Removed windshield, now bike is amazing!?

Hello All!

1. Removed windshield. I happen to have a Double Bubble. But they are all only held in by 2 philips head screws, and it takes less than a minute (to take it off or put it on).

2. Rode bike down street. The handling! It's amazzzzing. Am I riding a race replica now? Do I have a new bike? What the hell is going on, what is this magic, so effortless the turns, and less wind noise. The bike and I are one now, I can't really explain it.

I URGE you all to TEMPORARILY remove your windshield and tell me what observations you make.

I think that the windshield was creating a down force on the front tire that was making the bike steer heavy, even at speeds of 20-30.

And onto the looks. It does look a bit off, maybe we can brainstorm some cool ideas to fix this.

Please let me know how you made out. I know there are going to be a lot of smiles here.


T-Man

 

I tried it once because I was unhappy with where the wind hit me and wanted to see if I could change the noise level. It moved where the wind hit me, but didn't seem to do much for the noise level. Sorry, but I never notice any change in handling.

 

I rode my 2003 without a windshield for almost two years. I really liked the reduced noise level, but didn't like the looks of the bike much.

I'd be astonished if it changed the handling one iota. Getting on to the 2006 with the windshield intact showed no difference in handling.

 

Wow.....rode it down the street...jeebus.

 

I'm surprised, I noticed the bike handled so much better. I also am coming off of a Double Bubble, maybe that has something to do with it? I'm not even sure what the stock windshield is like, so I don't know how different the double bubble is.

Rode it down the street was meant to convey that I have not been on the highway with it for any length of time. Perhaps I should have said I rode it around town/ to and from work for a tank of gas, as that is more accurate.

Something is different and in a good way! I hope this doesn't stop others from trying!

 

maybe your body positioning has changed since you no longer have to worry about putting your face into the windscreen, like youre leaning forward more and have more range of motion.

 

Whether it's psychosomatic or it actually played a part in improving your bike's handling might be irrelevant as long as you're happy with it and it does improve the wind flow, that should be good enough to know for most.

 

Removing the windscreen also is a good thing for bug collectors.

 

UPDATE:

I just put my windshield back ON, and I can tell you for a fact the handling got worse. The double bubble (maybe not the stock one) is shaped like this /\ That shape keeps the steering "centered" as there is more air pressure on the sides than at the top. So removing the windscreen DEFINITELY improves the handling around town and again, I URGE you to try this out for yourself.

 

If it works for you that's great, but no way in hell can I remove my windscreen. That and it looks silly. lolzzz

I put on too many miles to not have the wind protection, and without it I would get fatigued doing 600+ mile days. I use the MRA Vario Touring Screen. On long trips I need to have the additional foil up to reduce body fatigue, especially if I'm bombing down an interstate at 80+ mph.

Honestly though, you have to be traveling really fast for it to create down forces that will impact handling significantly. What is your average speed when testing?

 

Just going down the street at 25+ and it makes a HUGE difference. It's like a NEW BIKE when riding around town, the bike just changes direction so much easier. So riding in the twisties, avoiding potholes, chicanes ect.

80mph with the windshield sucked, and I imagine 80 without one would suck too.
I was looking into getting the MRA Vario Touring Screen. You can give it a thumbs up?

 

I'm still using the OEM screen on the mach 1 91. Maybe handling could be affected if the screen is on backward or upside down.

Maybe I'll check it oot before I hit WalMart today. 600 miles from here is almost to Canada or San Fran.

 

25 MPH? That's only 40 KPH. There's next to no down force force at that speed ... IMHO I'm thinking this is more of a placebo affect. I'm sure if you ran the numbers using proper physics calculations, it would likely back this up.

I'm thinking this is more a visual / mental thing. It's amazing what the mind can perceive and make you 'feel'.

Yes, I give the Vario a thumbs up. AM rode my bike earlier this summer while I was checking out electrical issues on hers and decided to buy one for hers as well, so I'm sure she'd also give the thumbs up.

 

I don't think it's down force, but side force.
/\ that shape of the windshield keeps the bike pointed in the direction it is already going. It is not placebo. I just rode almost every day for 2 weeks with the windshield off my bike. This morning I put the windshield back on and I could feel it fighting the wind.

Like I said, spend ONE minute of time, remove 2 screws and try it for yourself, then come back and tell me it's all in my head.

 

40 KPH (25 MPH) is not going to create enough force to affect handling. Just MHO.

Tires however, will make a difference. I noticed an immediate difference between the PR2 and T30 EVO.

 

I said the effect started at around 25+. Also I have a double bubble, if you don't have that windscreen the effect could be much different.

For SUCH an easy thing to do, I can't believe most would rather stick to their opinion without even trying it. Mind boggling.

 

Thing is, if I'm happy with my windscreen and my handling, and all my riding is highway ... why would I remove it?

Not so mind boggling if you look at it that way.

 

What I find mind boggling is that, despite logic, common sense and aerodynamics, this guy thinks he knows better than Honda's engineers

 

Honda's engineers didn't put a double bubble on their bike, now did they. I stated that this may not be the case with the stock screen, which I never owned.

What is the logic behind sitting behind a keyboard and claiming I'm wrong before you even tried it?