Looking for a windshield

[primal]

Man, these things are expensive, aren't they?!

Anyway, I'm trying to decide which windshield to get for my Marauder. I'm torn between a standard National Cycles or Memphis Shades windshield and this one by Slipstreamer:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tab%3DWatching

So, what do you all think of that Slipstreamer? I kinda like it because it's sort of like a sporty batwing shield.

[Moedad]

That Slipstreamer is kinda cool looking. Any idea of how high the top is? I'm wondering where the air will be directed. Looks like it might hit you right in the face in the ebay picture. Do you have any idea how adjustable they are (or aren't)?

[primal]

It's 14" from the top of the headlight cutout to the top of the windshield. The second picture is a Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600. I measured it on my bike (the bikes in the ebay pics are much larger bikes than my Marauder) and it seems ideal.

[mrlmd1]

Look at the SS-28 - I had that on my bike (pics below). Mine was clear, easier to see through, had that same general angular shape but had a wider body which I think would be better wind protection. Both these windshields are short, the SS-28 is 15" I think, but it offered pretty good protection and not that much wind in your face, and covered the grips well, good for cold weather riding. IMO, 14" is pretty short. I have a Memphis Shades Malibu (which is taller, 18" I think, perfect height) on my S50 which I am pretty sure will also fit the GZ250. Whatever windshield you think you want, check the applications, make sure it fits the bike and will clamp to 7/8" bars. The windshield you are looking at has hardware for 1" bars. The SS28 and Malibu both have a 4 point mounting system, to the bars and the forks, so it's pretty stable and doesn't buffet in the wind, like a 2-point mount might.
I ordered mine through the dealer, same price as on line, and I thought that was a better idea in case there was any problem with it, no shipping charges, and they appreciate it and love you for your business..

[primal]

Pretty sure the Marauder has 1" bars.

I've looked at just about every style of windshield available for the Marauder and the only ones I like are the Slipstreamer Stealth and the "standard" windshields (http://www.nationalcycle.com/newsvideo/Nostalgia.jpg). I also specifically don't like the clear version of the Slipstreamer Stealth.

[dhgeyer]

I was kind of a student of windshield dynamics for a little while. Did a lot of experimenting. Bought them, tried them, cut them down a little at a time, and did this on several bikes. What I learned is this: there are two approaches that work.

1. Short windshield, full face helmet, earplugs for sure. The height of the windshield wants to be well below your shoulders. Windshields always generate turbulence. If the shield is short enough, the turbulence will hit you at about the shoulders or so, which is not bothersome. Your helmet will be full in the wind, which full face helmets want in order to ventilate properly. The air going over your helmet will be smooth air, with no buffeting. You will want ear protection if you ride at or above 50 mph for any length of time.

2. Tall windshield, (open face helmet unless it gets quite cold), ear protection optional. With this approach you may need lowers to keep turbulence from coming up behind the windshield. With a cruiser style bike, the lowers are almost a guaranteed requirement. The shield must come up so that you are just looking over it by an inch or two, no more. The turbulence will go over your head, and the updraft will keep most bugs and dust out of your face, although you will still want eye protection. The tall shield approach creates a bubble of relative quiet, rendering ear protection optional.

What you definitely want to avoid is anything in between, as the turbulence will hit your helmet. Depending upon the severity of this problem, it may be a minor annoyance, or unbearable, or anywhere in between.

I know that this doesn't help you with specific models, which for your bike I know nothing about. But it might help give you some idea what you are looking for.

[Water Warrior 2]

The GZ has 7/8ths inch bars while most larger cruiser style bikes have 1 inch bars. There are exceptions of course so make sure the proper mounting hardware is available or you will be hooped.

[greenhorn]

Originally Posted by dhgeyer

With a cruiser style bike, the lowers are almost a guaranteed requirement.

Great post. What do you mean by "lowers"?

M

[Water Warrior 2]

Originally Posted by greenhorn

Great post. What do you mean by "lowers"?

M

Lowers can be a plastic air deflector that attaches to the forks and stops the wind from coming up into your face from below the shield. Also protects the legs in many cases from the wet and cold. Lynda's "M" has a large windshield that extends down past both sides of the headlight to accomplish the same thing. It is also wide enough to give good coverage to her hands in the wet and cold. It works quite well and only her feet will get cold or wet on ocassion. I rode the bike at higher highway speeds in the rain and was impressed with the coverage. My feet got a bit wet but that will be another project to tinker with in time.

[dhgeyer]

Originally Posted by greenhorn

Great post. What do you mean by "lowers"?

M

Thank you! Lowers are flat, usually clear wind deflection devices which sit below the windshield, and outside the front wheel on either side. Here are a couple of images I stole from a couple of sites:




From the look of them, you would think they would primarily protect your lower body from wind. However, their most valuable function, if they are large enough, is to keep the air blast from coming up behind the windshield, creating almost as much turbulence as you'd get with a poorly designed windshield, or one of improper height. As you can see, they usually attach to the fork tubes, although some lowers hang from the shield itself. I made my own for my '02 Vulcan 1500 Classic FI. Note that they are very large as lowers go. There was very little wind of any kind behind that big Memphis Shades windshield on that bike if the lowers were in place. The lowers were pretty ugly, but taking them off made such a difference that I didn't want to ride without them. I painted them black, which makes them a little hard to see in the photo. Sorry about that.