Hey ulflyer, maybe I can add a few comments to try and help. I'm 5' 10", stocky build, about 29" inseam, ride a 2017 F3L with bars in regular position, feet in #4 position. I've been 20,000 miles on my Spyder over the past 3 years, and have tried about 5 different shields. It's very much a matter of personal choice, and my findings certainly will not work for everyone else. But here goes:
I started with a stock seat and the short BRP 'sport' shield. I prefer looking over my shield. Because my passenger needed a bit less buffeting, I switched to a 23" lightly tinted F4 shield. While this provided a calm quiet ride with no buffeting, the top of the shield was right at eye level; anything over 100' away was above the shield, less than that was seen through the shield. This meant I was having both light and dark views. It drove me nuts. Also, I found the F4 to look and feel rather bigger than I wanted - it is wide. But it sure did provide comfort, and there's no one nicer to work with than Don Frank. Then, I found I needed to switch seats. This can change your body position relative to your shield, and throw off all the measurements, etc.
My Ultimate seat moved me up about 1" from where my butt was with the stock seat. I looked over the top of the 23" F4 a little better, but wished I had a clear rather than tinted screen. So, I tried a BRP 'tall boy'. It wasn't as tall, was clear, and was raked back much more. But, man, did I ever get noise and buffeting. Tried it on several alternate attempts just to be fair, but soon pulled it off and went back to the OEM short 'sport' BRP shield. Yes, I had some breeze in my face, but it was tolerable and I sure had a clear 'over the top' view.
Next, I heard about the MRA 'X-creen' that clamps or bolts on to the top of your shield. Got one, the 'Tour' model, and put it on the lip of the OEM sport shield. Found that to be a very effective combination. Gave me a bit less breeze and less buffeting, but raised the wind a few inches higher. I was fairly pleased though not totally sure I had found the ideal, but it was working. Then, because of hip/sciatic issues, I needed to go to a custom seat. That turned out to be a much firmer, taller position for my butt, probably even 2" higher yet than I had been. So, my BRP 'sport' shield with X-creen clamp-on was now giving me even a bit more breeze again. I don't mind some wind; after all, it is a roadster/motorcycle and wind is part of riding. I was still seeking the 'ideal' answer.
I had been reading about Freedom shields, and ordered myself a 17" clear. Before it arrived, I had a chance to try out a 21" clear F4, so put it on. I had hoped this was going to be the solution - it would be 2" shorter than the 23" F4 I previously had, and was clear, so no dual vision issues of clear/tint when looking above vs. through. However, the F4 wouldn't work for me in combination with my new raised custom seat. I gave it a fair try-out; went back and forth between the F4, the Tall Boy and the short 'sport', a day here, and day there. Discarded both the first two in favour of going back to the 'sport' shield with the X-creen. It was a reliable ride for me, and gave me the view i wanted.
Then, my 17" Freedom arrived. Nice piece of equipment; nice ride, fairly calm and quiet. Not perfection though. I was kind of regretting that I hadn't gone for a 19" Freedom. Then I had an idea - add the X-creen to the flip top of the 17" Freedom. Works pretty damn well. In fact, I think this combination is probably even better for me than a 19" Freedom would have been. That X-creen addition gives me added height (closer to what the 19" would have), but still leaves me looking comfortably over the top. It is also almost infinitely adjustable, so I can vary the airflow even more than the fixed Freedom flip allows.
Bottom line: you might want to look into adding an X-creen to your OEM sport flip shield and see whether that does anything for you. Cost is about $130; you might even be able to find a used one for half that. Or, try the Freedom shield. You can even play with it too, as I have. Lamonster is also great to work with. I am posting a couple of pics with the X-creen mounted to my BRP 'sport' shield to give you an idea. In last pic, I was seated in saddle, holding camera at eye height. This set-up allowed me to look over the shield at anything more than 28' down the road.
Good luck in your search. It's very much a personal quest for the right solution that works best for you.
