Windshields

[SteveST1300]

I have been thinking about a new shield and I saw a thread about the Rifle shield and it sounds good do any of you have any information on the Clearview? And which do you all think is best clearview or Rifle?

Thanks
Steve

[Hewhois]

Hey Steve,

I have a Clearview Shield on order. Hoping to get it in a week or two. Here is the link where I posted some questions and info about it:

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2943

[SteveST1300]

Thanks I want a new shield just not shure yet which one.

[Rodm850g]

Steve,
I had thought of replacing mine too, I had gone to the Calsci site and found over and under the mirror deflectors....I needed some help with wiind....
I got a set of the over the mirror and installed them in about half an hour then a test ride and man what a difference...saved a bunch of money too....none on insurance though :D but did a lot for wind mgt.! :) Well jm.02 worth....YMMV
Rodmm850g

[SteveST1300]

Did it help with the buffeting?

[Dave Wicks]

:04biker:
I have an 04 that I bought late last fall, about 2800, but was dissappointed with the buffeting my wife took and the wind noise (shriek) acutally. I order some above below wind-deflectors from CalSci..They were pretty homemade looking, and the mounting means you got to drill holes etc..Hate to mess up this classy bike. Found a Cee-Bailey 2nd hand..haven't recieved it yet..6 in. wider than stock..stock height..I going to try that..if wife still buffeted..start putting on CalSci stuff starting with the under mirror one. Norm on this site has done some good thinking and tweaking..He's dead on, it's wind trying to rush into the vacum behind the shield. Clearview, Cee-Bailey and now CalSci are addressing that with various vents, shapes etc. Norm opened up the bottom of the stock shield allowing more air to come in front not swirl around edges. Don't want to fuss about the obvious, but why didn't Honda spend some time with a windtunnel..Look at the high end BMW tourers see all the little deflecting things...hhmmmmm. I guy named dond..has put on a Laminar lip..seems to be doing the same thing...When I get the Cee Bailey I'll post what I find..same if I attach the CalSci deflectors...Remember only a biker understands why dogs stick there heads out car windows :D

[NormanPCN]

Dave,

From posts I have read over the years I think the wide windshield will make your wife happy(ier). Think about it. You need a bigger shield to push the air farther away because of a passenger which is further back. Something that is good for the driver is not enough for the passenger and something good for the passenger is probably excessive for the rider (and not as sporty looking or feeling).

Only the aftermarket is willing to vent with ports and such. All stock, most any bike with a large enough shield, is a pretty high backpressure situation. The manufactures know this. It is aerodynamics 101. Nothing dark and mysterious. Over the years I had read constant posts about people fretting about "getting a soaking" from a windhsield vent, or eating bugs, or cold air. On the 1300, if you open the bottom vent enough such that it is effective, then if someone in a showroom looks at this with the shield raised they might have the same thoughts as with vent ports. Manufactures do not want to give anyone sitting on the fence any doubts about the bike and extras they might need after purchase thus making the bike even more expensive. So you are left with layman common sense verses aerodynamic reality. Marketing comes first.

Mark (Calsci) makes things from experience and tests them. He makes things for the ST1300, the Vstrom and the FJR. He owns a ST1300 and Vstrom and a buddy has the FJR. His aerodynamic deflectors (upper and lower) he made for himself for his needs and decided he could probably sell them. Since then he has gotten into making and selling other accessories.

The Calsci shields have the bottom middle vent opened up and also have vent ports. Limited sizes are available so the size must be right for your needs. Backpressure and turbulence will be as mimimal as it can be due to the venting.

Cee Bailey has always had the vent port in the center. The center bottom vent is stock. :confused: I have a +6W,+2H CB shield. I am probably going to only use it for a winter shield since I ride alone and I like the lower height and sportier feel of something smaller. The CB has known QC issues regarding optics. Mine is fine.

Clearview has recently added vent ports to the far outside. Again the center bottom vent is stock. :confused:

Rifle has a shield where the center bottom vent is like stock and one that is pointy. You do not want the pointy one. Rifle also has "tuning" blocks. This basically "opens up" the bottom vent and makes it more effective. Unfortunately it also reduces the effective height of the shield, which depending on what you desire could be a bad thing.
The fact that most all aftermarket shields do nothing with the bottom middle vent is puzzling. This is either due to lack of testing or understanding. The stock vent can work in the lowest position, but you need the least in this position. In middle positions it is very restrictive (this is obvious without riding). In the upper positions it is not effective enough. Anyone with 5 minutes of riding on the bike at highway speed will realize this, and should realize how to correct the problem.

I am tall with broad shoulders (not bragging, just larger than normal). While the CB I have is damned effective, it does not give the sporty feeling, and most of the time I do not need the protection. I have been looking at the CalSci medium and the Clearview GT small. I would like a bit better shoulder protection while still being small and sporty feeling. The CalSci shield is 1.5" taller which Is likely too much, but I can cut this down. It is only 2" wider which may enough. The picture on Mark's site shows shield looks sporty. The Clearview is 3" wider which is certainly enough but starting to get a little big. It looks a bit pudgy in the photos. They have vent ports but nothing in the center (which I can deal with if necessary). The top has a recurve lip which might make the shield too effective in the all the way down position. The recurve stops me from cutting down.

[SteveST1300]

Thanks Norm alot to digest. I guess its all about compromise and which one fits. The clearview sounded the best to me. I am a bit leary of cutting the shields myself.

[NormanPCN]

I guess its all about compromise and which one fits. The clearview sounded the best to me.

The Clearview does look good. Enough width increase to know you will get a nice benefit and a choice of a few heights. +1 (GT small), +2 (GT medium) and supposedly a GT large which Craig at Clearview mentioned but did not list a price for. While talking to Craig (Clearview) on the phone he said the GT small shield was the same length as stock but +1 taller in the low position due to the recurve/lip. Once can infer, but should inquire, about the other shields if you are interested. The reason I mention this is that the closer the shield is to your body the lower the turbulence will be. You can feel this effect by setting the shield position such that the air hits you smack in the faceshield/chinbar. Note the noise. Then lean forward, rising off the saddle if necessary, keeping the blast on your faceshield. Note that the noise is less even though the bast is in basically the same place.

The more info you can give Craig about your specific needs (aka problems with the stock shield) the better he can help you.

[Hewhois]

Hey Norm,

The clearview shield pics I have seen do have center vents, as well as outside ones.

[NormanPCN]

The clearview shield pics I have seen do have center vents, as well as outside ones.

This is what Clearview sent me. Only outside vent ports and the center bottom is just like stock.

[Dave Wicks]

:04biker:
Has anybody ever figured out the real "shierk" you get between low point and just up to eye level on the stock (electric) shield. I've wondered if it is coming from those little vents Honda has set in the dash. Anybody have the dash off? Do those vents have actual duct work from the front side to the back or do the just dump inside dash? This wind thing where we live is an issue..We all laugh about how our gas mileage jumps up when we get into the mountains..(out of the wind). Rode last Friday, I could put myself in calm air with the stock shield...My challenge is to make it comfy for my partner.. This site has been incredibly helpful... :)

[wb5tty]

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/ST1300prod.html might be worth looking at if your are looking for a new windshield. I talked to Mark today and I think I will be ordering one of his Med. windshields for summer and the the LG. for cold weather if I like the Med.

[Hewhois]

This is what Clearview sent me. Only outside vent ports and the center bottom is just like stock.

I mistook the vents in the black rubber fairing as part of the windshield, lol. Optical illusion. Anyway, obviously you are right.

[sandman]

Check out my findings with CeeBailey stock+6wide here:

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2278

Gordon :04biker:

[The Highwayman]

Has anyone tried a Givi screen?

They had the best combination of style and function for my old 1st generation Bandit. The screen looked better than stock, and worked extremely well, better than the more common alternatives. I've checked the price of the Givi screen and it is very reasonable, but I have not seen one mounted or even in pictures.

[HSteeleman]

What is the website address for Clearview?

[dond]

http://www.clearviewshields.com/

[Will Robinson]

http://www.clearviewshields.com/

Is there a new site for them? That one is just introducing the ST1100 product as if it's the latest model!

[Austin city limits]

I have one of Marks Shields and REALLY like it!!!

I have the 6.5" wider, 4" taller than stock as I am 6ft 2,,, but only a 30 or 31 inch inseam...

We are talking an Aircraft carrier as a Mid-body for me... Well,,, uuummm,,, a "Tub of Goo" Aircraft carrier that is... :rolleyes:

As tall as I am to roll it up just to where I could see over it on the Original shield??? It was almost all the way up,,, and as the shield goes up on the ST the Shield becomes more and more vertical to where it looks like you are trying to push a clear door down the road!!! By adding 4 inches on Marks shield,,, and he has washers to lay his shield back even more the natural lines help make the shield Flow/Look better IMHO...

It is very,,, V E R Y,,, clear,,, 0% distortion,,, really thick,,, and I would buy another in a Heart beat... But,,, since it is so thick,,, strong,,, and made out of such good stuff I know I will not have too...

:::::austin stares at the box holding an old rifle he had to replace because of cracking around the bolt holes since the Rifle's on the Connies at least were FAR less thick and high quality material:::::

Mine was a VERY early pre-production model from Mark and I did have to trim about 1 inch off the bottom outer edge as I put the "Mirror Deflectors" on and the shield would come into contact with them... No big deal at all as the stuff Mark makes this stuff out of is easy to cut and anyone with at least 1 eye and a Dremel could have cut it... :cool: And,,, if I Didn't have the mirror deflectors,,, I would have left the 1 inch on as it helps push air/rain/bugs/Taco Bell wrappers you encounter on the road away from the hands... :D

[duSTy]

Is there any reason that I can't just cut holes in the stock shield to allow air in like I see on the aftermarket shields? I see others cutting a chunk out of the bottom of the shield. Not sure if it would be harder or easier. I just got my first Dremel tool last week and have never used one.

Tom

[NormanPCN]

Cutting the bottom is easier, at least in my mind. Go to the home store and buy a plastic sheet to practice on to perfect your technique just to be safe. One thing to consider is where you put the vent ports. Whatever the range of adjustment you like to use the shield at position the vent ports such that they are no higher than the top of the dash. In this way the air through the ports hits the dash and gets dispersed. Cutting the bottom obviously it always this way unless cut a ton off. There is nothing wrong with the port being above the dash but, IMO, using the dash to disperse the air is ideal.

[SteveST1300]

I spoke with Craig at clearview today and ordered up a windshield. Based on my riding style and 6'1 1/2" height he recommended a Medium +2 inches taller. And I opted for the vents. I will try it out and post my likes or dislikes. They have to make it so its a 10 day window. What I do like is the test it and see if you like it option they give you. They seem like very nice people.