Rifle Windshield
& Modification by Mark Tobias
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Rifle Modification
If you have or are you getting a Rifle windshield?Click here if you have questions ->Mark T author of this document.
Do the following, you won't be sorry! BTW, I'm 72",
and I got the biggest SS windshield Rifle makes, and I'm glad I did 'cause now I have a
MORE streamlined profile. (OK, peanut gallery, Black Beauty has a more streamlined
profile.) I bought all the tools to cut my 21" SS Rifle down last night, then I got
to thinking, if I can USE all of this extra size by changing the angle of it's mount, I'll
be able to see over it & it will be more streamlined. With a little measuring I found
I could improve the mounting bracket just by making a couple of bracket extenders out of
1/8" X 1-1/2" aluminum bar stock I had on hand. It took me about an hour to make
& install them. What they do is allow you to tip the bottom of the windshield forward
(top back), increasing the rake substantially - until the back edge of the windshield is
(for me) 1.5" from the front corners of the handlebar reservoirs. The benefits are
-> Easy to make & install.
-> No cutting of the windshield mount needed to clear the turn signal stalks.
-> Top corners of the mounting bracket don't need to be bent anymore.
-> Windshield angle is easily adjustable on the road.
-> This mount mod is really solid.
-> I now look about 2-1/2 inches OVER the windshield - and my head is in nearly still
air.
Streamlines the windshield angle - tipped way more than the forks
Benefits of the increased angle:
-> Slices through the air like an arrow - mileage has gone up.
-> Black Beauty accelerates almost like she's topless now - FAST!
-> Buffeting from turbulence from vehicles ahead, esp. trucks - GONE. So is the surging
from that buffeting - felt like an engine running too lean.
-> The angle raises the headlight cutout - which feeds air into the vacuum behind the
windshield, which stops ALL of the head buffeting.
AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO BUY A $50 VENT FROM HONDALINE!
-> The air behind the windshield is MUCH quieter now - WAY less turbulent.
-> The gas cap reflection is gone - I removed the black sock!
OK, how to make it? To start with, here's my relevant data. I'm 6 feet with a 31" inseam. I have the biggest Rifle SS, I think they say it's 21" and it measures along the surface 21" from the top of the windshield cutout to the top. It's 28.25" wide at the horizontal reinforcing band 2.75" on center above the cutout. I understand this is the widest windshield available which provides the most protection. My hands are out of the airsteam. The Lexan is .25" thick, about twice as thick as the Hondaline.
It does not flutter at speed. Workmanship and materials are high quality. I'm not sure if the hardware is all chromed steel or polished stainless, but I suspect it's the former.
See IMAGE3A.JPG. Get a piece of 1/8" X 1-1/2" aluminum bar stock.Get a friend to help, make sure the top bracket is all the way forward, remove the bottom allen screw and pull the top of the windshield
to your optimum position and get measurement A to the closest millimeter Calculate the position of the forward holes then so they will be in the middle of the slot at your optimum setting by positioning the forward screw at C3D (A + B/2 + 10)mm from the rear screw. Cut two pieces C + 30mm long. Do all of the following to both pieces together. Drill an appropiate hole (sized for the existing allen head bolts into the bottom billet alum fork mount) near one end of both pieces (hole 1). Fasten one bracket in place taking care that the forward screw (3) has equal clearance above and below it in the slot, then mark the middle screw (2) 20mm rearward from the front screw, taking care that the screw is positioned in the slot with some clearance above and below. Drill the holes through both brackets together. Bolts 2 & 3 fix the bracket extension's position in relation to the existing bracket. They also allow for some adjustment WITHOUT bending the bracket which is something Rifle missed.
Questions? click here-> Mark T
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