cutting down windshield
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,160
Likes: 62
From: GA.
cutting down windshield
I think I'm gonna cut my RK windshield down some. I'm guessing that a jigsaw would be the best bet for this? Anyone else done this? Tips or tricks?
Here are 3 pages worth of good info. Recent stuff too.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...indshield.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...indshield.html
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 929
Likes: 1
From: Central CA
Just cut mine down two inches.
1. Make a pattern of you windshield by tracing on a piece of cardboard.
2. Drop the pattern down to the desired height and mark with a sharpie.
3. Use masking tape to protect the area where cutting.
4. Use a fine blade on a jig saw and cut slowly.
5. Clean cut edge with sandpaper.
1. Make a pattern of you windshield by tracing on a piece of cardboard.
2. Drop the pattern down to the desired height and mark with a sharpie.
3. Use masking tape to protect the area where cutting.
4. Use a fine blade on a jig saw and cut slowly.
5. Clean cut edge with sandpaper.
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,160
Likes: 62
From: GA.
Thanks, guys.
I think I'll give it a try this afternoon. I'm headed to Tampa this weekend, about 450 miles or so. Gonna ride with my dad a few days while there. Don't much care for the shield the way it is now, so thought I'd cut it down some and see if it helps any. If it does, I may ride with the shield down there. If I don't like it, I'm just gonna leave it at his house and ride back home in the wind.
I think I'll give it a try this afternoon. I'm headed to Tampa this weekend, about 450 miles or so. Gonna ride with my dad a few days while there. Don't much care for the shield the way it is now, so thought I'd cut it down some and see if it helps any. If it does, I may ride with the shield down there. If I don't like it, I'm just gonna leave it at his house and ride back home in the wind.
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,160
Likes: 62
From: GA.
Well I cut it down a few inches, and it's way worse than before. Feels like someone is shaking the hell out of my head. Guess I'll keep riding with the wind in my face........
Just cut mine down two inches.
1. Make a pattern of you windshield by tracing on a piece of cardboard.
2. Drop the pattern down to the desired height and mark with a sharpie.
3. Use masking tape to protect the area where cutting.
4. Use a fine blade on a jig saw and cut slowly.
5. Clean cut edge with sandpaper.
1. Make a pattern of you windshield by tracing on a piece of cardboard.
2. Drop the pattern down to the desired height and mark with a sharpie.
3. Use masking tape to protect the area where cutting.
4. Use a fine blade on a jig saw and cut slowly.
5. Clean cut edge with sandpaper.
Novice
Joined: Jan 2009
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 619
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From: Midway, UT.
Do the cloth snap on lowers work as well as the pricy ones from HD?
Thanks
Terry
Thanks
Terry
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 836
Likes: 4
From: NC / SC between the Mtns and the Ocean
Cuda, may try the chrome baffle that looks like an upside down dish that goes between the forks, and/or the chrome air deflectors that mount to the outside of the forks.
Where do you feel the wind coming from that seems to be the problem, if you move your hand around some and feel yourself blocking wind that seems to reduce the vibration around your head, it may be a clue, like if the wind is coming from up from under the shield around the tank, those things mentioned above might help.
How far up does the windshield come now, if a straight line went across the top of it, would it hit you in the face, chin, neck, below?
Aside from the redirection of air that may be coming from below the shield or around the bottom, which the baffle and deflectors may address, I think there's also something to the height of the shield, if it's around chin level give or take, most say you can see over it well enough, but doesn't go into super buffeting mode w/ the vibrations, a little lower than that though can cause significant increased buffeting, because the air is like skipping off your head helmet, move a shield even further down, like a shorty and it still blocks the wind off your chest area, but your head gets more or less full wind. For some that can't find a good compromise of a higher shield they still see over, I've heard the shorty style is similar to riding w/out the shield around the head area, but still takes the force off your chest, which may be more comfortable for some...
Tmair, the soft lowers are only recommended for cooler temperatures, like around 50 or below F, because they block a lot of air, unlike the aerodynamic real lowers, which block air to the leg, but still direct air to the engine, so I'm told...
The air deflectors I mentioned are believed by some to be a good compromise, some still say they take em off in summer, but it's not required AFAIK...
Where do you feel the wind coming from that seems to be the problem, if you move your hand around some and feel yourself blocking wind that seems to reduce the vibration around your head, it may be a clue, like if the wind is coming from up from under the shield around the tank, those things mentioned above might help.
How far up does the windshield come now, if a straight line went across the top of it, would it hit you in the face, chin, neck, below?
Aside from the redirection of air that may be coming from below the shield or around the bottom, which the baffle and deflectors may address, I think there's also something to the height of the shield, if it's around chin level give or take, most say you can see over it well enough, but doesn't go into super buffeting mode w/ the vibrations, a little lower than that though can cause significant increased buffeting, because the air is like skipping off your head helmet, move a shield even further down, like a shorty and it still blocks the wind off your chest area, but your head gets more or less full wind. For some that can't find a good compromise of a higher shield they still see over, I've heard the shorty style is similar to riding w/out the shield around the head area, but still takes the force off your chest, which may be more comfortable for some...
Tmair, the soft lowers are only recommended for cooler temperatures, like around 50 or below F, because they block a lot of air, unlike the aerodynamic real lowers, which block air to the leg, but still direct air to the engine, so I'm told...
The air deflectors I mentioned are believed by some to be a good compromise, some still say they take em off in summer, but it's not required AFAIK...
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 1
From:
Be careful of the tape you use on the shield...it can leave a residue that is difficult to get off or impossible. Mine has some marks from the tape that is still visible when the sun hits it at certain angles.
That being said, the correct height of a windshield makes a world of difference. Comfortably seated, I look aprox. 3" above my shield. ..Wind and bugs fly over my head yet I don't have to look through the windshield.
made a big difference on my ride...love it
all the best with this...do a search to get more info
ride safe,