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All of this. I want to put a 'shield on my '03 Springer, which I bought used. It appears to have the HD QD mounting brackets, but the shield didn't come with the bike. I'm looking at the HD shield (https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...eld/p/58770-96) but my problem is that the top of the thing reaches 18" above the headlight. I want to be able to see OVER it, not have to look through it. Does Harley have a shield that uses the brackets that's shorter?? My local dealer says I can (carefully) cut it down, but "hard-coated LexanŽ polycarbonate" is a b!tch to cut....
So, I'm done with the HD shields. No joy from any quarter with them, and I am NOT going to try to cut the 18" down, NFW.
Today I went to remove the HD bracket on the springer to try and clean up the look and prep it for what I'm figuring on getting - the Windvest 16" model. Well, lemme tell ya, what I thought was going to be an easy thing turned out to be not. I moved all the wires out of the way no problem. I removed the two bolts on the sides of the bracket (why is one shorter than the other?), and then the centering bolt just under the headlight, pulling the headlight to the side. No problem. I tried to pull the bracket up and outta there. Nope.
I discovered that the flange for that center bolt won't clear the brace that runs between the top of the two spring columns. I twisted and turned that sucker every which way, and the only thing I can figure is that I'm going to have to remove that brace and/or the handlebar. I looked at the installation guide for the thing on the HD parts web page which wants me to do all of that. There's got top be a better way. Someone PLEASE tell me I'm wrong, and show me how to get the thing out.
I ordered a 14" Windvest. It should be here Friday. Nice folks on the phone! In response to an email, it's the height they recommended, with the option of going to the 16" if it turns out the 14" is too short. I hope to install it over the weekend, and I'll try to report back with results.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
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Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
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