SS32 Windshield for Accessories International

[alanmcorcoran]

Well, I got my windshield today, and so far, it's not going that great. The UPS guy thought it might be broken in the box becuases there was stuff clanging around in there. I listened but it sounded like the mounting hardware, so I accepted deliver (BIG MISTAKE!)

I opened it up and the windshield was fine, and the noise was the mounting hardware, which had broken loose from it's shrink wrap/cardboard packing material. Unfortunately, one of the sheet metal parts was missing apparently having it worked it's way out the unsealed bottom of the box. Also, the holes in the main sheet metal bracket that goes across the back of the windshield were not accurately aligned with the ones in the windshield and to get it mounted you have to force it. This causes the rubber grommet in the hole to bulge out like a herniated disc.

Furthermore, in spite of the fact that I switched to a different windshield than the one (Sarris?) recommended so I could get an exact fit to the forks on the GZ, the mounting brackets are huge - not even close to the right size. I'd have to wrap the tubes in two thick towels for there to be any grip. It's just the wrong size mounting kit, period.

So I'm missing parts, got the wrong size mounting kit and the grommets are popping out. And I'm only on step A of the installation. This is why I normally do not venture into add-ons. If I can send the whole thing back, I will, and I'll have a dealer put one on.

[jonathan180iq]

A little forcing and buldging of rubber grommets is normal. It keeps the parts under pressure that they don't wiggle loose. But, if it's ridiculously eye-poppping bulding that we are talking about, then something's not right; which seems to be case since everything else is so Fubar-ed.

[Easy Rider]

Well, I got my windshield today, and so far, it's not going that great.

So I'm missing parts, got the wrong size mounting kit and the grommets are popping out. And I'm only on step A of the installation. This is why I normally do not venture into add-ons. If I can send the whole thing back, I will, and I'll have a dealer put one on.

No disrespect intended but this kind of outcome doesn't surprise me too much! :biggrin:

A really LOT of people go through exactly what you described on their first windshield, even if they order an "exact match" for a listed model. For a bike "not listed", it's even more likely.

You should insist on sending it back for a refund because it wasn't packed properly, they lied about the brackets, etc. etc.

I have a recommendation for you......and others, now that I have mine situated. Will give more details and some pictures this weekend. Also search for the pictures that Bad Bob posted last year. Between him and spouse, they probably have 10X the miles of the next closest GZ rider.
Experience IS (usually) the best teacher.

[Moedad]

That :curse: sucks, Alan. :cuss:

[alanmcorcoran]

I called today and the guy gave me a sort of "iffy" RMA. He kind of said something to the effect of, if there was any indication I had attempted to install it, they can't take it back. If I wasn't distracted with greater concerns, like the potentially imminent collapse of Western civilization, I would have pointed out why his attitude indicated out-sized balls, but, since I had the RMA, I let it go. I'll let you know if I get an actual refund.

I'll be the first to admit, I'm probably one of the least talented on here mechanically, but I'm not a complete novice. I have pretty extensive set of tools and such and I've used every one of them. I have done some tricky assed joinery that would probably impress many of you manlier men, and I know my way around routing table, table saw, chop saw - all of which are in the garage, plugged in and ready to go. (Yeah, I know, too bad the bike isn't made out of wood.) My point is, I know the difference between a tricky installation and crap quality control. On the ill-fitting horizontal strap, one side lined up just fine. It should have been symmetrical, but it wasn't. Simple matter of making sure the holes were drilled in the sheet metal in the right place...

If I'd paid 79 bucks for the thing, I would understand, and I would have effed with it to make it work. But for $229 I expected something decent and this did not meet my expectations.

[Dupo]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SLIP-STR ... 0064888027 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SLIP-STREAMER-SPITFIRE-Clear-Windshield-HandleBar-Mount_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ39Q3a1Q7c66Q3a4Q 7c65Q3a15Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQ hashZitem380064888027QQitemZ380064888027)

:2tup:

[jonathan180iq]

Enough of this.
I say get their address, drive down there and eat their brains.

A$$holes!

[gzrider]

I used the brand Slipstreamer a couple of times and there has never been a problem with them mounting up.They are sold as universal, You can go to their website see the models and measurements, and order the windscreen at your local dealer. They dont sell direct. I've had only good experience with these windshields. This one is around 16 in high and 14 in wide. They are cheap, this one was only $79, the largest one was around $135, Seems reasonable to me.

[alanmcorcoran]

Accessories International accepted my RMA for the windshield and credited me $159 bucks. I think I paid more than that, plus I'm out shipping and handling (If I recall correctly the total was over $200.) Perhaps they popped me for a "re-stocking fee."

I will probably go through a dealer for my next try. It's not easy to do that either since I kind of use the bike every day, but I'm going to try and coordinate something for my next trip out of town.

[Dupo]

Alan, get the slipstreamer ... you wont be disappointed. Going through the dealer ... they will ass rape you like you were a new inmate at a prison.

[alanmcorcoran]

Hope you are not speaking from experience. (Pretty sure I would be the chick in that situation...)

Here's my dilemma: I already ordered a slipstreamer. And, having received it, I can assure you, installation is not out of my mechanical range. Far easier than a gas barbecue grill, for instance. The issue was, it arrived missing one of the important parts (because the sheet metal parts had all torn away and fallen off the shrink wrapped cardboard holder - one of which worked it's way out of the bottom of the box and escaped into the UPS warehouse), and with the wrong mounting kit (about a 3/8 inch in diameter larger than my fork tubes.)

Plus, the one of the holes in the main sheet metal strip was misaligned with the corresponding hole/grommet in the windshield. I could have forced it (actually, I DID force it) but the screw was at a 45 degree angle and I could tell the grommet would be gone in about a week.)

So how can I repeat the above without setting myself up for "Fool me twice...? "

(It's not about the money... I'm just sensitive about looking like a f*cking idiot any more than necessary...)

(If I get ass raped by the dealer at least I can go be a dick about any installation issues in person...)

(Remember, I got ass raped, mouth raped and any other kind of rape you can think of when I bought the thing, but I can still sit on it for long periods of time without any mental trauma. Money don't buy happiness, but I guess it can serve as life's little lubricant. I *do* get a little twinge "down there" every time one of these newbs crows about picking one up for $1200 from the dumbass neighbor lady.)

[Easy Rider]

Going through the dealer ... they will ass rape you like you were a new inmate at a prison.

BTDT.....self inflicted ! :crackup

Different "strokes" for different folks! :biggrin: