Windshield Mod - Opinions/Suggestions Please

[rleathen]

Well I am in the market for a new windshield since the bottom corner of my Calsci cracked. I like the concept of the adjustable windshield that CHAD offers but do not really like the look of the actual windshield itself. I like the look of the BRP Ultra Touring Windshield but can't wait till the end of the year for the 25" one to actually be available which leaves me only the 23" windshield.

I checked with Industries 7 and I can purchase the adjusting mechanism of the CHAD minus the actual windshield. My plan is to use the CHAD adjusting mechanism on the new 23" BRP Ultra Touring Windshield to make it an adjustable 23" BRP Ultra Touring windshield in essence getting the best of both worlds.

Is anybody really knowledgable with drilling holes in the new Quantum Polycarbonate windshield materials ?

Since this mod is still in the planning stages (the 23" BRP windshield has been ordered and my dealer is seeing about ordering in the CHAD adjusting mechanism) I would like to hear some feedback (good and bad) from my fellow spyderlovers about this idea.

Thanks

 

[Dragonrider]

Check out the F1 from Motorcycle windshields - Marcel sent me a 31" shield that looks just like the BRP unit

 

[rleathen]

With all due respect any product manufacturer that has received so many good AND bad comments that Marcel has makes me think twice about his products. Yes you do judge a company by the feedback that it gets, both good AND bad. BRP makes a great windshield and Industries 7 makes a great adjusting mechanism. I would prefer to try this approach before I would even consider going with the F1 as you suggested.

Besides I personally get more satisfaction out of creating a very unique mod or at least trying to create a unique mod. I would prefer to explore this idea to its fullest before I consider going the route you suggested.

 

[widowmaker2011]

With all due respect any product manufacturer that has received so many good AND bad comments that Marcel has makes me think twice about his products. Yes you do judge a company by the feedback that it gets, both good AND bad. BRP makes a great windshield and Industries 7 makes a great adjusting mechanism. I would prefer to try this approach before I would even consider going with the F1 as you suggested.

Besides I personally get more satisfaction out of creating a very unique mod or at least trying to create a unique mod. I would prefer to explore this idea to its fullest before I consider going the route you suggested.

Yes there are a miriad of choices in windshields now which is good for all of us. , some people have good luck with marcel , some haven't , some new owners of the touring shield from BRP love it and a couple posts talk about having already taken it off because of buffetting, some people don't like the fact that the current adjustable windshield is a (too close) copy of the Madstad adjustable windshield mount patented by Madstad Engineering 3 years ago... I know Madstad put tons and tons of hours and design into their bracket which is now legendary on Suzuki V-stroms and to have a company suddenly have one that is the same dimension and size (grab the top bracket from either one and compare hmmm) is really dissapointing in my book, although I'm sure its just a coincidence. :dontknow: I know there was some legal action going on last year but don't know where it went because Madstad was so small and it was very very expensive to chase someone over the border...
Anyways , theres more manufacturers out there , and choice is good.

 

[rleathen]

I appreciate the responses thus far but I want to make sure that this thread does not turn into a Marcel bashing thread or a "he copied their design thread".

 

[widowmaker2011]

I appreciate the responses thus far but I want to make sure that this thread does not turn into a Marcel bashing thread or a "he copied their design thread".

I'm not bashing Marcel , in fact his original F1 made my maiden 1400 mile trip last summer in all sorts of weather very bearable but I hated the look and the fit (which was fixed with some drilling and reshaping). his later queen windshield worked awesome , but really put me in a bubble and it was almost too good at cutting the wind. My wife has the 23 inch BRP new windshield and LOVES it , but I hate it as no matter where I sit (and I tried the 25" too) I get massive wind noise at the base of my helmet. I am 6'2. She is 5'6 and says its perfect (the 23"). . I'm not bashing anyone else either , but in my opinion there's more that goes into a product than just "does it work". Having been in Madstads shop and had him spend alot of time on my Buell Ulysses getting the
wind just right makes me respect him and what he does. I am not taking anything away from anyone on this site (after all he had nothing to do with the design, he is merely a distributor and by all accounts the CHAD works very well. ) but the bracket design just bugs me.. You're certainly welcome to do your own research. Its my opinion only and you don't need to take it. You can purchase what works for you.
:2thumbs:

 

[Firefly]

The CHAD rocks. I also drilled holes in my GIVI and mounted it to the CHAD bracket and it worked pretty well. I've tried many different windshields and the CHAD is fantastic. Round the corners and it looks great.

Marcel and his shields suck in my opinion.

 

[rleathen]

Hey Firefly tell me how you really feel :yikes: Are any of the shields you have mounted made of the Quantum Polycarbonate material and if yes did you drill any holes through them ?

 

[Bersquack]

We really need a try-before-you-buy windshield program.:2thumbs:

 

[tatt2r]

go with the chad and cut it down like lamonster did ...i'm not a big fan of windshields but my girl has one on her spyder and i've tried 3 different ones on mine and i must admit the chad is #1 ...and nmn is have a 10% off sale on them as we speak :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Director]

Just curious...

How did your Calsci crack? I have a 22" Calsci on my Spyder and I like it. It seems well constructed, so I was wondering how yours became damaged. :dontknow:

Bruce

 

[rleathen]

How did your Calsci crack? I have a 22" Calsci on my Spyder and I like it. It seems well constructed, so I was wondering how yours became damaged. :dontknow:

Bruce

First a little background. When I mounted my original BRP tank bag I mounted the bracket right overtop of the rubber filler material that covers the hole in the console where the stearing column goes through. It was tight but I made it work.

Forward to a few months ago. I mounted my Calsi windshield and tightened the 4 screws tight, not overly tight but tight.

Forward to a week ago. I was doing my NMN 3" riser install and had to remove that rubber filler material that covers the opening the handlebar steering shaft goes through. This of course required me to remove the BRP tank bag bracket. I think when I removed the tank bag bracket it may have released some tension that I had put into the console when I originally mounted the tank bag bracket (there was some force required to get the mounting holes of the console structure to line up with the threaded holes in the upper frame rail for the tank bag bracket bolts because of the thickness of the rubber the mounting bracket was being placed overtop of). I believe this "release" of some tension in addition to the tightness of the windshield mounting bolts not allowing for any movement of the windshield, even just the slightest, may have been just enough to cause the bottom corner of the windshield to fracture thus leaving my windshield held in place by only three of the four bolts.

This is my best case guess since the Calsi had been installed for approximately 4 months with no problems until I removed the tank bag bracket as part of my riser install. I will try to get a picture of the portion of the windshield that broke and post for you to see.

 

[NancysToy]

First a little background. When I mounted my original BRP tank bag I mounted the bracket right overtop of the rubber filler material that covers the hole in the console where the stearing column goes through. It was tight but I made it work....

Forward to a week ago. I was doing my NMN 3" riser install and had to remove that rubber filler material that covers the opening the handlebar steering shaft goes through. This of course required me to remove the BRP tank bag bracket. I think when I removed the tank bag bracket it may have released some tension that I had put into the console when I originally mounted the tank bag bracket (there was some force required to get the mounting holes of the console structure to line up with the threaded holes in the upper frame rail for the tank bag bracket bolts because of the thickness of the rubber the mounting bracket was being placed overtop of).

I had this situation, too, when I just installed the NMN 3" risers. I left the rubber and bracket in place, and removed the bodywork instead to do my cable rerouting and chasing. A big pain, but it sounds like it was worth it.

P.S. The numerous little cuts on my hands will heal.
-Scotty

 

[Tom in NM]

You probably already know . . . .

Is anybody really knowledgable with drilling holes in the new Quantum Polycarbonate windshield materials ?

Thanks

I did some digging. Like you, I thought that Quantum Polycarbonate was a "new" type of plastic. It turns out it is not. Quantum is the coating that is put on Polycarbonate. The National Cycle Inc. website outlines the different plastic used in windshields and the difference in the coatings. See this section: What's the difference between Lexan® Polycarbonate, High Impact Acrylic, and Acrylic windshield materials? on their website: http://www.nationalcycle.com/techsupport/faq.html

The CalSci site also talks about the Quantum coating.

So, if you know how to cut/drill/form/shape "Lexan", you know how to work the "new" Quantum Polycarbonate.

The only thought that occurs to me is that you may want to coat or seal the edges that you cut/sand/drill so that the underlying plastic is "coated". While you won't care about it scratching or optical clarity, you might want it protected from UV and chemical degradation. I don't know what I would use for that exactly, but it could not hurt.

Tom

 

[wolfshead1]

Pardon the thread stealing here but this is important.Important to me as a prospective owner as well as many owners here.Windscreens are a big deal.Buffeting and howling are one of the reasons I haven't bought yet.Please keep the windscreen reviews coming.For my 2 cents if Madstat makes a bracket for the Spyder it would be something to get.I can tell you I like to farkle and the Madstat bracket on my V-Strom was some of the best money I have ever spent on a touring item.

Let us know and keep up the good work!

For those who don't know the Madstat makes any screen adjustable,for height as well as profile.

wolf

 

[Firefly]

Hey Firefly tell me how you really feel :yikes: Are any of the shields you have mounted made of the Quantum Polycarbonate material and if yes did you drill any holes through them ?

I drilled 4 holes in my GIVI - just lined it up to the CHAD shield, marked with a sharpie - put masking tape on both sides and used a regular old drill bit I had laying around. Did smaller hole and then larger bit for the final size. I doubt I even needed to have the tape on their - it drilled just fine.

When I rounded the corners of my CHAD I tired a roto-zip and a dremel and would NOT recommend doing it that way. Broke out the Band Saw and that worked like a charm - didn't even bother to tape it.

 

[DragonSpyder]

Great post Wolfshead1!

I have 11,000 miles on my Spyder and am going to be faced with selling it if I cannot come up with a windshield that stops both the buffeting and the noise. I love the Spyder but have neck problems that are aggravated by the buffeting. I am starting to lose hearing due to the noise even with the best ear plugs I could find.

The CHAD is the closest I could find but it still needs to be taller for me so the wind no longer hits me in the top of the helmet causing the buffeting.

The F1 slider I have looks the best but wind noise is not good. Without getting into details it has been over 9 months and I still do not have a shield from them without defects. The Queen may be the best route but I have lost all confidence in Marcel as well as his wife! They have been tough to deal with but do allow you to return/upgrade shields and are the only ones that will custom make a shield just for you.

I am only 5'10" but only have a 30" inseam so I sit high in the saddle. Without the 4" risers the CHAD and possibly the F1 slider would work fine but I love the risers.....

So, after $1000 spent on shields I am still trying to find a solution that is acceptable.

 

[Tom in NM]

in the same boat

Great post Wolfshead1!

So, after $1000 spent on shields I am still trying to find a solution that is acceptable.

In one of the other threads ( which I cannot find now ), Scotty outlined all the factors that make a windshield such a personal fit for each of us.

The one thing that I have found that is a major factor is my helmet. With my helmet I get buffeting, with a "loaner", none. When I get the buffeting down by adjusting the windshield or standing up, I get that roar you mention - but only with my helmet. That roar seems to be the vibration/sound directly transferred to my thick skull - which is why ear plugs cannot filter it out.

So, the bottom line for me is a new helmet will probably fix my issues. (plus an adjustable windshield for various riding seasons and conditions.)

Tom

 

[bjt]

Great post Wolfshead1!

I have 11,000 miles on my Spyder and am going to be faced with selling it if I cannot come up with a windshield that stops both the buffeting and the noise. I love the Spyder but have neck problems that are aggravated by the buffeting. I am starting to lose hearing due to the noise even with the best ear plugs I could find.

The CHAD is the closest I could find but it still needs to be taller for me so the wind no longer hits me in the top of the helmet causing the buffeting.

The F1 slider I have looks the best but wind noise is not good. Without getting into details it has been over 9 months and I still do not have a shield from them without defects. The Queen may be the best route but I have lost all confidence in Marcel as well as his wife! They have been tough to deal with but do allow you to return/upgrade shields and are the only ones that will custom make a shield just for you.

I am only 5'10" but only have a 30" inseam so I sit high in the saddle. Without the 4" risers the CHAD and possibly the F1 slider would work fine but I love the risers.....

So, after $1000 spent on shields I am still trying to find a solution that is acceptable.

You're 5'10" with a 30" inseam, I'm 6'4" with a 36" inseam. Our torsos must be the same length. Saying that, the quietest, smoothest windshield I ever ran was the F1 Evo II that Marcel made for me. It was so tall that I looked through the top inch or two of the shield when I first got it. After a negative experience with it in the rain and looking through a hundred raindrops on the shield while trying to ride, I cut about 3" - 4" off the top so I could easily look over the windshield while riding. That brought the top of the Evo II to about nose level while seated in my normal riding position. After I cut it down and tweaked the top edge recurve, I still had the majority of the riding airflow going 6" - 8" over the top of my helmet. Due to the design of the faceshield / face opening fit on my Scorpion EXO 400 helmet, I still got some wind noise created by small amounts of wind whistling through that gap. I solved that by riding with my faceshield up. That was the quietest I've ever ridden the Spyder at 70 MPH. There was no head buffeting because, like I said, the heavy wind was completely flowing well over the top of the helmet. The major downfall for me was that the Evo II was so big, it looked ridiculous on the Spyder. The other problem I had was that one of the mounting holes cracked in half and another was developing hairline cracks all around it. I think that cracking was exacerbated by me removing the windshield so often as I only used it for long highway rides. I would carry the stock BRP windshield in my trunk so that when I got to my destination, I could replace the Evo II with the stock screen so it didn't look so dorky (some called my Spyder Marge Simpson ). Here are a few old pics of that windshield on my Spyder.

I had that windshield before I had my NMN 3" risers but I think it still would have provided me with a smooth and quiet ride even with the risers as my arms are fairly long (36" sleeve length) so I always sat very upright on the Spyder, even without risers. I put all this here to give you encouragement that a smooth, quiet ride is possible but it probably comes with some tradeoff, like aesthetics.

 

[Firefly]

Great post Wolfshead1!

I have 11,000 miles on my Spyder and am going to be faced with selling it if I cannot come up with a windshield that stops both the buffeting and the noise. I love the Spyder but have neck problems that are aggravated by the buffeting. I am starting to lose hearing due to the noise even with the best ear plugs I could find.

The CHAD is the closest I could find but it still needs to be taller for me so the wind no longer hits me in the top of the helmet causing the buffeting.

The F1 slider I have looks the best but wind noise is not good. Without getting into details it has been over 9 months and I still do not have a shield from them without defects. The Queen may be the best route but I have lost all confidence in Marcel as well as his wife! They have been tough to deal with but do allow you to return/upgrade shields and are the only ones that will custom make a shield just for you.

I am only 5'10" but only have a 30" inseam so I sit high in the saddle. Without the 4" risers the CHAD and possibly the F1 slider would work fine but I love the risers.....

So, after $1000 spent on shields I am still trying to find a solution that is acceptable.

You and I are the same size--- and the CHAD works great. Depending on which helmet I wear--- the noise will be different.

If you don't wear earplugs----- you should.

Much of the buffetting problems that people are having are due to their helmets--- not their shields.