Windshield damage ??

[Transam87020]

My windshield has a weird rainbow line pattern on it as i look through it with the sun at my back.
If you look through it from front of bike its not visible. It almost looks sand blasted. I have a pic but site says its to large. Has anyone seen this and is there anyway to repair it or is it food for the fishes
Thanks,
Chris

[Mikey]

Sounds to me, you've been cleaning it a lot and got some scratches in it!! If it's more than you can stand, I say it toast!!

[MONK]

Couple things to suggest. First, it might be a good time to chop the windscreen. That way you wouldn't have to look through it. Second, if you need a new/different windscreen, I have quite a few you could choose from. I seem to be collecting them.

[ButterSmooth]

Light refracting through or reflecting off of thin film coatings can produce a spectrum of light, just like a rainbow. I'm sure you've seen a similar effect with sunlight reflecting off of a puddle with an oil slick. Commonly seen after rain on the road.

Get some plexi-glass restorer and polish the shield then clean it with isopropyl alcohol to remove any film. That may improve the transparency.

Edit: Just as a note, coatings and waxes can cause this effect.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Light refracting through or reflecting off of thin film coatings can produce a spectrum of light, just like a rainbow. I'm sure you've seen a similar effect with sunlight reflecting off of a puddle with an oil slick. Commonly seen after rain on the road.

Get some plexi-glass restorer and polish the shield then clean it with isopropyl alcohol to remove any film. That may improve the transparency.

Edit: Just as a note, coatings and waxes can cause this effect.

" isopropyl alcohol " .... ??? .... I wouldn't .....jmho .... Mike

[ButterSmooth]

" isopropyl alcohol " .... ??? .... I wouldn't .....jmho .... Mike

I just went out and cleaned one of my retired/spare windscreens with 50% isopropyl with no deleterious effects whatsoever. What do you suggest to remove chemical films? Very few things are milder then alcohol.

Edit: After some research, I found an industry flyer that included isopropyl alcohol in it's recommended cleaners/disinfector for acrylic and polycarbonate.

However: Acrylic that has been 'flame polished' will craze when exposed to isopropyl. Flame polishing degrades the acrylic.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I just went out and cleaned one of my retired/spare windscreens with 50% isopropyl with no deleterious effects whatsoever. What do you suggest to remove chemical films? Very few things are milder then alcohol.

Glad to hear you had no problems. Personally I like liquid detergents with or without water .... The problem with removing various chemicals, is when they are on/in a material that is Absorbent .... I suppose if Alcohol is on only BRIEFLY it may not do any harm ....however on hard surfaces I like detergent ..... JMHO .... Mike

[Baron14y]

My windshield has a weird rainbow line pattern on it as i look through it with the sun at my back.
If you look through it from front of bike its not visible. It almost looks sand blasted. I have a pic but site says its to large. Has anyone seen this and is there anyway to repair it or is it food for the fishes
Thanks,
Chris

I just noticed that on mine. Fortunately, it is at the bottom, well below my normal line of sight.

[Piratezz]

Polaroid sunglasses, can also make the windscreen look like a rainbow, same as you drive behind a cager, with a tempered backwindow, you see the marks where the heat was applied to harden the glass.
the sun increases this effect, I think cleaning doesn't do the trick, but I don't have a solution either...

[UtahPete]

I just went out and cleaned one of my retired/spare windscreens with 50% isopropyl with no deleterious effects whatsoever. What do you suggest to remove chemical films? Very few things are milder then alcohol.

The windshields are either acrylic or polycarbonate...plastic. I've not heard of a motorcycle windshield maker recommending anything but soapy water and a soft cloth to clean it. Then, something like All-Clear to polish it.

[UtahPete]

My windshield has a weird rainbow line pattern on it as i look through it with the sun at my back.
If you look through it from front of bike its not visible. It almost looks sand blasted. I have a pic but site says its to large. Has anyone seen this and is there anyway to repair it or is it food for the fishes. Thanks, Chris

How old is it and how have you been cleaning it? You're not giving us much to go on.

[Plarimer]

I’ve had this happen twice, once with a pair of glasses and once with a windshield. Both are made from composite material.It was due to faulty forming of both during the manufacturing process, thus the rainbow affect.

[Pooch]

If you find you would like to replace the windshield I recommend an F4Custom.
I had one on my Gold Wing and loved it. This is right off of their website and I personally vouch for every claim listed.
Often it only took water and paper towels to clean the shield. Yes... paper towels...will not scratch the shield.
When it comes time to replace the shield on my ‘21 RTL I will definitely buy another F4. Pricey but worth it.

https://f4customs.com/

UPGRADE YOUR MOTORCYCLE'S WINDSHIELD
High Optics Polycarbonate
Fantastic Scratch Resistance
Great Rain Shedding
Impact Resistance.
Chemically Sealed. Cleans with any Glass Cleaner

[UtahPete]

If you find you would like to replace the windshield I recommend an F4Custom.
I had one on my Gold Wing and loved it. This is right off of their website and I personally vouch for every claim listed.
Often it only took water and paper towels to clean the shield. Yes... paper towels...will not scratch the shield.
When it comes time to replace the shield on my ‘21 RTL I will definitely buy another F4. Pricey but worth it.

https://f4customs.com/

UPGRADE YOUR MOTORCYCLE'S WINDSHIELD
High Optics Polycarbonate
Fantastic Scratch Resistance
Great Rain Shedding
Impact Resistance.
Chemically Sealed. Cleans with any Glass Cleaner

The F4 is made from the scratch-resistant polycarbonate material, unlike most others, which are made from acrylic.

[Transam87020]

Sorry haven't been able to get on here for a while. For the most part I have just used water. I did clean it once with Slipstream motorcycle windshield cleaner, I have used it on my old Goldwing windshield ( a Slipstream ) with no ill effect. This is not the original shield as it had a goldwing vent installed and is clear. My understanding is my 2015 RTS came originally with a shorter than stock shield with a light tint but I could be mistaken. I hadn't noticed it to this extent last year but it only shows at certain angles. If the sun is at your back its pretty distracting through most of the shield. The po may have used something harsh when cleaning it. I did notice it slightly when I purchased it last August but not this bad. Its not just the rainbow it seems kinda like bunches of pinholes but you don't feel anything when u rub your hand over surface. I hate to drop $400 for a shield if I don't have to as I was going to install a hitch and harness. But push comes to shove the shield would be the obvious choice.
Thanks

[Transam87020]

Couple things to suggest. First, it might be a good time to chop the windscreen. That way you wouldn't have to look through it. Second, if you need a new/different windscreen, I have quite a few you could choose from. I seem to be collecting them.

I might end up hitting you up. "If its not one thing its another thing" Roseanna Roseanna dana

[Transam87020]

Has anyone heard of these guys https://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/SpyderRTprod.html they seem to have a lot of science behind their shields. Has anyone looked into or bought one of their shields ?
Thanks

[Peter Aawen]

Has anyone heard of these guys https://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/SpyderRTprod.html they seem to have a lot of science behind their shields. Has anyone looked into or bought one of their shields ?
Thanks

Anyone heard of them?!? Anyone looked into or bought one of their shields?!? I'd say so!!

There's a LOT of info here on the Forum about them/their windshields at al, well worth a search & doing some reading if you want to know more. Even just typing 'calsci' into the search bar & clicking on the 'Search titles only' box before hitting the 'submit' button will bring back maybe 3 pages of threads.

[Transam87020]

Here is the windshield. resized a couple of times so hope its visible.
looking at calsci and f4 as possible replacements.

[Transam87020]

I did some measurements and this shield is a giant, 28 inches tall 29 inches wide at widest point. only thing I've found so far this large was the f4 . How can u tell its their shield ? is their a logo or mark somewhere on it ?
Thanks

[rmag]

I did some measurements and this shield is a giant, 28 inches tall 29 inches wide at widest point. only thing I've found so far this large was the f4 . How can u tell its their shield ? is their a logo or mark somewhere on it ?
Thanks

My f4 shield has name and dot number hot pressed into lower left corner.

[UtahPete]

Has anyone heard of these guys https://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/SpyderRTprod.html they seem to have a lot of science behind their shields. Has anyone looked into or bought one of their shields ?
Thanks

See my thread https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...ds-on-2014-RTL

Here's another recent thread https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...ile-test-drive

[Transam87020]

Thanks, still debating which shield to get. I'll call Don at f4 and the fella at Calsci this week.
Thanks again

[Bensonoid]

When I called Don he had a "blemished" shield that he sold for a great price, I've had it for 3 yrs. and haven't found the "blem" yet. I clean mine with dollar store glass cleaner and
those blue shop paper towels, no scratches yet.

[GreatPumpkin]

Monk....What windshields do you have ?? I have a 2014 RTL and want a shorter shield......Height of the stock shield is right in my line of vision....Would like a vent in it too if they make such a thing.....e mail me.....don't know how messaging here works....thanks....joy yippeee.joy@gmail.com