F4 Customs Windshield. Advice needed.

[WingManDan]

2019 RTL. I am 5 foot 9. I don't mind looking through a windshield but don't like the look of an excessively high screen. I want to eliminate the buffeting/back pressure I get with the stock shield. Is their 28 inch vented tall windshield what I need or would the 25 inch stock size with vent do the job? Does the 28 LOOK good on the RT or does it look oversized? I do ride with a passenger sometimes so reduced buffeting for her would be good also. I have watched the F4 videos on how to pick the right size. They are helpful for a 6 footer but I'm not that tall.

 

[PW2013STL]

It's not your total height that maters, but your sitting height. I am 1/2" shorter that my wife, but I sit 2" taller so shields that I can look over my wife has to look through. Since you have an RT what you can do is set your stock screen at the preferred height and measure from the handle bar base up and then contact Dan at F4 and ask his advice.

 

[JP58]

If you look thru your 25" stock all the way up like I did. I'm 5'9" then that should be good for an F4. You get like 5" wider than stock. You should not get buffeting. And you can lower shield if you want to look over. If your looking over yours all the way up then get the 28".

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I have the tall & wide F4. The only issue I've had with it is that it blocks wind flow from the sides almost too much, especially when riding on hot days. Baker Air Wings helps in that regard a lot. I like the wind and rain protection of the tall part of it. I use a modular helmet and like to ride with the visor open.

 

[trikermutha]

Doesn't adding a vent also stop the buffering?

Call F4 they would be a lot more help :thumbup:

 

[Purple Guy]

The stock size with a vent is most likely going to work good for you.
Their stock size is a little wider that the OEM shield so you will get a little more protection and with the vent you will have a noticeable reduction in the buffering.
Best Windshield on the market and you'll be dealing with outstanding customer service and a product you can buy with confidence!

 

[Peter Aawen]

Trikermutha & Purple Guy, is it your 'auto correct' changing buffeting to buffering? :dontknow:

Buffeting is something the wind does when turbulent gusts & eddies pummell you as you ryde along; while buffering is something your computer does when it's downloading data in advance so that you can continuously stream it &/or read it instead of waiting for the computer to display some then download the next chunk. :cheers:

As for your buffeting question Dan, I stuck a heap of 3" long woolen tassels all over my Spyder & the windscreen (stuck to the Spyder with a small piece of duct tape on one end of the tassel, leaving a tail 2" long free to flap in the breeze & show the air flow direction) so that I could actually see what the airflow was doing & where it was heading as I rode along. I ended up staying with the stock RTL windscreen, but added a Rivco Expanding Trunk Lid Rack to stop the turbulent airflow that's created along the sides & behind the Spyder, as it's this airflow that's a major contributor to the low pressure area & turbulence behind the windscreen & behind the trunk. By significantly reducing the turbulence & low pressure area at the back of the RT, the airflow down the sides of the Spyder significantly improved the volume of air dragged thru the OE Vents at the base of the Stock RT windshield, and I got more air & a smoother airflow thru the base of the screen, air that flowed thru those two holes in the screen then over the dash, out & down the sides of the Spyder and significantly (in fact, almost completely) stopped the low pressure eddy of air behind the Spyder that picked up road spray & debris from the wheels & dumped it down the neck & back of my pillion passenger! hyea:

So I ended up achieving my air flow improvement aims... the front half of which sound pretty much like your aims too Dan, only I did it without changing the windscreen at all! :shocked: I just fitted what is effectively a Trunk Lid 'Whale Tail Spoiler' that can also serve as a light luggage rack if needed! It often carries my Touring cover & a small hydration pack. There's more'n one way to skin this particular cat, altho from what I've seen, the F4 Windscreens are also a very good product that do the job well too! :2thumbs:

 

[WingManDan]

Thanks to all for the replies. For those suggesting that I contact F4Customs, I have done that and they recommend the 28 inch tall shield with vent. I'm not entirely convinced that I need the tall option. There are times when I want to put the shield all the way down to see over the top. I would have to commit to looking through the the F4 tall shield at all times, even at the lowest setting. I usually ride with the stock shield most of the way up but not at the top. There is a fine line. If I go high I get back pressure pulling my helmet forward and messing up my neck. Lower and I get noisy air buffeting the top of my helmet. I also get a lot of heat off the engine so the tall shield may make that worse. The vent should help with the heat and the back pressure though. Age is catching up to me and I just want a comfortable ryde. If the stock sized F4 with the extra width and a vent solves these problems it would be nice as I think it may look better on the bike. I wish there was a way to try both before committing. This is a bit of an expensive item by the time I get it to Canada so I want to get it right.

 

[ssmcclub]

I have the f4 32" in clear it has no buffering ,I changed it from the 28" witch had a lot of buffering, I would get the 32" f4 for a f3s can am spyder,you will love it

 

[trikermutha]

I have the extra tall and wide shield from F4 and can adjust up and down and see over and thru the windshield if needed. But I do find the adjustable side deflectors work well for heat issues. I have the BRP type.

Well good luck!

 

[PMK]

Not sure if every reply you are getting is related to the Spyder RT as you indicated this is what you own and ride.

We have 2014 RTS and have been using an F4 windscreen for a few years. I am 5’10” tall. The windscreen I purchased is a 25” tall version with no vent.

Regarding turbulence and head buffeting, my opinion is that we have very little with the windscreen lowered. However, I would add that helmet choice may always play a part in that. My wife and I both ride with Shoei full coverage road helmets with flip down visor. Not an open face style or similar helmet and no sun visor mounted externally.

99% of the time, the windscreen is positioned fully low when riding. This includes around town or highway. The 1% we ride with the windscreen raised is if caught in the rain. At my height, upon our Corbin seat, so basically stock seated height, in the windscreen low position, I am looking over the upper edge of the windscreen. Not a tremendous amount, but certainly looking over and not through the windscreen. In the raised position, I must look through the windscreen.

Understand also, the F4 is an incredibly clear and distortion free transparency to look through. When viewing vertical light poles while looking through the oem windscreen, the poles were wavy and not straight. Same poles while looking through the F4 are distortion free. Same with reading signs or simply having truly better optics.

I am cautious to discuss turbulence for another reason, our Spyder does not have the oem side mirrors. This no doubt does alter the aerodynamics and your results may vary.

Yes, somewhat expensive upgrade, we truly love our F4 windscreen compared to stock. Have never ridden with or compared to other brands so no comment in regards to that.

 

[PMK]

Trikermutha & Purple Guy, is it your 'auto correct' changing buffeting to buffering? :dontknow:

Buffeting is something the wind does when turbulent gusts & eddies pummell you as you ryde along; while buffering is something your computer does when it's downloading data in advance so that you can continuously stream it &/or read it instead of waiting for the computer to display some then download the next chunk. :cheers:

As for your buffeting question Dan, I stuck a heap of 3" long woolen tassels all over my Spyder & the windscreen (stuck to the Spyder with a small piece of duct tape on one end of the tassel, leaving a tail 2" long free to flap in the breeze & show the air flow direction) so that I could actually see what the airflow was doing & where it was heading as I rode along. I ended up staying with the stock RTL windscreen, but added a Rivco Expanding Trunk Lid Rack to stop the turbulent airflow that's created along the sides & behind the Spyder, as it's this airflow that's a major contributor to the low pressure area & turbulence behind the windscreen & behind the trunk. By significantly reducing the turbulence & low pressure area at the back of the RT, the airflow down the sides of the Spyder significantly improved the volume of air dragged thru the OE Vents at the base of the Stock RT windshield, and I got more air & a smoother airflow thru the base of the screen, air that flowed thru those two holes in the screen then over the dash, out & down the sides of the Spyder and significantly (in fact, almost completely) stopped the low pressure eddy of air behind the Spyder that picked up road spray & debris from the wheels & dumped it down the neck & back of my pillion passenger! hyea:

So I ended up achieving my air flow improvement aims... the front half of which sound pretty much like your aims too Dan, only I did it without changing the windscreen at all! :shocked: I just fitted what is effectively a Trunk Lid 'Whale Tail Spoiler' that can also serve as a light luggage rack if needed! It often carries my Touring cover & a small hydration pack. There's more'n one way to skin this particular cat, altho from what I've seen, the F4 Windscreens are also a very good product that do the job well too! :2thumbs:

Agree, the Spyder generates a lot of dirty air behind it.

We do not run any type of rack or the specifically the whale tail style you mention. What did happen though is without the trailer hitch, the water off the rear tire would as you mention get your back and neck totally soaked.

After installing the BRP hitch, it got worse. The water off the tire, would impact the hitches underside plastic fender, and kind of atomize getting the passenger fully soaked on their back. Even the driver got pretty wet.

I designed and fabricated my own extension for the oem rear fender. Doing this keeps the water low and inside the oem rear fender, and any secondary spray tends to go to the sides, not up.

The fender extension, combined with not using the oem mirrors, plus having adjustable side vents, no doubt let the airflow be less disturbed as the Spyder moves.

Now, if only there was a way to have some type of active aerodynamics to lessen the barn door effect and increase mileage and power needed at highway speeds. Pretty sad that a Toyota Corolla easily gets over 10 mpg more than a Spyder at the same speed on the highway.

 

[WingManDan]

Not sure if every reply you are getting is related to the Spyder RT as you indicated this is what you own and ride.

We have 2014 RTS and have been using an F4 windscreen for a few years. I am 5’10” tall. The windscreen I purchased is a 25” tall version with no vent.

When you say 25" are you talking about F4Customs stock size shield? What they call the tall version is 28 inches.

Also: Just curious, why did you stay away from the vent?

 

[F4 Customs]

From F4 Customs:
We also have a RT at F4 Customs that my wife and I ride. We really like the air management that it gives us being 28" tall and 5" wider. We always like to suggest this shield for two up riding as the co rider sits so much higher in the back and they need this protection to give them the best ride. However the 25" wide is also good for the riders that are 5'9 to 6'. As many have mentioned this is a personal preference for sure.
We always recommend the vent as it greatly reduces the back pressure even if opened just a little.
We have our once a year 15% off and free shipping in the contiguous USA right now so a great time to purchase
330-968-4644
Don

 

[WingManDan]

From F4 Customs:
We also have a RT at F4 Customs that my wife and I ride. We really like the air management that it gives us being 28" tall and 5" wider. We always like to suggest this shield for two up riding as the co rider sits so much higher in the back and they need this protection to give them the best ride. However the 25" wide is also good for the riders that are 5'9 to 6'. As many have mentioned this is a personal preference for sure.
We always recommend the vent as it greatly reduces the back pressure even if opened just a little.
We have our once a year 15% off and free shipping in the contiguous USA right now so a great time to purchase
330-968-4644
Don

Thank you Don. I have taken Alicia's advice and ordered the 28 inch with vent. I have to say I am impressed with the great communication from you all at F4 Customs. Great sale price also!