Windshileds

[slarson]

I currently have a National Cycle Street shield that is kind of a sport shield that measures 17" tall X 17" wide at the base, but tapers to 10" at the top. I have a chance to put on a Memphis Shades 17" shield. Is anyone running that shield, and if so, how is it? I'm about 5"7 and would like to have something that would put the wind flow above my helmet for this time of year.

Steve Larson

[greggo]

I have a Memphis Shades on my '95 Magna and love it.  It is the tallest one they make for the bike.  I am 6'5" and it does pretty well in deflecting everything over me.

[Greg Cothern]

Steve I had on my 96 Magna the National Cycle shield and loved it!!!  If you loosen up the mounting brackets and push the top back towards the rear of the bike it will lay the shield back and help on buffetting.
I also have the National Cycle on my 87 Super Magna and as well am very happy with it.  Another thing I like about the National is that the shield is made of Polycarbonate whereas the Memphis Shades are made of Lucite or Acrylic.  I believe them to no be as strong as the Polycarbonate.
Most riders like to be able to see over their windshields. But in order to do this and still get ample protection, the windshield must reach up between the tip and the bridge of a riders nose. If it doesn't, a rider will experience mild to severe buffeting.

Many riders like looking through their windshields, but what they often fail to account for is rain. When it rains everyone has to look over the top of the windshield in order to see clearly. When choosing a windshield it's vital a rider chooses one that isn't so high that he or she can't comfortably extend themselves to see up over the top of the windshield.

[Curtis_Valk]

>>>>>When it rains everyone has to look over the top of the windshield in order to see clearly.<<<<<

Greg that has not been my experience (notice I'm not disagreeing, but you said "everyone", LOL).  The tall Tulsa I had on my Valk (rest in peace, Tulsa) was impossible to look over.  As you know, I've been in everything from driving rain in Texas to daily showers in Colorado.  I never had trouble seeing through the windshield because of rain.  I did have it fog up while parked outside once on a very humid evening when the temperature was just right.  I rode for a bit and it finally cleared up.

I loved that windshield in the rain, as I could almost stay dry without rain gear as long as I was moving.  The fact that I could see through it may be related to what I clean it with (The BOM) or maybe I just focus past the droplets on the shield, but other than that one time I never had trouble looking through it.

Curtis

[slarson]

Well, I looked at the Memphis Shades today and was going to try it, but the clamps were too big for the forks. It came off an 1800 VTX, so maybe that's why. I think I can put inner tube strips between the forks and the clamps to take up the slack. Do they make clamps that fit our forks (95 VF750)? The bracket on the shield is also too wide. I will have to fabricate an "L" bracket just to try it. It is wider at the top, and becuase of where it mounts it appears to be a little taller. I guess I'll play with it for awhile and see what it looks like. I can try it for a while and then pay the guy $50 if I like it.

Steve

[slarson]

One more thing I forgot. The mounting brackets are too wide and the shield won't go back far enugh with the clamps that came with it because of the spedo. I think I can fabricate some flat stock aluminum to make an "l" bracket, but has anybody run into this with the Memphis Shades shields?
Steve

[Shortround]

You can buy just the brakets from them. That is how you buy them. Sheild and brackets are seperate.
I have both and find the National Cycle good for local running and the Memphis Shades for trips. I'm 5'4" and just can't see over the Memphis Shades. I had a problem with the gas cap reflecting in the line of site. I now have the top mount all the way back and the bottom all the way forward. I added a stainless washer on the bottom to spread the load. I found this also reduced the already minimal buffeting.

[slarson]

Thanks, Shortround. Do you remember what the brackets cost? It seems that they are ove $100 with Cruisercustomizing, but I'm not sure. I'm only paying $50 for the shield with the brackets for the VTX, so I was kind of hoping that I could get away with not spending a lot more for the mounts, especially since I already have the National Cycle shield and will only use them in the winter.
Steve

[Shortround]

I believe I payed about $115 at my Honda dealer. You may wish to try the shiming.