New Windshield Confusion

[tntrike03]

Hi Fellow Trikers, Need help on buying new w/s for my 03 GW Roadsmith trike. I see many different options on vent/no vent, height size, manufacture, prices which makes it even more confusing. Is the vent worth the extra dollars? It seems that most riders think you should look over verses through it? I have been leaning toward Long Ride or Clearview as I want to keep the cost to around $200.00 give or take? Any suggestions or thoughts from fellow trikes would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[keepinon]

The wife (passenger) likes the tall shields, which means I have to look thru it. For this reason, I like the Clearview shields and the ability to use original Rain-X on them without destroying them. Sheds water really well, makes rain a lesser worry.

I don't have a vent in the current shield, CV had a non-vented in stock, so that's what I have. At speed, I don't find much difference in temp.

 

[FRR]

You will never regret buying an F4. Some guys like the vents, I hate them since they just catch bugs and provide little air.. F4 is pricey, but it will probably be the last one you will buy for your trike. IMHO

 

[knob]

Love the vent. As far as looking through, there are several really good screens out there that looking "through" is no issue at all.

 

[mhgoldwing]

Vents do more than allow air to driver. A vent will help break the vacuum behind windshield which reduces turbulence on both driver and passenger.

I currently use a Long Ride shield w/vent that I can see over.

 

[paws]

Vents do more than allow air to driver. A vent will help break the vacuum behind windshield which reduces turbulence on both driver and passenger.

I too find it helps with the vacuum behind the windshield.
Sometimes I feel like there is a pressure pushing me forward toward the handlebars - depending on how hard the wind is blowing and from what direction it is hitting us. Opening this vent takes a lot of that pressure off.
I don't carry a passenger so don't know about that aspect of it.
My shield is an F4 with vent and tinted.
The tint MIGHT prove to be challenging at night but we have quit riding at night.
In bright, sunny west Texas I appreciate the tint when riding into a low, morning or afternoon sun.
I look through my shield as I don't like the turbulence of the wind bobbing the helmet over the windshield.
Gold Wing 1800
Carla

 

[tfdeputydawg]

My choice: F4+4 tinted/vented.
You look through the tinted windshield of your cage so, why not your bike:Shrug:
Made using a specially coated polycarbonate material. As in, no scratches and repels rain water.
Clean w/Windex and paper towel!
Most likely the last shield you will ever need to buy.
Vent, absolutely a must, IMHO. The taller windshield used with Baker Wing products keeps the turbulence off you and a passenger. Therefore the vent allows you to get some "air" in hotter weather.
A lot of the lesser expensive windshields are made w/acrylic and scratch very easily.

 

[rhino 2]

My choice: F4+4 tinted/vented.
Ywou look through the tintedindshield of your cage so, why not your bike:Shrug:
Made using a specially coated polycarbonate material. As in, no scratches and repels rain water.
Clean w/Windex and paper towel!
Most likely the last shield you will ever need to buy.
Vent, absolutely a must, IMHO. The taller windshield used with Baker Wing products keeps the turbulence off you and a passenger. Therefore the vent allows you to get some "air" in hotter weather.
A lot of the lesser expensive windshields are made w/acrylic and scratch very easily.
/QUOTE]

Cars come with windshield wipers and washers....
Use the Windex formula with out Ammonia....

 

[tntrike03]

​Thanks all for your input. A lot of different ideas. Not sure what the F4 stands for?

 

[mhgoldwing]

​Thanks all for your input. A lot of different ideas. Not sure what the F4 stands for?

This will answer your question and more:

https://www.f4customs.com/

 

[Shimpy]

I tried with and without vents, and short and tall. I like the vents to give me a little more air in the Florida summers. Tall was better for passenger as far as wind but not for me as far as rain and fog.
In the rain and fog you need to be able to look over even if you have to be uncomfortable and scrunch up to see. F4 is the best of the best and cost about twice of others but is worth it. Even F4 or others that you can put some rain repellent on are not going to let the rain drops ride up until doing at least 40mph which is almost impossible in driving rains like we have here in the summer months.

 

[cjmitch]

V-Stream.. Special edition...
Glad I bought it...
Get the SE its a thicker screen

 

[Skeet7373]

Windshields

Hey Guys, what is the name of the windshield with the brackets on it?

 

[Hot Rod 1]

Windbender

http://www.firecreekacc.com

 

[CrystalPistol]

I've tried both non vented and vented .... I have vented on my 1200 now and it's short enough that I look over the top edge and see roadway maybe 100 yards out normally. The vent I added because of turbulence hitting my helmet and early morning misting ..... the vent killed the turbulence issue and almost totally eliminated that early morning mist problem on the way to work.

When open wide, it passes a good amount of air through the vent which is less air forced over the top and it fills the low pressure area behind the shield so there's less pulling that air over the top back down. It does help cool.

When closed it exhausts through 4 slots along top and that is what seems to eliminate the misting over in the mornings.

Back in the late '90s I had tried a vented shield, it had a screen, it was always getting bees and bugs. For a few years I had no vent. So far over two years now, this vent does not catch bees & bugs???? This vent is a nice Honda GL1800 OEM vent removed from an 1800 Tulsa w-shield given me, I used the 1800 shield as my template (it was scratched anyway).

Half Open ThumbUp

I have another vent in a box but it's a aftermarket one that goes with a new Slipstreamer windshield that will fit the Trike. It was also given to me ...... might try it out.

 

[Baldy_54]

The wife (passenger) likes the tall shields, which means I have to look thru it. For this reason, I like the Clearview shields and the ability to use original Rain-X on them without destroying them. Sheds water really well, makes rain a lesser worry.

I don't have a vent in the current shield, CV had a non-vented in stock, so that's what I have. At speed, I don't find much difference in temp.

What about using Rain X on an 05 Original Wind Shield. I use it on my car but have not though about using it on the Goldwing?

 

[extreme10]

I actually cut the original screen down as I just hated not seeing ahead as clearly through the screen. When visibility is poor there is nothing a good as having uninterrupted vision. I well recall having a line of cars following me through the mist as I made my way home. Rather funny really as they also followed me into my side lane leading to the house. Yes it gets quite misty in the mountains in winter. I could follow the white lines which car drivers, and those behind screen, had great difficulty in seeing. But it is what you feel happiest with that counts. And it is vented which I wouldn't do without.