2016 F3 Limited with F4 Customs windshield

[wolffspyder]

I migrated from a 2012 RT Limited to a '16 F3 Limited for the better driver position, 1330 and the extra storage provided by adding the '17 top box kit.
I had ordered that Tallboy Windshield knowing that the stock windshield would be unacceptable for what I wanted for wind protection. Well $400 later I found out that the Tallboy may as well be a screen door as it provides little more protection than the stock windshield.
I spent a lot of time looking through blogs and researching products that were being mentioned. It didn't take too long before I could see that F4 Customs had great products that people were pleased with.
I called Don Frank at F4 to discuss what I was looking for. I am 6'2", a 32" inseam and weigh 240 pounds. Don recommended the F4 25" vented clear windshield. When it showed up, I found it to be a very easy install and looks like its a factory option. I don't think I could have designed a better windshield myself. It's tall, it's wide and looks great. The wind protection is fantastic and it also prevents helmet buffeting for the rider as a bonus. After adding Baker Built hand and leg wings, the F3 now has even better wind protection that my RT did.
Don't hesitate to pull the trigger on an F4 Customs windshield. You'll love it.

Dave

 

[F4 Customs]

Windshields- Thanks from F4 Customs

Thanks for this very nice post. Our staff work hard to design a product that pays the customer back every time they ride. This tells us mission accomplished.
Thanks again
Don Frank
F4 Customs Inc.

 

[KJWEB]

I have purchased 3 F4 Custom windshields from Don. A stock height wide with vent for my 2015 RTL. Then when I purchased my 2016 F3T I ordered a 21" tinted for summer and a 25" clear with vent for winter riding. In my opinion they are the best aftermarket windshields out there for the Can Am Spyders.

 

[Smokes]

I recently fitted the F4 21" vented screen to my 2016 F3 Ltd. Very impressed with it. My line of sight is about 1 1/2" over the top of the screen where it should be, turbulence is way over my head, and the vent is just right. Delivery to Australia was fast and installation was a breeze - 4 bolts and 5 minutes to mount it. Gets lots of comments - no one here has got anything like it.

Anyone want to buy a stock screen that's in near new condition?
I didn't think so...

 

[Bobster777]

I have a F3T

I recently fitted the F4 21" vented screen to my 2016 F3 Ltd. Very impressed with it. My line of sight is about 1 1/2" over the top of the screen where it should be, turbulence is way over my head, and the vent is just right. Delivery to Australia was fast and installation was a breeze - 4 bolts and 5 minutes to mount it. Gets lots of comments - no one here has got anything like it.

Anyone want to buy a stock screen that's in near new condition?
I didn't think so...

Hi Smokes
i have an F3T and reside in Melbourne also. Just enquiringly how tall are you mate? I like you prefer to look over the top and was working out roughly which height would be most appropriate. I'm 5 foot 11 inches. The F4 seems a great product from what I have read, was postage excessive? I assume no one stocks them Aus. Now. Anyway your assistance appreciated.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Hi Smokes
i have an F3T and reside in Melbourne also. Just enquiringly how tall are you mate? I like you prefer to look over the top and was working out roughly which height would be most appropriate. I'm 5 foot 11 inches. The F4 seems a great product from what I have read, was postage excessive? I assume no one stocks them Aus. Now. Anyway your assistance appreciated.

Welcome! You have pulled up a post ftom 2017 so it isn’t likely that he will respond. I am also 5’11” but am more legs than upper body, I just installed the F4 21” tinted vented shield on my F3T and I look over the top of it. I also have a custom seat that sits me higher than the stock seat and this was the main reason I purchased the F4, I had the BRP Tall Boy and with the taller seat the windshield was too low. If you are more upper body you may prefer the 23”.

I took a nice ride this weekend and I absolutely love the F4 windshield.

 

[Peteoz]

Hi Smokes
i have an F3T and reside in Melbourne also. Just enquiringly how tall are you mate? I like you prefer to look over the top and was working out roughly which height would be most appropriate. I'm 5 foot 11 inches. The F4 seems a great product from what I have read, was postage excessive? I assume no one stocks them Aus. Now. Anyway your assistance appreciated.

Bobster, if you hop on the F4 site, you will find Don has some great videos on selecting exactly the right height screen for your height. I’m 6’7” and have a 25” on my F3-L and look over the top comfortably ....shipping is not exorbitant, and I reckon it’s worth it anyway for the F4 screen.....and you clean it with just water and paper towels..... yep.....paper towels:thumbup:

Pete

 

[shroth]

Wow!! I read your post & wondered if I wrote it myself. I skipped the Tallboy & went straight to the F4........& I'll never look back.

Plan on using the OEM when towing the Spyder & questioning if I might not need the extra airflow during the summers in the Outer Banks. It'll be an interesting experiment

 

[Bobster777]

Thanks

Wow!! I read your post & wondered if I wrote it myself. I skipped the Tallboy & went straight to the F4........& I'll never look back.

Plan on using the OEM when towing the Spyder & questioning if I might not need the extra airflow during the summers in the Outer Banks. It'll be an interesting experiment

Hi Folks
appreciate the feedback emailed Don at F4 and looked at video. A few things to take into consideration as mentioned, seat, body shape etc. Think I will go with 21 vented, I much prefer to look over the screen. Anyway Dons working out postage to Australia
Thanks Again

 

[bushrat]

believe you'll be very happy

Hi Folks
appreciate the feedback emailed Don at F4 and looked at video. A few things to take into consideration as mentioned, seat, body shape etc. Think I will go with 21 vented, I much prefer to look over the screen. Anyway Dons working out postage to Australia
Thanks Again

Hello Bobster:
'Proper' windscreens are a very 'personal comfort' issue. All that being said, I believe you'll be very happy going with an F4 21" shield. The F4 provides the calmest, quietest riding environment in my personal wind screen survey. I am 5' 10" and ryde a 2017 F3L, now equipped with an Ultimate seat, which puts me about an inch above where the stock seat did. So, I'm roughly your height, although seating position could differ. Thus far, I have ridden with four very different windscreens - the OEM 'short' stock shield with curled lip; the BRP 'Tall Boy'; a 23" tinted, no vent F4 shield; and the OEM short stock shield with added MRA-Xcreen 'tour' add-on. I don't mind a bit of wind, but prefer to cut down on the buffeting and provide a bit more comfort for my lady passenger; we ryde two-up 80% of the time. The OEM short shield is 'breezy'. The 'tall boy' cuts this down somewhat, but seems to be rather 'noisy' around our helmets and does allow some breeze to hit my arms. The 'short' shield with X-creen add-on is less 'noisy' than the 'tall boy', but allows a bit more air to come around the sides, striking my full arms and chest sides - great in hot weather!. All of these pushed the frontal air somewhat up and towards/over the top of our helmets. I would rate the 'air-lifting' abilities, in terms of increasingly improved effectiveness as (1) short, (2) tall boy, (3) short shield with X-creen. However, if you want really quiet comfort, the 23" F4 does cut down both noise and wind in much improved fashion, at least to our senses. What I didn't like so much was that the top of the 23" F4 was right at eye level, for me, and with a lightly tinted shield, gave me a two-tone view depending on whether I was gazing far down the road, or looking 50'-70' just in front. So, for me, if I go back to an F4, it will be to a 21" clear. I prefer to look over my shield at anything more than 25'-30' ahead of me; and I have decided against the tint, though again, simply a personal preference thing. Just one word of caution when choosing a windshield - are you also using a cover for your Spyder? Is it large enough, or is the windshield 'expansion pocket' big enough to extend for a wider screen such as the F4? One of the difficulties I encountered, after buying an expensive BRP trailering cover, was that the cover would not properly fit over the wider F4 screen. So, when deciding, there are many variables as well as your personal comfort and individual measurements to take into account. The F4 product is very good, and you are likely on the right track to personal satisfaction. Given what you said about your size, your ryding style and viewing preferences, it would seem the 21" F4 should be a good fit. Hope these comments of my experiences are helpful.

 

[F4 Customs]

Thanks for the kind words

We appreciate the kind words and the good information.

 

[Smokes]

Hi Smokes
i have an F3T and reside in Melbourne also. Just enquiringly how tall are you mate? I like you prefer to look over the top and was working out roughly which height would be most appropriate. I'm 5 foot 11 inches. The F4 seems a great product from what I have read, was postage excessive? I assume no one stocks them Aus. Now. Anyway your assistance appreciated.

Hi Bob, apologies for the delay in replying. I don't log on here very often and currently recovering from total hip replacement surgery.

I'm 180cm high and nowhere near that wide. Going by my experience the 21" screen should be OK for you as we are about the same height. Contact me on [email protected] for more details and a face-to-face chat if you're interested.

 

[Peteoz]

Hi Bob, apologies for the delay in replying. I don't log on here very often and currently recovering from total hip replacement surgery.

I'm 180cm high and nowhere near that wide. Going by my experience the 21" screen should be OK for you as we are about the same height. Contact me on [email protected] for more details and a face-to-face chat if you're interested.

Smokes, there can be a problem with the assumption of the two of you using the same height screen because you are the same height. I’m 6’7”, and have a mate who is 6’7”. I’ve got a 38” inleg, and he has a 35” inleg, so his torso is some 3” longer than mine. He needs a 3” taller screen. Also, I’m 320lbs, and he is 230, so he doesn’t sink as far into the seat as I do.

You really do need to do the measurements on the F4 site before you go to the expense of selecting and importing a screen

Pete

 

[AY4B]

Im thinking about replacing my Tall boy as well. Im trying to decide between an F4 or a California Scientific. Why are the F4's So expensive?
F4 21" clear .177" thick, vented, Polycabonate with coating- 425.00
https://f4customs.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=88_113&product_id=380


Cal Sci 22" clear 3/16" thick vented, Impact Modified Acrylic- 225.00
https://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/SpyderF3Tprod.html

 

[trikermutha]

I believe its the Quality of the product as I have owned one for 4 years now and it has no scratches,quality of view is unchanged.

I have had some hard objects bounce off the F4 and has not damaged it in any way.

You have to remember too raw materials ,labor, research all are involved with the overall costs.

You may find one cheaper if someone is selling there used one.

 

[MikeT]

I have purchased 3 F4 Custom windshields from Don. A stock height wide with vent for my 2015 RTL. Then when I purchased my 2016 F3T I ordered a 21" tinted for summer and a 25" clear with vent for winter riding. In my opinion they are the best aftermarket windshields out there for the Can Am Spyders.

I've had an F4 with Baker Hand and Leg Wings on my GL1800 Hannigan Trike('09-'15). In'15 I converted to a RT Limited. I've outfitted it with the +3 clear, vented windshield and Baker Upper Air Wings. Since we ride 2-up 95% of the time, this configuration puts us in a protective bubble in fall and light inclement weather. I completely agree with the quality of the product and the quality of the customer support of the F4 Customs organization.
My current issue is that I've developed left hip cramping/charlie horse on my RTL because of relationship of my foot and knee positions. I'm 6'2" with a 32" inseam. I get temporary relief by putting that foot out on my foot peg. I've been considering going to an F3 Limited; but I feel like I'm transferring my seating position issues to my wife because of the higher seating position on a big flat seat. We've discovered that the angle of the backrest changes if the new BRP armrest are installed.
I know that F4 has a 25" vented windshield and Baker has hand and leg wings for the F4. I just wonder if the protective bubble is comparable for the rider and passenger to what I currently have on my RTL??????
Mike

 

[Smokes]

Smokes, there can be a problem with the assumption of the two of you using the same height screen because you are the same height.
Pete

Hence the suggestion of a face-to-face meeting. Nothing like actually trying one that's already installed, and in the same city too