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Windshield mods
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 11:41 am
by wetwolf
We all know just how hot the FJR can get during the summer months. My winter W/S is a CalSci with some vent holes in the bottom. It seems to do a really good job of keeping the heat off of me. Sooooo, I figured I would cut some vents into a stocker and see what happens. Anybody tried this before??
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 12:08 pm
by Red
Wetwolf,
I have no great need for extra vents where I live, but if I did, I'd want to keep the cut-out pieces and hinge them into the windshield somehow. I would want to be able to open, partially open, or close the vents as needed. With the hinge line across the top of the vents, and opening outward, the vents would act as air scoops, rather than just air inlets. For your consideration, of course.
.
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 1:07 pm
by raYzerman
Used to have a Cee Bailey on the ST, which had a NACA vent, meaning a cutout and the bottom of it, heated and bent toward you. ST1100 guys cut holes like yours, as had been on perhaps one of the stock or aftermarket shields available. I didn't find the airflow excessive at all, so but it did take care of some of the heat and reduce backpressure at speed. One would think rainwater will be a problem, but it really isn't.
The Gen3 FJR raised the windshield off the cowl (as did Rifle for Gen1/2) resulting in more airflow up and behind it, accomplishing much the same thing and reduced turbulence at the top. I shimmed my Gen3 V-Stream up and a slight angled more rearward and found it great for solving most of the turbulence, not necesarily cooler.
On recent bikes, I'm finding for turbulence, the MRA deflector concept works better for turbulence, albeit doesn't do a lot for airflow to get rid of heat. I don't have a genuine MRA, there are much cheaper deflectors out there. As for looks, it's not that bad, you get over it, I'd rather have function over showroom beauty.
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 1:17 pm
by wetwolf
I'm thinking it will reduce the back pressure as well. I ride most of the summer with the W/S all the way down. All the way up, and it just seems to channel all the hot air right up to you. Im thinking this should solve the problem. We shall see.
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 8:47 am
by lue42
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 9:40 am
by FJRoss
Those things might work but the radius of curvature would have to be a reasonable match for the windshield. Either that or the gaps get filled with something like clear silicone sealant. (I think epoxy would crack if the shield flexes)
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 3:38 pm
by danh600
I find this pretty interesting. I am one of those that is lucky with the stock windshield. I am kind of short torso so I don't get much turbulence from the stock windshield. It works pretty good keeping wind and rain off me in the full up position.
However, when it's hot out the down position is not great. Puts tons of wind on your head, but little on the body. Helps cool you down some but at the cost of some very high wind noise in the helmet.
Some type of vent with controlled air flow might be the ticket.
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 3:47 pm
by raYzerman
I had one of those Goldwing vents on my ST too... FYI they are very bulky and I'd quite frankly take a pass and go with another solution.
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 3:57 pm
by gixxerjasen
On my Gen II I have my VStream that I use for winter and a stock one that goes on during summer. If I'm doing a lot of riding in the summer and get tired of the Texas heat, I put on my super summer shield, which is a cut down stock shield. It was given to me and had scratches so I sanded it smooth but never got around to polishing it. It's ok, in the summer I only care about being temperature cool, looking cool is very far down the list, and I'm not looking through it anyway. Being so short, even putting it up, it doesn't do anything about the rain. However, if it's the middle of summer in Texas and it's raining, then I'm letting it hit me anyway so I can enjoy it.
Only pic I have is from a track day.
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 4:02 pm
by wetwolf
Nice. I got the vents cut last nite and was going to shave an inch or so off the top. How much did you take off?
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 11:57 am
by wetwolf
Here it is, cut about 1.5" off the top and vented. Now just have to take it for a ride to figure out if I fukkered up a perfectly good windshield.
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 7:47 pm
by Cav47
That is cool looking at least. If it works, they just a bonus.
Form over function can be your story if it doesn’t.
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 9:10 pm
by wetwolf
Did a test ride today, thru town, freeway, etc. With the shield down, it's like riding a motorcycle. The wind hits your chest and keeps you upright. With it all the way up I get less buffeting than with some of my other windshields. So, I'm sayin' win win! I'm not really a form guy, function rules. The paint job was courtesy of the rona virus. I haven't been spending as much time in the bar and I was bored. Rode up to O'reilly auto and found a shaker can of blue that was a pretty good match, and from there it was tokin and sprayin!
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 9:24 pm
by rbentnail
I'd like to experiment with summer vents but being an evening worker here in the southeast means I often ride in heavy evening rain, sometimes daily for weeks on end. I'd rather have the heat than the wet.
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 9:55 pm
by danh600
They don't call him wetwolf for nothing!
I like this experiment.
What did you cut the windshield with?
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 1:07 pm
by wetwolf
A drill to start in the corners of the vents. Then a jigsaw with a blade made for plexiglass.
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:10 am
by bill lumberg
@jwilly can show you a neat trick with a chinese wind deflector that clamps to the top of your screen. Done correctly and employed long enough, I hear it will give you all the air you can handle...
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:35 am
by natehawk750
bill lumberg wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:10 am
@jwilly can show you a neat trick with a chinese wind deflector that clamps to the top of your screen. Done correctly and employed long enough, I hear it will give you all the air you can handle...
Did Jwilly's wind deflector fly off on him?
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:45 am
by bill lumberg
Nope. Cracked both sides of the shield at the bottom. The Chinese never anticipated jwilly speeds.
Re: Windshield mods
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 12:53 pm
by raYzerman
These are the ones I have on my CBF1000 and VFR..... dunno what jwilly's problem is...... these things do what MRA does only a whole heckuva lot cheaper. These days, I'm a believer in these rather than chasing/trying all the different windshields to find the one that annoys you the least.