So I think its time for a new windshield cos the one I have is scratched and is causing problems when driving at night.
I am 6'4 and I suppose I sit tall in the/saddle and the screen I have is a tall one I think its about 2/3 inches taller than stock but I don't think I need the extra height , I'd be thinking of a slightly shorter screen but I'll measure my own first and work from there.
I have been looking at the taka recurve screen by longriders , its meant to have a slight curve at the top of the screen to project air /rain upnover the the rider. Has anyone any options on these windshields or is there one you might recommend based on my bike and my height ? Any input welcome
I like the design of the TAKA and talked to a Harley rider and passenger- who said it pushes air over and around both of them,
bugs get on the shield... not your goggles! at 130 mph~
Did not get info on mpg, email the company- they have an 1800 at the shop, should have some real world number for you
search for windshield on here and opinions on everything made will appear. Whatever each person has is the best one made~
I have a Tulsa Tall which drops fuel mileage in exchange for massive wind and rain/cold protection.
Im thinking of going a bit shorter with a Taka and look over it, instead of thru the top 2 inches, where last owner scratched it from helmet visor
On further research I have read that the recurve type screens can cause problems due to the curve part being distorted and there might be concerns when entering bends . unfortunately I can't view one of these screens in person as I'm in Ireland so I have to do as much research first before purchase.
Ive also started looking at Optic Armor screens , they seem to have all the benefits of an F4 custom but a better price.
I have much the same concerns that you have.
I have always had a Tulsa Tall on the Goldwings that I owned. For some reason, they were always on the bikes before I bought them :surprise:
and with my ears like they are, I just cannot stand to have the wind blowing into my helmet.... the noise is just too much... ear plugs are not the real answer as they dampen your ability to hear "behind" or to the side of you.
I am also very interested in Optic Armor because they are 'tough as nails' and have near perfect 'optic clarity'... this part because I always "look thru" the windshield, and my Video Camera is attached behind the bottom center of the windshield it needs to be able to "see the view" without distortion also.
My current Tulsa Tall is 'hazy looking' and not sure I know why.. I suspect too many careless cleanings in the past before I owned it.
I purchased a windbender windshield from Firecreek middle of last riding season. So far I really enjoy the adjustability of this windshield. I got caught 200 miles from home in a massive storm front and was able to keep the rain off my face just by raising the shield to it's full extension. When it is warm I drop it down to the lowest position. The jury is still out on the pillion position, she does say it is better than the stock windshield was though.
I think mine might have suffered from some abusive cleaning by the previous owner although its takes very littlto damage the older screens . I think I'll be going with the optic armor in a couple of weeks . They're relatively new kids on the block as far as motorcycle windshields are concerned but I think they have been in the business for quite some time . They are also available through cyclemax , who I have used in the past never had any problems, so its a bit of a no brainer .
note on the TAKA- you are supposed to sit with eyes above it- not looking thru its top edge while slouched down on the Wing.
The top 2 inches of my Tulsa are badly scratched from previous owner getting on with visor open on full face helmet- adding several inches to your head length!
Hit the rough edge of visor against the plastic a few times and most people learn...but....
If I sit up above the Tulsa there is tremendous wind noise and some helmet buffeting, drop down and look thru the shield and it goes silent and smooth
Thats in a full face Arai Quantum2, with air inlet-outlets sticking up on the top.
Wind noise into the helmet from below is annoying
In a half-helmet there is less wind noise when sitting upright, in a different way too- not funneled to the ears.
Slouched down- feet on cruiser pegs, Looking thru shield, on the cruise control with the radio a-blastin feels so good!
i am also 6'4". i like looking over the shield unless riding extended on the highway. i tried the wind-bender short with the recurve and couldn't stand looking over/through the curve. i cut the curve off with minimal added impact on buffetting, which i considered to be too much. i got the tall top-shield with no recurve, raised the base shield to full height, reversed the mountings on the top shield to maximize the height so i look through the top when fully raised, and I still get too much buffetting to be really comfortable at highway speeds. i have not heard of an effective look-over windshield for the 1500 with low buffetting. interested to know what another TALL rider such as you finds on the 1500.
Have you tried the side Wind Wings? those radically change airflow around the bike.
Shield Vent open is another consideration for airflow- hi/lo pressure and buffeting.
Anything sticking out on your helmet is a wind catcher
Has anyone experimented with some small tabs like you seen on top of airplane wings- to change airflow, disrupt or smooth it.
Is the real disturbance formed at the base of shield/mirror area? or do the bags cause a reverse flow?
Have you thought about lowering -shaving some foam off the seat? Lower yourself into the bike and under the shield edge.
With cruiser pegs you can really stretch out, nicer than being crammed into the stock amount of space-- if you are over 5'10 !
MW, I'm 6'1" And I recently switched to a Tulsa tall really like the protection. And I have a second "shorty" screen just for the heat of Summer. The TAK definitely looks interesting though.... so does the Firecreek.
One thing about the TUlsa with a vent...except in extreme heat climates AKA Arizona, etc. It's just about perfect and covers all Weather events.....
Thanks for posting the "view through" photo of your Tulsa. It reminded me of something else I didn't care for with the TT: Its angle reflects everything shiny below into the rider's eyes. I had to black out everything on my dash. Not a problem with OA's angle.
I'm 6-3 and have a +2 or 3 windshield. I couldn't take the buffeting on the top of my helmet so I got the taller screen. Didn't like the look of the Tulsa and figured I'd be hitting my head all the time on it. I also would like a shorter screen I can look over rather than thru, but that seems to be a pipe dream.
Some great input and opinions on here. having taken everything into consideration including my own needs I have decided to go ahead with the Optic Armor +2 with a vent. I've not had a vent before but I figure better to have one and not need it than the alternative . The OA gets my vote because I had read a couple of posts regarding the recurve distortion problem so that wouldn't suit ( maybe ok for a trike ? ) and an original stock screen will ,sooner or later , have the same easily scratched issues and the one I have . As far as I can figure the OA has most of the same properties as the F4 custom including being well designed and much easier to clean and keep clean but with a better price and possibly a better warranty ( although how the warranty will work from Ireland is anybody's guess ). I'll post up on here my impressions when it arrives and hopefully itll serve to help someone make a similar decision.
BTW
I ordered the windshield through Cyclemax as the price was better and I got to add on a few shiny bits with the order so the shipping works out a bit better
Yeah, John, that's the way to do it; try it for yourself. Pretty sure you'll be pleased with it. I most definitely am with mine. By the way, when you're with Lopeha, tell him to fill his rear "darkside" Austone to 55 psi. Trust me. [I'm Tatanka/Kevin from the GWOF.]
hey, I guess not everyone is aware that Lopeha now has an 1800???
It also is a pretty blue, almost a match for his 1500's color. Imagine him doing that
So, I get to test ride that OA+4 on an 1800 and will know precisely how it will work for me
I really like the Tulsa Tall windshield for weather protection. And as every Goldwing I have owned, since the '94SE and the '98SE and now my '02SE all have/had them.... it is no problem getting on the bikes w/o even touching that windshield. It is all about the proper technique of getting on.
You step up on the rear pillion step and then get on... that puts your body back, and higher than the screen.... it is all in the technique.
Take a look at the F4 Customs windshields. We offer the shield that does not scratch with steel wool, sheds rain, is perfectly clear, and has a 4 year warranty against any cracking crazing or de-lamination. Our company is family owned and you deal right with the ownership.
We would love to earn your business. 330-968-4644 www.f4customs.com
Don
So my Optic Armor +2 with a vent arrived last Tuesday ( only 8 days after I ordered it ) and I got a chance to install it on Saturday along with some of the shiny bits I also ordered.
The windshield is about 2 inches lower than the one I had on but I wanted a lower shield anyway so that suits me . I only really noticed how bad the old one was when I put it next to the OA .I mean I know its a maybe 10 year old shield that I took off but the light scratches and swirls really do affect your view.
Anyway I took it out for a test drive and because my view was so much better, it felt like a different bike . There was very little buffeting which was expected but also ( and I could be wrong here ) I noticed better fuel economy. I noticed the OA is not as tall or as wide as the shield I removed so I could feel a bit more air on my arms and I could feel fresh air being pushed through the chin vent on my helmet which is a first .After about 20 mins of getting used to the new screen and getting caught in a rain shower where the rain beaded up the screen as promised I decided I had made the right choice.
I need a new windshield and the Optic Armor looks like the most interesting. I need to get the height right though. I've cut the stock shield down twice and it's right for me - I look over the top with it in its low position.
Would one of you guys who has an OE get a height measurement for me? with the shield in the low position, what's its height from the top of the black weatherstrip in front to the top of the shield (measured in the center)? And is your shield a standard or a + or - size. Help would be appreciated.
In a pinch, can these shields be cut?
Ah. I have tinnitus too. Annoying as hell but I grew my own from running woodwork tools without hearing protection.
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