Plexistar II Windshield (aka Moe's windshield)

[alanmcorcoran]

Got my windshield today. Had to go somewhere so I put it on sort of quick like, and then, after I got back, effed with it for an hour and a half. Here's what it look's like:

http://www.postimage.org/aVK3239.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVK3239)

Since there seems to be a great deal of interest in windshields, I'll quickly delve into two aspects of it: Installation and The Effect On The Ride.

Installation: Installation was both easy and, well, difficult. Easy, as in you can get the thing on your bike in about 15 minutes. Difficult, as in, you can then proceed to eff with it for the rest of your natural life. You can screw around with the orientation and position of fork mounts. It is no exaggeration to say there is an infinite amount of adjustments you can make to the fork mounts starting with how far you stick the "L" brackets into the windshield, to the placement of the collar, to the orientation of the connector, to the angle of the "L brackets, to the angle of connector, and so on etc. etc. You can also screw around with the handle bar mounts and there are at least four different areas to mess with there as well.

Effect On The Ride: The top of the windshield, when I first installed it, was about at eyebrow level or slightly higher. This means I am looking through the windshield to see the horizon and the top edge of the windshield cuts right through my plane of vision. (Not real thrilled with this.) The windshield reduces the wind on my upper torso, hands and face to zero (this is good!) However, it introduces a new area of turbulence, best described like the buffeting of a heavy flag in a strong wind, around the sides and back of my head. Flipping up my face shield, I can feel the wind on my temples and above. Quick impression: The windshield sharply reduces "wind chill", especially chest and hands but introduces a new annoyance in the form of re-directed wind that is distracting. I experimented with raising the whole thing up, but then the hand cutouts start to encroach on the hand levers - so I put it back to it's "natural" position.

So far, I'm not that impressed. I like the reduction in chilliness, but I hate the way it looks, I hate the loss of visibility and it doesn't really eliminate the wind. I'll give it a few more days before I take it off, but I think I'm going to go back to no windshield.

http://www.postimage.org/aVK7lWJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVK7lWJ)


http://www.postimage.org/aVK81l9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVK81l9)

[mrlmd1]

Your windshield is probably too big, or too tall. You shouldn't be looking across the edge of the screen, it should be below your line of sight. That can be distracting and a safety issue.
How tall is it? 19 or 21"? Too bad you can't trim a few inches off the top.
My windshield is much shorter, 15", I should have found one maybe 17", but I like it. It certainly keeps most of the love bugs off me in the spring and fall, and altho my head is in the wind, my body and hands are well protected from the wind and flying debris.
I don't think gain in top speed should be the reason people get a shield, but rather protection from all that's coming your way should be the goal.

[Easy Rider]

So far, I'm not that impressed. I like the reduction in chilliness, but I hate the way it looks, I hate the loss of visibility and it doesn't really eliminate the wind. I'll give it a few more days before I take it off, but I think I'm going to go back to no windshield.


Poser! :biggrin:

I think your expectations were a bit too high. That air has to go somewhere. Shields are not for everybody and the "ideal" adjustment is not the same for everybody. Keep screwing with it for a while.

The top of the shield should NOT be directly in your line of sight; above or below but not right in the middle. Have a look at my pictures again. I ended up with the hand-guards above where they were designed to be. To clear the levers, then, I had to move the shield forward slightly and to get the wind off my helmet (more or less) completely, I stood it up straighter than I would really like. This puts me looking about 2 inches through the shield in my normal riding posture and IIRC, puts the horizon about even with the top line on a level road.

I had to screw with it for about a week and changed the "adjustments" about 6 times before I got it right. Now, mine is even a little larger than yours and when adjusted for max. wind deflection, it presents some resistance at top speed........which is why I recommended the one you have that is slightly smaller.

The good news is that your model is MUCH easier to adjust than mine.

[Moedad]

Alan, yours is mounted higher than mine. My helmet buffeting seems minor compared to what you describe. We should get the bikes next to each other and compare, maybe even try riding each others.

[Easy Rider]

Alan, yours is mounted higher than mine. My helmet buffeting seems minor compared to what you describe. We should get the bikes next to each other and compare, maybe even try riding each others.

:plus1:

Good plan!

[alanmcorcoran]

Alan, yours is mounted higher than mine. My helmet buffeting seems minor compared to what you describe. We should get the bikes next to each other and compare, maybe even try riding each others.

Will do.

I think Easy was right - the problem is one of expectations. I expected it to be totally wind free. I'm a little tired of effing it with it for right now, but maybe I'll be inspired to take another run at it.

[Sarris]

Alan:

http://www.postimage.org/aVLXOpi.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVLXOpi)

17", fits great, works great, looks great, enough said.

:whistle: :banana:

PS: I now have a chrome Suzuki tank emblem centered on the top chrome band. :biggrin:

[alanmcorcoran]

The top of the shield should NOT be directly in your line of sight; above or below but not right in the middle. Have a look at my pictures again. I ended up with the hand-guards above where they were designed to be. To clear the levers, then, I had to move the shield forward slightly and to get the wind off my helmet (more or less) completely, I stood it up straighter than I would really like. This puts me looking about 2 inches through the shield in my normal riding posture and IIRC, puts the horizon about even with the top line on a level road.

Mine may actually be higher. Or it's at least close. Is the top of your shield a little above eyebrow level? How tall are you? (I am 5'11" [Patrick - add height and weight to member profile!])

I am definitely looking through the top two inches at least - probably more like three. I haven't re-ridden it since I effed with it last night. I ended up reversing the orientation of my fork mountings - there's about 12 legitimate ways you can put them on, and I think mine were a 13th. The current mounting looks a lot cleaner than my old one.

I can probably bump mine up another inch via the various effings, but it will be higher than it's designed for and will be difficult to get the "rake" right. I need to ride with it more to see what the tradeoff is with rake and height.

One last bitch: Would it kill these guys to include some photos in the effing instructions?

[Chris]

Just checking in, guys.

Delighted to see the windshield conversations as this is a high priority with me right now.
At a dealer a new windshield is about $200 installed with the installation being about $60. I'm OK with tools, should I do it myself?
At the $200 level I took another look at mine (bought the bike used) and I think the windshield was installed backwards!! So I put it on right (???) and finished about the time it started raining. So no results yet.
Still, interested in y'all's comments (I'm Southern).

Chris, Atlanta

[Graydog]

One last bitch: Would it kill these guys to include some photos in the effing instructions?

Instructions! You don't need no stinking instructions! Take the windshield off. Discard the instructions. Put the windshield back on. Now its right. :lol:

[Moedad]

I took another look at mine (bought the bike used) and I think the windshield was installed backwards!!

I can't imagine how that would be possible. Then again, I've been called unimaginative.

[Easy Rider]

Is the top of your shield a little above eyebrow level? How tall are you? (I am 5'11" [Patrick - add height and weight to member profile!])



Yes.
5'6" ,in my boots :) .
Short legs, though. From the ass up, you and I might not be that different.

At this point, what you have left is rake adjustments OR drop it WAY down and try the "look over it" theory.

[Easy Rider]

I took another look at mine (bought the bike used) and I think the windshield was installed backwards!!

I can't imagine how that would be possible. Then again, I've been called unimaginative.

Me neither. Upside down, maybe, but NOT backwards.

WE NEED PICS! :cool:

[alanmcorcoran]

The number of ways to do the Plexistar II correctly are near infinite. Doing it wrong gives you an even larger (imaginary) quantity of possibilities. However, I believe it is impossible to put it on either backwards or upside down.

You could put the mounting hardware on upside down or backwards, but if it works, it's not considered wrong.

The Plexistar II is about $125 and is very easy to install. You need a medium flat blade screw driver and a 19mm crescent wrench (it comes with a small allen wrench) It is also very easy to remove temporarily. A dealer might help reduce the adjustment time. Moe and I agree that if you have a buddy to hold it, or the bike or both, it can make the decisions on the initial install easier - although both of us did it solo. I think the Plexistar II will fit on a wide range of bikes so it might be a good choice for people with multiple bikes - you just need to order additional fork and handlebar mounts.

[mr. softie]

Try lowering it to reduce buffeting. Seems counter intuitive I know. I have my shield raked same angle as forks. Top is 2-3 inches below line of sight. I felt much more buffeting when I was looking through it. Also raking it back more smooths out the airflow. Be patient, I effed with mine for weeks to get it right and it was worth it.

[alanmcorcoran]

Thanks, Mr. S.

I have already done Major Effing Number One and I'm going to try it for a bit - want to get out on the freeway with it before further effing. Can't ride today - everything is on fire and the freeways are closed. If I discover something useful, I'll report it.

[alanmcorcoran]

Did about 10 miles on the freeway today. Feels different with the windshield. Didn't get up over 65 or so, it was kind of a rough section I was on. Still not comfortable cornering hard on the grooved, scalloped and otherwise effed up concrete. But I've gotten very comfortable riding on asphalt at high speed. My windshield is fluttering against something I think - Not sure where, probably down by the fork. Have to check that out. Didn't move or shift at high speed though. Seems very solid. I think overall, this is a good choice for the GZ based on the fit, the quality and the eas of installation. Only real objection is whether one really wants a windshield or not. Still undecided. Since I am lazy, I'll probably leave it on for while.

[Easy Rider]

Only real objection is whether one really wants a windshield or not. Still undecided. Since I am lazy, I'll probably leave it on for while.

I thought one of the advantages of that particular shield was "easy off"; that is, you could leave the mounts ON and fairly quickly and easily pull the shield off and on without disturbing the adjustments. Not so ??

[Moedad]

I thought one of the advantages of that particular shield was "easy off"; that is, you could leave the mounts ON and fairly quickly and easily pull the shield off and on without disturbing the adjustments. Not so ??

Not so. Easy off, yes, but not without totally undoing the adjustments. You could mark them on the brackets with tape or white paint or something prior to removal and the readjustments would go much more quickly.

[alanmcorcoran]

Technically true. It is certainly easy off. The position of the shield could still vary on re-attachment as the angle of the handle bar mounting and the angle,depth and rotation/orientation of the fork mounts would not necessarily be preserved. Plus, if I take the wndshield off, I'm probably going to remove the mounts. They destroy some of the aesthetics of the bike.

[music man]

Alan, I think they meant you could take it on and off, and ride it with it on and off fairly easily, so you could decide whether you really liked it or not.

[Easy Rider]

They destroy some of the aesthetics of the bike.

There you go with them assthetics again. :poked:

:)

[alanmcorcoran]

I don't want to give the wrong impression here: I think the Plexistar II is a good choice for this bike and will probably meet the expectations of most windshield buyers. I think whatever complaints I've had about it would probably apply to any windshield. Overall I think this one stikes a good balance between size, cost, ease of installation and general features.

Moe and I were simply clarifying that, the idea you could pop it off, (which you CAN do very easily) and then pop it back on in the exact position as before, is not realistic. As Moe can probably testify to, there is a great deal of both gross and fine effing that can be done. You would retain the gross effing, but not the fine tuning.

FYI, I have noticed that my first adjustment resulted in the windshield being an inch or so lower than it was originally (although it has a better "rake" and is more centered and fit to the bike contours.) So I'm getting a little more turbulence in the forehead and ear areas. I may take Easy's advice and shift the whole thing up, alignment with the clutch and brake handles be damned.

[Easy Rider]

both gross and fine effing that can be done.

I may take Easy's advice and shift the whole thing up, alignment with the clutch and brake handles be damned.

No such thing as gross effing; it's all FINE, just some finer than others! :roll: :crackup

I think you're getting there. If getting it up doesn't achieve the desired result, consider slightly less rake too. :cool:

[Water Warrior 2]

Windshields and their adjustments are a crap shoot at best. Luckily the Spitfire was accidently correct first time round for Lynda. Lowest possible position and raked to match the forks. Lynda is quite happy with it. As for my added height and width the wind blast and noise is horrible with everything funneling up into my full face helmet. There are just too many variables and only time and experiment will make it as right as possible for each individual.

[GZ250]

alan, i am planning to get a windshild like yours, nice shield, looks nice and protects from wind all over. but than i realized that i do not have a garage and i park my bike outside all year round and cover it. so with windshield it would not be possible to cover or i'll need a wind shield cover separately. i do not need small shield just for cosmetic reasons.

any suggestions. thanks

[Easy Rider]

so with windshield it would not be possible to cover or i'll need a wind shield cover separately.
any suggestions. thanks

Believe it or not, you are not the first person to have this dilema !! :)

You just shop for a cover carefully. For that purpose, your GZ is NOT a small if it has a shield attached. Many covers are made specifically for bikes with windshields. Read the box carefully.

[alanmcorcoran]

Sorry Geeze, I park mine in the garage and haven't looked into a cover. (Out here I probably wouldn't bother with one anyway.) Let me know what you think of the shield and if you come up with any interesting mounting ideas.

[Moedad]

Sorry Geeze, I park mine in the garage and haven't looked into a cover. (Out here I probably wouldn't bother with one anyway.) Let me know what you think of the shield and if you come up with any interesting mounting ideas.

I garage mine too.

[Water Warrior 2]

Check out Wally World for a cover. Size large will do the job with room to spare.

[blaine]

I also have the SPITFIRE.On & off in less than a minute.No loss of adjustment.Fits bike very well.

[alanmcorcoran]

Me and the Geezer have been spending a little more time together ever since I put the crappy saddlebags on her, and so I had some more motivation to screw with the Plexistar II mounting. Not sure if these are even sold anymore, but, I figured I'd do one final post on this just for closure.

I actually have done three significant revisions to my mounting recently, some of which involved me relearning from mistakes made previously. Screwing around with your Plexistar is not unlike sex - the more you do it, the better you get at it. And there's the mounting...

Revision number one was made to address two problems - difficulty locking the front wheel and rattles of the lowers against the forks. Although I fixed both problems, the result was I ended up with the shield up too high and too far in front of the speedo. This created a new more annoying problem - lots of air coming up right through the bottom of the shield - sort of defeating the purpose.

My last two revisions were my efforts to:

1) Cut down on the gap between the shield and the speedo.
2) Maintain the rake with the fork angle.
3) Eliminate any rattles.
4) Try to keep the thing fitting to the bike geometry, especially in the brake/clutch, upper triple tree and turn signal stems.

There is a point of diminishing returns, the shield is only so high, and the hand guard cutouts are not perfectly placed for the GZ, but I think I have finally achieved the best overall fit. See pictures below.


http://s3.postimage.org/alqUS.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqalqUS)

http://s3.postimage.org/alATr.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqalATr)

http://s3.postimage.org/alImS.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqalImS)

http://s1.postimage.org/qCa9J.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxqCa9J)

[blaine]

A medium sized cover made for bikes with a windshield fits well.The brand name is"THE FIST"

[waya]

A medium sized cover made for bikes with a windshield fits well.The brand name is"THE FIST"

My Googling for this comes up empty....

[blaine]

A medium sized cover made for bikes with a windshield fits well.The brand name is"THE FIST"

My Googling for this comes up empty....
IIRC this was bought at Princess Auto about 4 years.Probably long gone.
:??: :)

[mrlmd1]

Any medium sized cover will fit over the GZ with a windscreen, with lots left over lying on the ground.. There's also no need to spend a lot of money on these - I bought one on JCWhitney for less than $20 3 years ago and still using it in my S50, and recently, a cheapo one on eBay shipped from China for $12.99 3 months ago which is still intact and working fine. The JCWhitney one even had padding on the back side of the front of the cover to cover the windshield and I never had any scratches on either windshield. Don't spend a whole lot of money on a cover, just tie it down well with some line around the front around the bars below the lights and looped under/over the bike's seat and frame to keep it from excessively blowing around and it will last a long time.

[Water Warrior 2]

Wal-Mart has a fair to decent bike cover too. Not expensive and light enough to pack if you need one on the road.. I have a Dowco cover and it is a great product but you need someplace to park it when not in use. It is kinda bulky due to the type of material used.

[waya]

I currently am using a tarp I found at Wal-Mart, I didn't see any bike covers when I was poking around in there.... what section/area did you find it in?

[Water Warrior 2]

In this store they have the usual auto service center. It is in their area rather than just out in the automotive sales on the main floor area. A little strange in my mind but Wal-Mart does have a method to their madness. When all else fails just ask some one who is busy..........it always works for me.

[blaine]

The only thing the Wal- Mart here sells is helmets,nothing else bike related.
:??: :)

[mrlmd1]

Go online to eBay and you'll find all ranges of covers. The $12 or $20 ones or anything in between work just fine.Mine came shipped from China within a week. They are lightweight and pack real small and come with a storage bag, real easy to hide in a saddlebag with all the other junk you will start to carry around having them.

[BillInGA]

I have the Wal-Mart cover. Cheap, packable, works good, lasts long time.