Scratchy Windshield

[jerryd15]

I have a lot of fine scratches on my windshield. I think I wiped it with something that had grit in it during the last rain storm I was in. Looks fine in the shade but when the sun shines on it it is hard to see through. Do I need a new one?

[joecoolsuncle]

go to yamaha shop , they have what u need. cant remeber the name but you can polish the windshield to clear again. i use meguires plastiX on mine, its 1984 original but i aint too worried. i dont look through it.

[Rambozo]

Is it a stock Honda or aftermarket? Some are Lexan, some acrylic, some have hard coatings. Some can be polished back to clear while others not so much, or while they can be polished, it becomes a never-ending task that must be constantly repeated.

[joecoolsuncle]

its oem, and original. i run buffer over it a couple times a year. the UV film is the problem. once you break through, you always have to polish. like GM headlights. but as i said, i dont care because in looking over, not through.

[jerryd15]

Its aftermarket I don't remember where i got it. Was not expensive though but is 6 or 7 tears old. I am too short to look over it. I do practically stand up in the rain to look over it. I put some Pledge on it and it seems to help. I will try good wax. I am waiting for parts to get it triked out and want to see good when it gets done.

[joecoolsuncle]

you can cut them down to wherever you want the top to be. if replacing it, you can usually order the height in 1 inch increments. remember, the heigh is tuned to lok over, and to prevent buffeting. i would cut the current one a little at a time to get where you want it to be. then use it as a pattern to cut your new one. run saw very slowly .

[WingAdmin]

Acrylic is harder, and breaks if flexed too far, or on impact. It will shatter into sharp shards if hit, something like glass. It can be scratched, but if not too deep, these can usually be polished out.

Polycarbonate is softer, and flexes and can maintain impact without breaking. Because it is softer, it can be more susceptible to scratching. For this reason, windshield manufacturers put an extremely hard coating on their polycarbonate windshields, that makes them almost impervious to scratching. If you do damage it so badly that it is scratched, it generally cannot be polished out.

Acrylic is about eight times stronger than untempered glass, polycarbonate is about 200 times stronger. Layers of laminated polycarbonate are generally used to make bulletproof glass.

Scratches in acrylic can be polished out - but if you've scratched through the hard layer on a polycarbonate windshield into the soft polycarbonate underneath, you really need to replace the windshield.

[joecoolsuncle]

Acrylic is harder, and breaks if flexed too far, or on impact. It will shatter into sharp shards if hit, something like glass. It can be scratched, but if not too deep, these can usually be polished out.

Polycarbonate is softer, and flexes and can maintain impact without breaking. Because it is softer, it can be more susceptible to scratching. For this reason, windshield manufacturers put an extremely hard coating on their polycarbonate windshields, that makes them almost impervious to scratching. If you do damage it so badly that it is scratched, it generally cannot be polished out.

Acrylic is about eight times stronger than untempered glass, polycarbonate is about 200 times stronger. Layers of laminated polycarbonate are generally used to make bulletproof glass.

Scratches in acrylic can be polished out - but if you've scratched through the hard layer on a polycarbonate windshield into the soft polycarbonate underneath, you really need to replace the windshield.

dude! where do you find time? dont ya ride a motorsickle sometimes, have a wife, a job? im really starting to think you are superman!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[Retired&Riding]

I have the same issue with my 2006 GL1800 but the damage appears to be internal as if UV exposure damage. I utilized Slipstreamer Plastic Scratch Remover to no avail when I realized the damage was internal. Is this a common issue with Goldwing windshields? Is it UV exposure damage? When I replace the windshield how can I protect the new one from being damaged in the same way?

[Drew-wing]

When I had my '98 SE shipped they put a 'tracker' sticker with some metal in it on the headlight. It was horrible trying to get the stupid thing off, and the glue left was incredible. Finally got it all off, but there was chemical damage and scratches on the headlight lens. Went old school and bought some 'Flitz'. Used it by hand with a microfiber cloth and a lot elbow grease. The lens is as clear as the day it was new. Put some Rain-X on it to seal it. Good luck!

[offcenter]

you can cut them down to wherever you want the top to be. run saw very slowly .

I've cut a number of windshields over my 54 years of riding.
Polycarbonate (Lexan) cuts easily. Acrylic (plexiglas) can be difficult. It will shatter if you aren't careful.
I cover both sides with a layer of masking tape and draw the shape I want on the masking tape. Then I cut it with a fine tooth blade in my jig saw. (sabre saw). I always run the saw on a slower speed. If you go too fast on acrylic, it will melt back together behind the blade after you pass through it. Polycarbonate doesn't seem to do that as much.
Either way, cut slowly.
After cutting, sand the cut edge lightly with 180 or 220 grit sand paper.
Just my two cents....

[77Goldwing]

I have had my Vetter fairing with windshield for over 40 years. No idea what it is made of. But give it a good cleaning with Windex and then apply something like ArmorAll, and most of the swirls disappear...for a while. Then just do it again. Plus the ArmorAll helps repel rain and makes bug clean-up easier.

[Houdy01]

Hello to all!
When I purchased my 07 Goldwing used in 2012, it had a very interesting can of cleaner wrapped with this article from Wing World Magazine, October 1996. I have used it anytime I clean my windshield. I've went through several cans and recommend it to anyone if I get a chance. The product is made by Sumner Laboratories, 210 Plus scratch remover. Can be purchased through Tulsa Enterprises. Attached is the article which when I read it the first time found I was doing some no-no's!! lol

[andybd69]

HI folks! Wish I could afford to replace mine when it gets bad, but I cannot. I use window cleaner first. Then I have a spray on product called NUVO. This stuff is amazing. Spray it on and buff with a clean rag. Windshield looks great for a time. Usually till the bugs need to be cleaned off again anyway! Hope this helps.

[Zman457]

Amazon has the 210 polish. One of the reviews I read said that they received a can of Plexus instead of the 210.

[Houdy01]

I have stuck with the article suggestions for 12 years, with using 210 and nothing else. If anyone looked at my windshield they would swear it has been replaced. On windshields of previous motorcycles, I used everything he said not to use! Except for the gas station scrubby, I knew better. Forgot to mention, I live in southwest Kansas, bug capital of the USA!

[wingthing88]

Novus makes a plastic polish/cleaner that is absolutely the best I have ever seen. It comes in three grades. Novus 1 is the cleaner polish, Novus 2 is a fine scratch remover, Novus 3 is for hand polishing deeper scratches. My windscreen was toast when I bought my wing lots of work with all three brought it back good as new. now I only clean my screen with the Novus 1. I have occasionaly found it in various MC shops but lately have only been able to find it at Amazon.