Is your shield high or low?

[C-dub]

Good morning all.

I'm still experimenting with the height of my shield. For the first month I had it set high and now I'm trying it down low. So far, after only two days of riding with it low, I don't know if I'm going to like it there or not. I'll give at least another week or two, but already have this feeling like I'm going to be ordering the taller shield in the end.

Where do ya'll have your shield? Does anyone like having it low?

[tfdeputydawg]

If you want to stop the buffeting on you and a passenger, buy the best shield on the market!
F4 Customs
My suggestion is the +4, tinted/vented

[C-dub]

If you want to stop the buffeting on you and a passenger, buy the best shield on the market!
F4 Customs
My suggestion is the +4, tinted/vented

That's a great looking shield! I've wondered if any were tinted, but could't think of a reason until reading the features regarding reducing headlight or other lights' glare.

It looks like the only downside is that it is no longer adjustable. That's not horrible if I decide that I like mine up high and just keep it there. And I just might.

[DenverWinger]

Never tried adjusting the shield, I have a very tall one. Just how much up/down adjustment is there on a '93 1500 anyway?

[MiWinger51]

I set mine so that me eyes are just above the windshield. That forces the turbulence over my headbutallows me a clear view thru my face shield.

[minimac]

I have a tall windshield and have it set at the highest I can. I don't get "bugged" and Mrs. Mini likes not being buffeted. Being an all weather rider, I don't mind looking through it, but the vent is an absolute must.

[detdrbuzzard]

the stock windshield on my 1500 wing was causing too much buffeting so I replaced ( years ago ) it with a cee baily that is one inch taller than stock. I can still see over it but the buffeting is gone

[golden highway]

Mine is set as high as I can get it. I wish it was a little taller since I wear a modular helmet and if i have the face shield up I get a little buffeting. I hear people complain about looking through it when the weather is bad or a lot of dirt is being kicked up. I don't see the difference between looking though my dirty windshield, my dirty visor or my dirty glasses.

[themainviking]

I no longer have a passenger, so my windscreen is set fairly low. It is just low enough that I look over it most of the time, but in rain, I can just minimally slouch and look through it. I have the stock item, and no buffeting. Or at least no more buffeting than I can accept. Sooner or later, if I can continue to ride, I will likely get one of those fancy shmancy wind screens that people say are the best to have.

[C-dub]

I asked the F4 Customs guys why the +4 shields are not adjustable and it is because of their extra width. They won't fit down inside the faring like the stock ones or their +2 shields. So, maximum blockage, but you're locked into that and no more adjusting. Hmmm, gonna have to really think about that move. I might want to go with a +2 tinted shield to retain adjustability, but if I end up only keeping it up high anyway then what's the big deal? Decisions decisions.

[rmoss]

I would say that 95% of the time I run my stock sheilds as low as it will. I feel a lot more comfortable looking over the shield and not through it. During rain I leave it low and try and sit a little higher in my seat so the rain blows of my face sheild.also I never use my face sheild unless it's raining or perhaps cold outside.
I had a yamaha venture and bought a Clearveiw Shield for it. I ordered the shortest they had and absolutely loved it. Clearveiw put a little flip on the top of the windshield which really directs the air up over your head so you got very little buffeting.
I ride 2 up a lot and the wife very rarely complains about buffeting. The only time the windshield is set high is if I will be doing a long day on the interstates. The wife does thank me then.

I think if Honda put on a electric motor to raise and lower the shield that would solve a lot of riders problem.

My feeling is that if you want to hide from all the elements like wind, rain and cold then you might as well be in a car.

[dtrider]

I have a Windbender on my 1800, and it's great. With it's split shield it breaks up the pressure behind the windshield and throws the air coming over the top even higher. On the freeway I'll typically have it set to just below eye level so that I'm looking over it, and it throws the wind over me and my passenger. When I hit the twisties I'll set it down low for better visibility and it still does a good job of eliminating any wind buffeting.

Still fully adjustable with the stock Honda adjustment system, plus the Windbender has it's own height adjustment. I typically have the Windbender set on it's second notch and just use the Honda adjustment to raise and lower it. You can also get an Electric Adjust option for it so that you can adjust the height as you go. I'm thinking about doing that this winter if I can convince the budget keeper that it's worth it.

/dwight

[C-dub]

Well, I've ridden with my shield in the lowest position for four days now and have just about completely decided I like it better up high. The Mrs. and I were going to go out for a ride Friday, but with that stupid gas panic down here we had to postpone since we didn't know if we'd be able to fill it back up during or after. So, I still don't know whether she prefers it high or low. I'm pretty sure she'll prefer it up high, but will wait to see for sure. As long as this works just fine I'll probably put replacing it with a taller one down a notch or two on the list of things to do to make it better. I'll probably start with making myself more visible and that'll mean lights. Upgrading, adding, and possibly a modulator(s).

I do like that F4 Custom +4 shield. For those of you that have one, do you also have the tinted version? What do you think about riding at night with that? Or any tinted shield?

[Easy rider]

Mine is stock and set from first day as high as I can get it. Mostly 2 up and without any complains from back seat

[AZgl1800]

I have an Optic Armor +4 and at first, I was really in love with it.

no wind noise or buffeting period. it has a vent.

but, I found out that choosing one that has a tint is wrong wrong wrong, because at night, it really hurts you, and you can't just "flip it up out of the way".

The top is 2" above my eye line, and I can stretch my back up straight and see over it, not easily, but enough to see where I am going at night in the rain.

We just acquired a toy hauler trailer w/garage in the rear.
oops! that +4 is 3 inches too tall now, it won't clear the overhead bunk above the garage area....

in this picture, the screen is touching the "ceiling" or the bottom of the upper bunk bed.

so, it is coming off and will be replaced with a Madstad adjustable windscreen.... I like it because I can lower it down, load the bike in the trailer, and when off loaded, a simple twist of two thumb-nuts can reposition it above my eye line level....

[mcpenner]

I refuse to look through a windshield. For me that means at least three supposedly see throw objects in front of my eye (glasses, face shield, windshield). The climate I live in can have frequent drastic temp changes on any given day. The result can be instant fog on any or all of these surfaces. The fog on the glasses and face shield will clear up almost instantly if I crack the face shield open a little but I can't do anything about fog on the windshield while riding. My solution; https://madstad.com/collections/honda/p ... 00-2001-up

[hoser2010]

When I bought my bike it had a tall windshield installed. The previous owner gave me the stock windshield and a few other parts. After riding for about 6 months I noticed two cracks in my upper dash ( one on each side ) that I feel can be directly attributed to the extra wind pressure from the taller windshield. I went back to the stock windshield and have not had the cracks get any worse. Also I am 6' 2" and was continuously bumping my helmet on the tall shield when getting on and off my bike as it came back a lot farther back. Just my observations.

[AZgl1800]

When I was behind the Tulsa Tall windshields, and my current gl1800 had one when I bought it, I also had problems with my helmet hitting the windscreen as I got on the bike.

I decided that I would change to the Optic Armor and after that, have never had a helmet collision with the windscreen.

I have though, had several rides this summer AFTER having cataracts removed from both eyes.... my new clarity of vision is causing me to get very irritated with the reflection of the dash plastics and chrome pieces showing up in the windscreen.... my bike is bright yellow, and that yellow shows up as bad as chrome....

Just yesterday, I decided that the +4 on my windscreen is coming off.... sooner rather than later..... Also, the reflection is bothering my dashcam.... argh!!!

Again, the tint is a no-no IMO.... it greatly reducing my ability to see thru the windscreen at night. Again, a strong reason to cut it down so I can see over it.

[C-dub]

Great posts everyone. I was thinking about this again today at work and have come to the conclusion that if I do get a taller windscreen it will not be tinted. My current helmet is a modular one that has a tinted shield I can raise and lower internally in addition to the main clear shield. Most of my riding is and probably always will be during daylight hours, but you never know. There are some comments on the F4 sight about the tinted shield preventing "starring" or cutting down on the glare from oncoming lights. That has never really been a problem for me yet.

I have my stock screen at its highest and have to slouch to stay below it. When I sit upright in my most comfortable riding position my eyes are right at the top edge not really above or below the top. After having ridden for 40 years without a windscreen, the Hayabusa doesn't really count, I'm really enjoying this one and think there is a very high probability of going with the F4 +4 clear with a vent. I still think I'll make at least one 500+ mile trip before making my final decision. So far, even with the stock shield my wife has no complaints, so I think it'll be up to me and don't think she'll mind either way since it is still far more comfortable than the Busa for her no matter what.

[timmorris]

Still experimenting but so far I find that having the screen so that I can see over itis the best for me. Cruising speed of approx 70 mph the rain etc goes over the top and there is a dead area where the air is clear. At that angle and speed any rain etc is blown off my visor and my vision is pretty good. If the rain builds on the visor a slight risein my driving position lifts the visor into the air flow and quickly clears it. Hope that helps. Tim Morris. Guernsey

[raven41951]

Mine is stock. I have had it all the way up since I first rode it. That position seems just about right for me in rain or shine or day or night so I will be sticking with the stock windshield. I ride with a half helmet and sun glasses or clear at night (they are safety glasses with bifocals so I can read the dash). I have a nice bell for longer rides but this half job does the trick for daily use.

[Corkster52]

Looking just over the top of the windshield works best for me. As others have said, I can crouch slightly to get below it if need be, a practice I often use when meeting oncoming trucks (if I duck the blast of carried wind by some shapes of trucks doesn't hit so hard).

[Geofd]

I have an 86 gl1200 mine is only about 6 inches above the fairing itself I do have another one that is at least 12 high but the low one is nice in the summer months and its still warm here in the Boston area