SpyderHands
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YOUR WINDSHIELD CHOICE ON F3? Gustaffson, Madstad, Rifle, California Scientific, F4
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CA Railwhale
New member
F4
I just replaced my Blue Ridge with a 32" F4 Customs windshield. I'm 6'2" and just look over the top. I don't get ANY buffeting anymore and at high speeds on the freeway the airflow just hits the top of my helmet. The only advantage of the Blue Ridge was that it shielded my hands at high speed and the F4 doesn't. It's not a big deal, I just wear gloves now, it's a good trade-off for not having the slipstream hit me in the throat. Installation was easy, I'd just recommend putting a piece of a plastic bag on the inside of your sockets so they don't remove the black paint from the acorn nuts the windshield is held on with (that's a trick I saw recommended by Rolls Royce on a TV show to avoid marring the finish on their chrome lug bolts). I'm going to have to repaint mine; just a little thing, but it will look better.
I just replaced my Blue Ridge with a 32" F4 Customs windshield. I'm 6'2" and just look over the top. I don't get ANY buffeting anymore and at high speeds on the freeway the airflow just hits the top of my helmet. The only advantage of the Blue Ridge was that it shielded my hands at high speed and the F4 doesn't. It's not a big deal, I just wear gloves now, it's a good trade-off for not having the slipstream hit me in the throat. Installation was easy, I'd just recommend putting a piece of a plastic bag on the inside of your sockets so they don't remove the black paint from the acorn nuts the windshield is held on with (that's a trick I saw recommended by Rolls Royce on a TV show to avoid marring the finish on their chrome lug bolts). I'm going to have to repaint mine; just a little thing, but it will look better.
SpyderHands
New member
I just can't justify the cost difference between a couple of others in the market. In most cases, we are talking a $200-225 difference. :banghead:
Rattlebars
New member
I ran F4 big on my wings and just last week rode up to see Don at his shop (50 min away). I wanted a big plain no vent or tint. Easy, but when I left, had to turn around because it had a wrinkle in it. Tried two more and they both had the same wrinkle in the upper right corner. So, he gave me a tall one with a vent. I tell you this because Don might have a discount on the wrinkled ones but, of course, I cannot speak for him.
I don't like vents because they are useless to me especially on the F3-T because there is a big honking vent up front already under the bottom of the shield. I cannot tell if the vent's open or not for air flow. No difference. Another reason for no vent-- vents get buggy and they are hard to clean plus it interrupts your motion when cleaning the whole shield. He promised to switch it back once the corrected version of no vent shows up in a couple months. I expected a little more protection but it's not as wide as my GL1800.
I credit the tall shield on the wing for saving my life when a woman came left of center and hit me head on. The shield did not decapitate me which I expect the stock height would have done just that. Plus, I had the old 2002 version which had all the mounting screws up front (after '06 they dropped off 3 of the 6). The F4 did not break nor did it come completely off it's moorings. That kept me from vaulting into her windshield/roof and it catapulted to the right me out of traffic and onto the shoulder of the road.
Photos here: >CLICK ME<
You can see the line my helmet gouged into the shield in some of them as it sent to rightward.
I don't like vents because they are useless to me especially on the F3-T because there is a big honking vent up front already under the bottom of the shield. I cannot tell if the vent's open or not for air flow. No difference. Another reason for no vent-- vents get buggy and they are hard to clean plus it interrupts your motion when cleaning the whole shield. He promised to switch it back once the corrected version of no vent shows up in a couple months. I expected a little more protection but it's not as wide as my GL1800.
I credit the tall shield on the wing for saving my life when a woman came left of center and hit me head on. The shield did not decapitate me which I expect the stock height would have done just that. Plus, I had the old 2002 version which had all the mounting screws up front (after '06 they dropped off 3 of the 6). The F4 did not break nor did it come completely off it's moorings. That kept me from vaulting into her windshield/roof and it catapulted to the right me out of traffic and onto the shoulder of the road.
Photos here: >CLICK ME<
You can see the line my helmet gouged into the shield in some of them as it sent to rightward.
CA Railwhale
New member
price
To get quality, you have to pay for it. As far as I know, all the other windshields are plexi-glass which is a lot cheaper than the F4 which is Lexan. Lexan is more durable. I'd rather pay more to buy something durable and good once than pay to replace something multiple times. But that's the nice thing aboput capitalism, you can make your own choices.
To get quality, you have to pay for it. As far as I know, all the other windshields are plexi-glass which is a lot cheaper than the F4 which is Lexan. Lexan is more durable. I'd rather pay more to buy something durable and good once than pay to replace something multiple times. But that's the nice thing aboput capitalism, you can make your own choices.
SpyderHands
New member
Oh, I get it. I understand it's a personal position and decision. I wouldn't really be interested in a flawed shield. My findings just seem to train wreck with the price being near twice as much than the others I'm looking at. if it were only a $50 variable, I could certainly understand. Not a cheapskate, only doing the research. :doorag:
CA Railwhale
New member
optically perfect
My 32" F4 is optically perfect, no wrinkles or distortions that I can see. I'm very happy with it so far.
My 32" F4 is optically perfect, no wrinkles or distortions that I can see. I'm very happy with it so far.
SpyderHands
New member
That's the right idea for sure. I've not heard much negative about them at all. Stay safe and enjoy!!!
F4 Customs
SpyderLovers Sponsor
Rattlebars,
Thanks for the review and the purchase. Glad your enjoying your new shield. Just wanted to mention that the windshields that had a distortion mark from manufacturing are not for sale. This is very rare that this would happen however when we find any issues (or our customers do) we replace them immediately and destroy the ones with the issue.
Ride Safe!
Don
Thanks for the review and the purchase. Glad your enjoying your new shield. Just wanted to mention that the windshields that had a distortion mark from manufacturing are not for sale. This is very rare that this would happen however when we find any issues (or our customers do) we replace them immediately and destroy the ones with the issue.
Ride Safe!
Don
Slowpoke387
New member
Any pics with someone on the machine with the windscreen? We are considering the 21 or the 23 but they seem kind of big and the video on their site doesn't seem to capture what we're looking to see.
Lots of opinions but very few pics here, let's see what everyone has! It helps others decide.
Rattlebars
New member
Slowpoke387
New member
For those of you that have the Madstad, I love the adjustability of the brackets, but their shields seem not quite wide enough. Soooo what I need to know is if those brackets are compatible with the stock shield as far as mounting points/holes go. I would love the F4 shield because it's wider but really want the adjustability option. The perfect combo right there.
Peteoz
Well-known member
This is the biggest F4 you can get....25" with vent. I am 6'7", with a 38" inleg and the airflow hits about my hairline to get air into the front helmet vent. Yes, it is big, but it's just perfect for touring. I love it. I didn't find it too hot in the Aussie summer, but everyone is different. I used Don's height sizing guide and it was perfect. I would probably use a shorter screen in summer if I wasn't touring though.
Pete
Pete
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Slowpoke387
New member
AHA! I see in your info at the bottom that you are using the Madstad brackets. That's exactly what I was looking for. So the f4 windscreen is compatible with that hardware. How do you like the adjustability?
Peteoz
Well-known member
I have exactly that combo, Slowpoke. The brackets are NOT COMPATIBLE with the F4, but like you, I didn't find that the Madstad screen worked for me. I drilled 4 new holes in the F4, attached the Madstad brackets to them, tilted the F4 back a bit, and it's perfect.
(I was happy with the 25" F4 until the Daylong seat lifted me 1.5" and the blast started hitting me in the eyes).
Below is a couple of photos, including one of the F4 overlaid with the Madstad screen. The Madstad is the narrower one without the lower cutouts. Hope this helps. It has been working well at all speeds and for a few months. I will just fill the old F4 holes and run with this.
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Slowpoke387
New member
Just the info I was looking for. Great pics and well documented. So with those brackets can you adjust the F4 lower than it would normally have been mounted? The reason I ask is my wife may want to lower the F4 to her eye level and their shortest screen is just a hair too tall but we like the width. Actually if it's being re-drilled anyway I guess the answer is yes lol.
Peteoz
Well-known member
Oh.....now THAT'S a tricky one. At 6'7" I am rarely looking to "lower" anything
. However, the redrilling will allow you to set the F4 pretty much to the mid point height you want. I have NOT spoken to Don at F4 about whether he sees any problems with the redrilling, but I can't imagine there would be, especially as the holes are further from the screen edge than the originals.Pete
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