Windshield mods

Making the FJR yours - what have you done, want to do, plan to do, and how?
User avatar
wetwolf
Member
Posts: 272
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2018 2:26 pm
FJRModel: 2005 FJR (Tire eater)
1999 Bandit 1200 (The hooligan bike!)
Location: Spokane, WA
x 26
x 383
Contact:

Windshield mods

Post by wetwolf »

We all know just how hot the FJR can get during the summer months. My winter W/S is a CalSci with some vent holes in the bottom. It seems to do a really good job of keeping the heat off of me. Sooooo, I figured I would cut some vents into a stocker and see what happens. Anybody tried this before??

Image

Image
Last edited by wetwolf on Mon Jun 29, 2020 12:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Do I really need to put something here?? Why don't you guys just think of something witty instead...........
User avatar
Red
Veteran
Posts: 919
Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:09 am
FJRModel: 2008 FJR1300A
Location: near the Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA, Sol III, Orion Spur of the Milky Way galaxy.
x 206
x 1121

Re: Windshield mods

Post by Red »

Wetwolf,

I have no great need for extra vents where I live, but if I did, I'd want to keep the cut-out pieces and hinge them into the windshield somehow. I would want to be able to open, partially open, or close the vents as needed. With the hinge line across the top of the vents, and opening outward, the vents would act as air scoops, rather than just air inlets. For your consideration, of course.
.
Cheers,
Red

P.S. Life is too short, and health is too valuable, to ride on cheap parade-duty tires.
Yeah, I ride motorcycles. I know why dogs put their heads out of the car windows.
Yeah, I fly hang gliders (3000 hrs.+). I know why the birds sing.
User avatar
raYzerman
Contributor
I post more than I ride
Posts: 9222
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:49 am
FJRModel: 2016 Versys 1000 Titanium Devil, 2014 DL1000, 1999 VFR 800 Bumble Bee
Location: Millgrove, Ontario, CA
x 2876
x 10694

Re: Windshield mods

Post by raYzerman »

Used to have a Cee Bailey on the ST, which had a NACA vent, meaning a cutout and the bottom of it, heated and bent toward you. ST1100 guys cut holes like yours, as had been on perhaps one of the stock or aftermarket shields available. I didn't find the airflow excessive at all, so but it did take care of some of the heat and reduce backpressure at speed. One would think rainwater will be a problem, but it really isn't.
The Gen3 FJR raised the windshield off the cowl (as did Rifle for Gen1/2) resulting in more airflow up and behind it, accomplishing much the same thing and reduced turbulence at the top. I shimmed my Gen3 V-Stream up and a slight angled more rearward and found it great for solving most of the turbulence, not necesarily cooler.
On recent bikes, I'm finding for turbulence, the MRA deflector concept works better for turbulence, albeit doesn't do a lot for airflow to get rid of heat. I don't have a genuine MRA, there are much cheaper deflectors out there. As for looks, it's not that bad, you get over it, I'd rather have function over showroom beauty.
natehawk750 and NTXFJR loved this
Keep yer stick on the ice........... (Red Green)
Duct tape can't fix stupid, but it can sure muffle the sound.
User avatar
wetwolf
Member
Posts: 272
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2018 2:26 pm
FJRModel: 2005 FJR (Tire eater)
1999 Bandit 1200 (The hooligan bike!)
Location: Spokane, WA
x 26
x 383
Contact:

Re: Windshield mods

Post by wetwolf »

I'm thinking it will reduce the back pressure as well. I ride most of the summer with the W/S all the way down. All the way up, and it just seems to channel all the hot air right up to you. Im thinking this should solve the problem. We shall see.
bill lumberg loved this
Do I really need to put something here?? Why don't you guys just think of something witty instead...........
lue42
Squid
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2018 11:31 am
FJRModel: 2016 ES

Re: Windshield mods

Post by lue42 »

User avatar
FJRoss
Veteran
Posts: 2433
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 7:41 pm
FJRModel: 2011 FJR 1300
2017 BMW F700GS
Location: Fredericton NB (Canada)
x 703
x 2130

Re: Windshield mods

Post by FJRoss »

Image

Those things might work but the radius of curvature would have to be a reasonable match for the windshield. Either that or the gaps get filled with something like clear silicone sealant. (I think epoxy would crack if the shield flexes)
User avatar
danh600
Veteran
Posts: 4217
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:36 pm
FJRModel: 2022 FJR1300ES
Location: Roughedge,NC
x 4536
x 8481

Re: Windshield mods

Post by danh600 »

I find this pretty interesting. I am one of those that is lucky with the stock windshield. I am kind of short torso so I don't get much turbulence from the stock windshield. It works pretty good keeping wind and rain off me in the full up position.

However, when it's hot out the down position is not great. Puts tons of wind on your head, but little on the body. Helps cool you down some but at the cost of some very high wind noise in the helmet.

Some type of vent with controlled air flow might be the ticket.
User avatar
raYzerman
Contributor
I post more than I ride
Posts: 9222
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:49 am
FJRModel: 2016 Versys 1000 Titanium Devil, 2014 DL1000, 1999 VFR 800 Bumble Bee
Location: Millgrove, Ontario, CA
x 2876
x 10694

Re: Windshield mods

Post by raYzerman »

I had one of those Goldwing vents on my ST too... FYI they are very bulky and I'd quite frankly take a pass and go with another solution.
Keep yer stick on the ice........... (Red Green)
Duct tape can't fix stupid, but it can sure muffle the sound.
User avatar
gixxerjasen
I post more than I ride
Posts: 5641
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:50 pm
FJRModel: 2007 Yamaha FJR1300AE
Location: DFW
x 5104
x 8338

Re: Windshield mods

Post by gixxerjasen »

On my Gen II I have my VStream that I use for winter and a stock one that goes on during summer. If I'm doing a lot of riding in the summer and get tired of the Texas heat, I put on my super summer shield, which is a cut down stock shield. It was given to me and had scratches so I sanded it smooth but never got around to polishing it. It's ok, in the summer I only care about being temperature cool, looking cool is very far down the list, and I'm not looking through it anyway. Being so short, even putting it up, it doesn't do anything about the rain. However, if it's the middle of summer in Texas and it's raining, then I'm letting it hit me anyway so I can enjoy it.

Only pic I have is from a track day.

Image
Uncle Hud and Cav47 loved this
My Blog
Current Bikes:2007 Yamaha FJR1300AE | 2016 KTM 1190 Adventure R | 2001 Suzuki DRZ-400E
Son's Bike:2019 Honda CRF250L

I'm here to serve as an example of what NOT to do.
User avatar
wetwolf
Member
Posts: 272
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2018 2:26 pm
FJRModel: 2005 FJR (Tire eater)
1999 Bandit 1200 (The hooligan bike!)
Location: Spokane, WA
x 26
x 383
Contact:

Re: Windshield mods

Post by wetwolf »

Nice. I got the vents cut last nite and was going to shave an inch or so off the top. How much did you take off?
Do I really need to put something here?? Why don't you guys just think of something witty instead...........
User avatar
wetwolf
Member
Posts: 272
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2018 2:26 pm
FJRModel: 2005 FJR (Tire eater)
1999 Bandit 1200 (The hooligan bike!)
Location: Spokane, WA
x 26
x 383
Contact:

Re: Windshield mods

Post by wetwolf »

Here it is, cut about 1.5" off the top and vented. Now just have to take it for a ride to figure out if I fukkered up a perfectly good windshield.

Image
danh600 loved this
Do I really need to put something here?? Why don't you guys just think of something witty instead...........
User avatar
Cav47
Veteran
Posts: 3875
Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2014 7:42 pm
FJRModel: 2015 ES well appointed FJR
2012 KLX 250S
2022 Honda CRF450RL
Location: Central Illinois.
x 10590
x 7497

Re: Windshield mods

Post by Cav47 »

That is cool looking at least. If it works, they just a bonus.

Form over function can be your story if it doesn’t.
I often have found myself when I was not looking, nor did that discovery take place where I thought it would!

Image
User avatar
wetwolf
Member
Posts: 272
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2018 2:26 pm
FJRModel: 2005 FJR (Tire eater)
1999 Bandit 1200 (The hooligan bike!)
Location: Spokane, WA
x 26
x 383
Contact:

Re: Windshield mods

Post by wetwolf »

Did a test ride today, thru town, freeway, etc. With the shield down, it's like riding a motorcycle. The wind hits your chest and keeps you upright. With it all the way up I get less buffeting than with some of my other windshields. So, I'm sayin' win win! I'm not really a form guy, function rules. The paint job was courtesy of the rona virus. I haven't been spending as much time in the bar and I was bored. Rode up to O'reilly auto and found a shaker can of blue that was a pretty good match, and from there it was tokin and sprayin!
danh600 loved this
Do I really need to put something here?? Why don't you guys just think of something witty instead...........
rbentnail
Contributor
Veteran
Posts: 1128
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:54 am
FJRModel: 2007A, 2013A
Location: Asheboro, NC
x 373
x 1123

Re: Windshield mods

Post by rbentnail »

I'd like to experiment with summer vents but being an evening worker here in the southeast means I often ride in heavy evening rain, sometimes daily for weeks on end. I'd rather have the heat than the wet.
User avatar
danh600
Veteran
Posts: 4217
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:36 pm
FJRModel: 2022 FJR1300ES
Location: Roughedge,NC
x 4536
x 8481

Re: Windshield mods

Post by danh600 »

They don't call him wetwolf for nothing!

I like this experiment.

What did you cut the windshield with?
User avatar
wetwolf
Member
Posts: 272
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2018 2:26 pm
FJRModel: 2005 FJR (Tire eater)
1999 Bandit 1200 (The hooligan bike!)
Location: Spokane, WA
x 26
x 383
Contact:

Re: Windshield mods

Post by wetwolf »

A drill to start in the corners of the vents. Then a jigsaw with a blade made for plexiglass.
danh600 loved this
Do I really need to put something here?? Why don't you guys just think of something witty instead...........
User avatar
bill lumberg
Contributor
Veteran
Posts: 2590
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2015 1:03 pm
FJRModel: 2018ES/2022ES
x 3982
x 4369
Contact:

Re: Windshield mods

Post by bill lumberg »

@jwilly can show you a neat trick with a chinese wind deflector that clamps to the top of your screen. Done correctly and employed long enough, I hear it will give you all the air you can handle...
EWTBAGUITTDGS

2022ES
User avatar
natehawk750
Contributor
Veteran
Posts: 756
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2018 1:07 pm
FJRModel: 2015 FJR1300A, 2001 zrx1200r, 2001 XR650R
x 1929
x 1892

Re: Windshield mods

Post by natehawk750 »

bill lumberg wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:10 am @jwilly can show you a neat trick with a chinese wind deflector that clamps to the top of your screen. Done correctly and employed long enough, I hear it will give you all the air you can handle...
Did Jwilly's wind deflector fly off on him?
None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

#69272
User avatar
bill lumberg
Contributor
Veteran
Posts: 2590
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2015 1:03 pm
FJRModel: 2018ES/2022ES
x 3982
x 4369
Contact:

Re: Windshield mods

Post by bill lumberg »

Nope. Cracked both sides of the shield at the bottom. The Chinese never anticipated jwilly speeds.
danh600, wheatonFJR, and natehawk750 loved this
EWTBAGUITTDGS

2022ES
User avatar
raYzerman
Contributor
I post more than I ride
Posts: 9222
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:49 am
FJRModel: 2016 Versys 1000 Titanium Devil, 2014 DL1000, 1999 VFR 800 Bumble Bee
Location: Millgrove, Ontario, CA
x 2876
x 10694

Re: Windshield mods

Post by raYzerman »

These are the ones I have on my CBF1000 and VFR..... dunno what jwilly's problem is...... these things do what MRA does only a whole heckuva lot cheaper. These days, I'm a believer in these rather than chasing/trying all the different windshields to find the one that annoys you the least.


Image
Keep yer stick on the ice........... (Red Green)
Duct tape can't fix stupid, but it can sure muffle the sound.
Post Reply