sabunim5
New member
Background: Riding for 44yrs. Approx. 1/2 million miles on a dozen or so machines. Bought the BRP original Touring windscreen sight unseen. My wife and I have always had whatever audio system was availble to talk to each other while riding. We started with hollow plastic tubes shaped to fit over your ears, with teaspoon-like ends in front of your lips. As communication tech improved we changed systems. We have been happy with Autocom systems for some years now. My wife and I are both 5' 8".
Story: My wife and I were happy with the wind coverage at first. I actually wanted more wind on my face, as the wind wasn't enough to blow rain off my helmet visor. Our problem was not wind protection. Our problem was passenger wind noise. Over about 45mph I was having to shout to let my wife hear me. She did not have to raise her voice for me to hear at higher speeds. If we played tunes through the Zumo she knew there was music on but couldn't tell you what the song was above 45 mph. I monitored the forums and read all I could as each new windshield hit the market. We don't have a lot of extra cash to try each windshield so we relied on the opinions of others. Our thanks to each and every person who has posted windshield reviews and pictures. In some regards I am very lazy. I do not want to have to change shileds as conditions(weather, one-up, two-up etc.) change. What I wanted was an adjustable windshield. I saw the CHAD, but didn't really care for it's looks. Tatt2r's phrase about an uncut toenail came to mind. When Marcels adjustable came out I thought maybe this was the solution. Then I saw those big metal rails that point at the ryder and changed my mind. I have only been down twice in all the time I have been riding, but one of those times I went through the windshield on my bike. Impaling myself on those metal rails was a vison I did not want to contemplate on a regular basis. Then Lamonster trimmed the CHAD and posted pictures. I showed it to my wife. She thought it was fine, and a CHAD order was placed.
I placed the order through No Magic Neon. As I hung up the phone after talking to Patti I thought that I sure hoped all the good words I have heard are true because I didn't get a confirmation number or anything. The CHAD arrived promptly. It was any easy install. I have the clear and the squarish corners on the top did not bother me once it was mounted on the Spyder. Of course the important thing is that my wife didn't feel it was worth the trouble to round the top corners either. I can always cut them later if I(we) change my(our) mind. Industries 7 does only a mediocre job on installation instructions IMHO. At least the CHAD had instructions. The throttle lock I ordered had none. I digress.
I placed the CHAD at the lowest setting and angled back as far as possible. This should provide the least protection the windshield is capeable of. We picked a restaurant that was about a half hour interstate ryde away. On the way to the restaurant I was now able to speak in a normal tone of voice until speeds got above 60 mph. Much better :thumbup: but not quite good enough for those days when you have to burn miles all day at high speed. Before returning home after dinner, I moved the CHAD as high as it would go and angled as far forward as possible. This should provide the most protection possible from this windshield. She could now hear me speaking normally up to about 75 mph. OH Yeah.:2thumbs:
The windshield does shake/vibrate some; but not to any worrisome extent.
In the most forward and highest position I have to be sure and sit up straight in order to see over the top of the windscreen.
Observations/Soapbox: In reading so many winshield reviews I was struck by the number of people that seemed to measure the success of a windscreen by whether or not they could comfortably ride with their helmet visor open. :yikes: Lamonster did a recent post about a beesting. Over the years and miles I have had all sorts of unwanted material hit my face and I used to only ride with my helmet visor cracked, not open. Stinging insects, road debris of all sorts, cigarette butts, you name it. And I have worn glasses since I was 14, so I have eye protection besides the helmet visor. Of course in the "old days" helmets had no venting, so if you wanted any air besides what flowed up from below, you cracked your visor. Everyone has their own choice to make about what protective gear to wear and when, just know that a good windshield can only do so much to keep things out of your face. Nuff said.
Final Thought: I think the CHAD has in one windscreen solved my/our problems. My only hesitation is that I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida; can you say HOT and HUMID for a large portion of the year. At it's least protection setting (down and back), I am not sure the CHAD will allow enough air to flow on me to help keep me from overheating. At speed, it probably will, but on my commute (no speed limits above 45 mph) it may be too warm. Only time will tell. Ryde Safe and Enjoy
hyea:
sabunim5 :spyder:
Story: My wife and I were happy with the wind coverage at first. I actually wanted more wind on my face, as the wind wasn't enough to blow rain off my helmet visor. Our problem was not wind protection. Our problem was passenger wind noise. Over about 45mph I was having to shout to let my wife hear me. She did not have to raise her voice for me to hear at higher speeds. If we played tunes through the Zumo she knew there was music on but couldn't tell you what the song was above 45 mph. I monitored the forums and read all I could as each new windshield hit the market. We don't have a lot of extra cash to try each windshield so we relied on the opinions of others. Our thanks to each and every person who has posted windshield reviews and pictures. In some regards I am very lazy. I do not want to have to change shileds as conditions(weather, one-up, two-up etc.) change. What I wanted was an adjustable windshield. I saw the CHAD, but didn't really care for it's looks. Tatt2r's phrase about an uncut toenail came to mind. When Marcels adjustable came out I thought maybe this was the solution. Then I saw those big metal rails that point at the ryder and changed my mind. I have only been down twice in all the time I have been riding, but one of those times I went through the windshield on my bike. Impaling myself on those metal rails was a vison I did not want to contemplate on a regular basis. Then Lamonster trimmed the CHAD and posted pictures. I showed it to my wife. She thought it was fine, and a CHAD order was placed.
I placed the order through No Magic Neon. As I hung up the phone after talking to Patti I thought that I sure hoped all the good words I have heard are true because I didn't get a confirmation number or anything. The CHAD arrived promptly. It was any easy install. I have the clear and the squarish corners on the top did not bother me once it was mounted on the Spyder. Of course the important thing is that my wife didn't feel it was worth the trouble to round the top corners either. I can always cut them later if I(we) change my(our) mind. Industries 7 does only a mediocre job on installation instructions IMHO. At least the CHAD had instructions. The throttle lock I ordered had none. I digress.
I placed the CHAD at the lowest setting and angled back as far as possible. This should provide the least protection the windshield is capeable of. We picked a restaurant that was about a half hour interstate ryde away. On the way to the restaurant I was now able to speak in a normal tone of voice until speeds got above 60 mph. Much better :thumbup: but not quite good enough for those days when you have to burn miles all day at high speed. Before returning home after dinner, I moved the CHAD as high as it would go and angled as far forward as possible. This should provide the most protection possible from this windshield. She could now hear me speaking normally up to about 75 mph. OH Yeah.:2thumbs:
The windshield does shake/vibrate some; but not to any worrisome extent.
In the most forward and highest position I have to be sure and sit up straight in order to see over the top of the windscreen.
Observations/Soapbox: In reading so many winshield reviews I was struck by the number of people that seemed to measure the success of a windscreen by whether or not they could comfortably ride with their helmet visor open. :yikes: Lamonster did a recent post about a beesting. Over the years and miles I have had all sorts of unwanted material hit my face and I used to only ride with my helmet visor cracked, not open. Stinging insects, road debris of all sorts, cigarette butts, you name it. And I have worn glasses since I was 14, so I have eye protection besides the helmet visor. Of course in the "old days" helmets had no venting, so if you wanted any air besides what flowed up from below, you cracked your visor. Everyone has their own choice to make about what protective gear to wear and when, just know that a good windshield can only do so much to keep things out of your face. Nuff said.
Final Thought: I think the CHAD has in one windscreen solved my/our problems. My only hesitation is that I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida; can you say HOT and HUMID for a large portion of the year. At it's least protection setting (down and back), I am not sure the CHAD will allow enough air to flow on me to help keep me from overheating. At speed, it probably will, but on my commute (no speed limits above 45 mph) it may be too warm. Only time will tell. Ryde Safe and Enjoy
hyea:sabunim5 :spyder:
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