cutting off.
 
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Old May 4, 2022 | 08:50 AM
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Excellent! Thanks for the great tips.
 
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Old May 5, 2022 | 06:07 AM
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Before you go cutting anything...does the mounting system allow you to make small changes in the angle of the windshield ?
I have a "Windvest" on my FXR. I"ve found small changes in the aspect angle can re-direct airflow and really help.

 
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Old May 5, 2022 | 07:58 PM
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Originally Posted by guido4198
Before you go cutting anything...does the mounting system allow you to make small changes in the angle of the windshield ?
I have a "Windvest" on my FXR. I"ve found small changes in the aspect angle can re-direct airflow and really help.
Unfortunately, no. Its a quick mount harley shield. I can slide it up or down an inch or two on the fork tubes but the angle is fixed.
 
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Old May 8, 2022 | 08:39 AM
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Before you cut your windshield, ride the bike until you get the buffeting....then place your left arm across your chest and see if that changes the buffeting. If it does, you have wind coming from below...around bottom of shield and tank area. If not, then you may have issues with wind above your screen.
I cut a windshield down on my Sportster.... pretty much same as wonkey did....masking tape, sketched my new line, cut with a hand coping saw. Then fine file to smooth cut edges, and sandpaper to smooth file marks and slightly round the edges. Then wiped with some denatured alcohol to clean edge. You could not tell the difference once all done! Good luck and keep us posted.
 
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Old May 8, 2022 | 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Spartanden
Before you cut your windshield, ride the bike until you get the buffeting....then place your left arm across your chest and see if that changes the buffeting. If it does, you have wind coming from below...around bottom of shield and tank area. If not, then you may have issues with wind above your screen.
I cut a windshield down on my Sportster.... pretty much same as wonkey did....masking tape, sketched my new line, cut with a hand coping saw. Then fine file to smooth cut edges, and sandpaper to smooth file marks and slightly round the edges. Then wiped with some denatured alcohol to clean edge. You could not tell the difference once all done! Good luck and keep us posted.
I took your suggestion and unfortunately the buffering is definitely coming over the top. I cut off the portion on the shield that up-turns with a saw type dremel then sanded etc. Came out great. Did it help? Yes. A little. But what was a definite improvement was, because my line of sight was directly thru the curve, I no longer have the sensation I'm looking thru a fish tank!
 
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Old May 8, 2022 | 03:26 PM
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Well 1 step at a time!!
 
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Old May 8, 2022 | 05:20 PM
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You can get a windshield vent that pushes the air up from the bottom, it operates like the one that is on the 2014 and up SG, ultra's.....ETC. A friend of m one did that and it helps tremendously.

This is an example, I believe they make them with a door you can close.

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

 
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Old May 8, 2022 | 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by WONKEY
You can get a windshield vent that pushes the air up from the bottom, it operates like the one that is on the 2014 and up SG, ultra's.....ETC. A friend of m one did that and it helps tremendously.

This is an example, I believe they make them with a door you can close.

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

You may be right. My last bike was a Triglide with a smaller vent that work very well. Almost zero buffeting. Thanks for the tip.
 
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