riding 2 up with a freedom trailer question

[jaherbst]

Remove the W/S and try it. Next, can you lower the W/S. You should not be looking through the W/S but your eyes/ should be looking over the W/S and at a spot 50' beyond the Spyder. This would be the correct and best adjustment for all Spyders and motorcycles.

If lowering is not possible I would get the W/S cut down to conform to this proper height.

Wider and higher W/S's that you look through and not over are not recommended for many reasons, one of which you mentioned in the above.

Jack

 

[bcer960]

Remove the W/S and try it. Next, can you lower the W/S. You should not be looking through the W/S but your eyes/ should be looking over the W/S and at a spot 50' beyond the Spyder. This would be the correct and best adjustment for all Spyders and motorcycles.

If lowering is not possible I would get the W/S cut down to conform to this proper height.

Wider and higher W/S's that you look through and not over are not recommended for many reasons, one of which you mentioned in the above.

Jack

Thanks Jack,

I have tried with the windscreen in 3 positions. Up, middle and down. My wife says that it made no noticeable difference to the exhaust smell.

I do want to put on the OEM windshield and try that, but as I said, everytime I have the time, it's pouring rain. Been a late spring here.

Ray

 

[bcer960]

Your progress so far has just convinced me of the value of the adjustable air wings below the mirrors. I routinely take mine off for warm weather and put them on for cooler. For warm weather, the adjustable wings can be opened up to direct airflow into the cockpit area. Cool or wet weather they can be closed for protection. Expensive for a couple hunks of plastic but perhaps the function makes it worthwhile.

The baker wings are really pricey, and so it's one of the last things I want to try. The other thing is putting on a luggage rack, and making a solid platform for it, thus creating a rear wing to try to change how the air flow over the back of the bike is. I have read on here that it also works.

Ray

 

[canamjhb]

I looked at Baker Wings and couldn't find adjustable replacements for the wind deflectors that bolt directly beneath the mirrors. I did find some online that sells for about $160.00. Tried other vendors here and didn't find what I was looking for. I would prefer to patronize our vendors. If there are any adjustable replacements for the lower wind deflectors from any of our sponsor vendors please advise..... Wife is out of town and credit card in hand..... What I am looking for are adjustable deflectors that replace the existing OEM deflectors and bolt to the existing fasteners.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

You should not be looking through the W/S but your eyes/ should be looking over the W/S and at a spot 50' beyond the Spyder. This would be the correct and best adjustment for all Spyders and motorcycles.

Why do you say that? I've been looking through the w/s all the years I've been riding a Goldwing and Spyder. I use the w/s, not the face shield, to keep the wind out of my eyes.

 

[jaherbst]

Why do you say that? I've been looking through the w/s all the years I've been riding a Goldwing and Spyder. I use the w/s, not the face shield, to keep the wind out of my eyes.

This has been the standard for the 68 years I have been riding. Almost anyone with long time riding experience would tell you that. I would guess some of the reasons would be no W/S distortions, better dynamics, better wind flow i.e. carbon monoxide and others. And last but not least, lack of wind therapy.

I use the same method by lowering my W/S on my Spyder. Most ride with a full face Helmet with shield or at least a face shield as they should to protect eyes. Looking through the Face Shield and the W/S will normally give some distortion and a small percent of visibility loss. Of course this does not apply to the "Gold Wing" rider that rides with shorts, penny loafers, a t-shirt and no helmet. He needs the biggest W/S he can find! :joke:

Jack

 

[Peter Aawen]

:agree: with the concept of looking over the windshield/screen, but even more especially about wearing a helmet with face-shield or goggles to protect your eyes!! The damage that flying bugs & debris can do to the unprotected eyes of someone riding on a motorcycle is really something horrific to see, and a windscreen alone just isn't enough to stop the stuff that it needs to in order to minimise the exposure!! :shocked:

Hey, after seeing the damage that can be caused by just a tiny bit of grit travelling at speed, I even stopped wearing a helmet with just a faceshield that is open at chin level!! These days, it's either a full face helmet with a closed shield, or a good pair of impact resistant glasses or goggles that fit closely & seal around my eyes for me - I've damaged/lost too many other bits already to risk my eyes with just the windshield that can (& does occasionally) let high velocity stuff get around it!! :sour:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Almost anyone with long time riding experience would tell you that. I would guess some of the reasons would be no W/S distortions, better dynamics, better wind flow i.e. carbon monoxide and others. And last but not least, lack of wind therapy.

I use the same method by lowering my W/S on my Spyder. Most ride with a full face Helmet with shield or at least a face shield as they should to protect eyes. Looking through the Face Shield and the W/S will normally give some distortion and a small percent of visibility loss.

From what I find with Google this easily is another one of those topics like oil and tires where everyone has an opinion and there is no universal consensus, even among Harley riders. In fact, the MSF Motorcycle Operator's Manual doesn't address w/s height at all. They do recommend using goggles or face shield, as in general the w/s is not a substitute for such. I don't recall ever hearing this discussed in any of the m/c training sessions I've been in, either by GWRRA or Idaho STAR.

I don't know why distortion is such an issue. I don't find it to be a problem at all. In fact one of my car windshields had some distortion! I wear glasses all the time. What I do find intolerable is the distortion and polarization caused if I look through my glasses through a face shield through the windshield! I wear a flip up full face helmet. If I close the face shield the inside will fog up very quickly, especially in cool and/or wet weather unless I leave it cracked open. I've tried looking over the w/s with face shield closed driving through rain, but that doesn't work as good as looking only through the w/s. So my experience has been I'm more comfortable looking through the w/s and feel well protected. I like the air that does come through the open face. I think only one time has a bug come through the vent and hit my face. Are my face and eyes totally, absolutely, 100% protected? Probably not, but pretty damn close. All of life is a risk. We all have to live with the degree of risk we're comfortable with.

Of course this does not apply to the "Gold Wing" rider that rides with shorts, penny loafers, a t-shirt and no helmet. He needs the biggest W/S he can find! :joke:

I sure hope you're not implying I'm one of them, because I'm not! :thumbup:

 

[canamjhb]

Years ago when shopping for a replacement windscreen for my old Goldwing, the manufacturer suggested that the "correct" height should be when the top of the windscreen is parallel with your nose. That's about where I run even with the adjustable screen.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Years ago when shopping for a replacement windscreen for my old Goldwing, the manufacturer suggested that the "correct" height should be when the top of the windscreen is parallel with your nose. That's about where I run even with the adjustable screen.

I came across that recommendation in my Google search, I think by Clearview, w/s makers.

Here's what F4 has to say. https://f4customs.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=11

1. How do I pick the proper shield for me?

This is the age old question, “do I look through the windshield or over the top”. It has been our experience with any other windshield due to clarity and rain shedding you should look over the shield. However with the "optical clarity" and "rain shedding" ability of the F4 Customs windshield you now have the option to have extra protection that you can get from looking through and being behind the taller windshields.

When I bought my windshield from F4 at Spyderfest 2015 I don't recall any discussion at all of looking over vs. looking through. In fact, I bought the tall version so that I would always be looking through.

 

[canamjhb]

IdahoMtnSpyder, I don't disagree at all. I think F4 make a great product and is pretty much distortion free. I don't get to ride in the rain much. (we haven't had any for 110 days) But when I do, I prefer to look over the windscreen. The rain on the screen plus on my face shield compounds to make visibility more difficult for me. There are times in a light to moderate rain when looking through the windscreen works. But when it gets really nasty, I have to look over it to see. BTW, lived in Seattle over 60 years so I have been in my share of rain. Glad to dry out.....

 

[bcer960]

New update:

Today I took off the 7Jurock windshield and put back on the OEM one. ALL the exhaust fumes are gone. So, for anyone wondering, I still have the extra mudflap on, and of course the trailer hitch with it's mud flap.

Hope this helps someone else out there.

Ray

 

[canamjhb]

Ray, Thank you for posting the rest of the story. Everyone can come to their own opinion on this problem. Good thread and lots of information shared.....

 

[SilverFox1]

bcer960 I have installed a spoiler on the rear trunk of my 2011 RTLtd. (From Vertica trikes) I have the original windshield up or down mostly down ,I pull an RT 622 trailer, I have no added mud flap and I ride 2up 90% of the time. I have never had any smell of fumes neither did my wife. I’d like to post pictures but I don’t have any right now.

SilverFox

 

[bcer960]

bcer960 I have installed a spoiler on the rear trunk of my 2011 RTLtd. (From Vertica trikes) I have the original windshield up or down mostly down ,I pull an RT 622 trailer, I have no added mud flap and I ride 2up 90% of the time. I have never had any smell of fumes neither did my wife. I’d like to post pictures but I don’t have any right now.

SilverFox

I had a quick look at Vertica trikes web site. I could not find a spoiler for the RT(-s) but will spend a bit more time later today. Please post a pick, i would like to see what it looks like.

Thanks
Ray

 

[bcer960]

ok, I did find it.

http://www.vertikatrykescanada.com/...t=SPYDER+RT-RTS+parts+not+painted&button=Next

 

[garyleblanc1]

hello, we are having the same issue. do you have a picture you can share of the extension? Thanks

 

[garyleblanc1]

does anyone have a picture of the exhaust tips extended out to minimize the fumes when pulling a trailer and 2 up? Please post.
I have tried the WS adjustment, have the longer mud flap on the hitch and have the adjustable side vents, but still having this issue.
Thanks

 

[bcer960]

hello, we are having the same issue. do you have a picture you can share of the extension? Thanks

we thought we had fixed the problem. Put the stock windshield back on, took the trailer out a couple times for day trips and had no issues. Then last sept we took our usual 18 day ride which includes the Norcal rally in California, and as soon as we left, we exhaust problem was back.
The theory now is that when we did the day rides, the trailer was empty, and once full ( or nearly) the bike is working just that much harder, so the exhaust output is more.
Unfortunatly, after the sept trip, our riding season is over up her in the great white north, and the bike has been put to bed for a couple months already, and will be away until some time in april .

Once out of storage, my first plan is to cut off the 2 pipes that are the final exhaust, and rotate them so they are pointing outwards. I will load the trailer up and take for a spin to see if this improves the issue. If it doesn't, I will fabricate up two that are longer, and gets the exhaust further out into the airstream.

Sorry I couldn't help more. but winter is here, and I don't have a garage.

If you find a solution, please post it here.

Ray

 

[Revalden]

The W/S on my Triumph Trophy has a "lookover" drop at the top. It's perfect and the Triumph owners manual says to set the w/s so that you can see the 50' spot.