Breaking wind

[the Ferret]

Hee hee funny title eh?

Getting ready for my next trip soon. Temp has cooled off a bit since my trip to Blue Ridge/Deals Gap a couple months ago. With mornings in the 50's and highs in the low 70's I have been contemplating a shield but couldn't make up my mind between the large NC Plexifairing 2 shield like CA 200 has or the smaller Street Shield EX, like Randy B has. Decided to try one of the Street Shield EXs. Mounting took about an hour and Randy B's excellent "how to" sure made up for NC's lousy intructions. His pics made it easy to figure out what went where. Thanks Randy.

I love the shape of the shield and it's clarity. It is rock solid at speed too. It does an awesome job of breaking the wind for my body from mid bicep to mid bicep, and from seat to..and herein lies the problem for me... the protection stops right below my eyes. It's a couple of inches too tall..well in reality I'm a couple inches too short. CIP57 told me I would run into this problem and he was spot on. With a full face on, shield cracked or fully closed, at 60 mph, my shield rattles, and it's pretty noisy. Can't ride with shield up cause all the wind goes right in the eye port. If windshield were a couple inches taller it would be quiet and rattle free. If the shield were a little shorter my head would be in clean air. Too late to worry about it now, but when I get back, I'm thinking about lopping a couple inches off. BTW I am about 5'7" with my boots on.

Anyhow, here are a few pics of the shield mounted up


[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/shield2_zps92db9acd.jpg.html]

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/shield3_zps24a6c27a.jpg.html]

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/shield1_zps6852420c.jpg.html]

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/shield4_zps829b05a9.jpg.html]

[Buffalohead_imp]

I like it. Looks good. I have a friend who has a Memphis Shade that has the smoked lower portion too. I like the way it "hides" the gauges. Very nice.

[oldgoat01_imp]

Given that my wife says I am an expert on breaking wind, you'd think I'd have something to offer. Speaking of my wife, the whole windshield issue is something that alludes her. I recently went with the Comet and her response was 'how the heck does that do any good?!?' It actually works great for me taking a lot of the air off my body but putting my helmet in clean air. Like seats, windshields have to be dialed in to the individual rider. I guess that's why adjustable ones are popular but then you are paying for adjustability that you may never need once you get it dialed in and the adjustable ones just aren't as clean looking as the one you got. I think the look of yours is good and shaving a couple of inches off won't detract, may even enhance the look. My only breaking wind advice is to figure on three attempts to sneak up on the optimal height, starting by removing bout half of what you think you need. But you probably already knew that.

[HikerToo_imp]

Hmm, I have the NC deflector which seems a few inches lower than the one you show, and have the same type of problem, wind breaks right in my face, very turbulent. If I squat down or sit up straight, it helps. I am 5'10" but have long legs and short torso so may not even sit as high as you do on the seat.

[dailyrider_imp]

From the pics, you have your shield up really high from the headlight. Drop it right down to the headlight and you should be able to move that airflow down around your chin. I have mine down at the level of the top of the headlight but in front of it slightly so it does not touch. Then I angled the shield back close to the gauges. This gave me a wind flow right at the tops of my shoulders. I am 6'.
When I left for work this morning it was 45 degrees, when I got to work in Ann Arbor it was 34 degrees. It was nice and comfy ride. Love this shield

[the Ferret]

Hmm, I have the NC deflector which seems a few inches lower than the one you show, and have the same type of problem, wind breaks right in my face, very turbulent. If I squat down or sit up straight, it helps. I am 5'10" but have long legs and short torso so may not even sit as high as you do on the seat.

I had a deflector screen on my Nighthawk 750 which was lower and got the same turbulence at helmet level which is why I went with the larger street ex

From the pics, you have your shield up really high from the headlight. Drop it right down to the headlight and you should be able to move that airflow down around your chin. I have mine down at the level of the top of the headlight but in front of it slightly so it does not touch. Then I angled the shield back close to the gauges. This gave me a wind flow right at the tops of my shoulders. I am 6'.
When I left for work this morning it was 45 degrees, when I got to work in Ann Arbor it was 34 degrees. It was nice and comfy ride. Love this shield

I have it placed 1 1/2 inches above the headlight ring. I may drop it down to see if that makes any difference.

[CA200_imp]

Looks good ferret, my wife has the same windshield on her TU250.She really
likes it.
Keep it at least 1" above the headlight to prevent buffeting.
If you decide to cut it send me a PM , I have cut some and would be happy to compare notes.

[736cc_imp]

A frame-mounted fairing is so much safer and stable. A large handlebar mounted fairing gets easily deflected by wind at high-speed (anything over 60 mph from my experiance) causing a twitchy feeling that is not desirable at all.
Not many aftermarket frame-mounted fairings available.
Anybody know the exact width of a CB1100 tank at its widest point?

[hondahoarder_imp]

I just don't want to be behind you at the Root Beer Stand when you break wind from one of those foot longs! OH you were talking about something else.

[the Ferret]

A frame-mounted fairing is so much safer and stable. A large handlebar mounted fairing gets easily deflected by wind at high-speed (anything over 60 mph from my experiance) causing a twitchy feeling that is not desirable at all.
Not many aftermarket frame-mounted fairings available.
Anybody know the exact width of a CB1100 tank at its widest point?

736 I don't think that handling ills are going to be an issue. National Cycle has been in business for many many years and sold literally millions of clear windshields.heck I was selling hem back in the 70's. If there was a liability issue with instability, it would be well known by now. Log into ANY motorcycle specific forums and you'll find guys using and pleased with their NC shields.