Here's how to cut down a windshield. Step by step. If you have a better way, feel free to comment below. Don't forget to subscribe, click the little bell so you can be notified when I post every video. www.ridelikeap...
Simple way to mark the perfect radius; after masking the windshield from top to about 5" down, just measure up from the center allen head bolt on the windshield's chrome crossbar, to the height that you want. Using a string with a small loop on both ends, place something that you can easily hold thru the lower loop to the center of the allen head, and a marker thru the top loop. Now simply draw the arc. Then follow this guy's instructions on cutting it down. Mine came out perfect.
Got a used windshield for my 08 FXDL, it's way to tall and was thinking about purchasing a shorter one that's new, you just saved me about 400 bucks. Grazie
Another slick way, is to loosen the screw holding the trim directly in the center above the headlamp, wrap a string round it, then attach a pencil to the other end of the string and make a sweet radius on the tape? That’s the way I did mine.
cutting down a shield is simple and easy. most folks go after the top end and some do a good job of not buggering it. There is another way, particular with shields that are attached to fairings. Don't cut the top!. Trace an outline of the bottom on a sheet of construction paper. Transfer that form and/or mounting holes UP from the bottom of the shield the number of inches you want to cut down the top. Leave the top and finish alone. Install the new cut down shield using the new mounting holes and you have reduced the overall height of the shield keeping it original shape and finish intact.
I did this for a windshield I ordered from Klockwerks that was specially molded to fit Reckless fairings. I accidentally ordered too tall so using a Sharpie,I traced the bottom of the windshield onto a thick piece of cardboard and the cardboard then became a jig or template to trim 2 inches off the bottom. Now I have an excellent Klockwerks windshield.
Jerry...used your technique with a few tweaks to it to cut down my fairing. Like yours, mine was a little too tall. Cut an 1 1/2 inches off. I used cardboard to make the form and trace the curve and sides. The painters tape worked great and allowed me to trace my cutting line perfectly. I used a dremel tool with a carbon cutting blade. Used a sander to smooth it, then 100grit, then 200 grit. Finally some wet sanding got it nice and smooth and clear on the top edge. Thanks again, your video was the inspiration. BTW....could use some more of your stories...When I went through the academy....those were some of the best parts of it.
Thank you for this video. Followed your exact steps - and now it’s perfect. No more fighting with trying to be above or looking through. Now I’m looking right over the shield at all times. Even followed your sanding tips. Looks totally factory.
What a great video, simple, concise and to the point. I benefitted tremendously from the masking tip and the template which I made out of cardboard. Now it’s more enjoyable not having to look through my screen. Thanks very much motorman.
Wow. Didnt even consider this as an option. I am 5'8" and bought a bike with a 22 inch windshield. I have all the tools at home. I think I know what I'm gonna do tomorrow.
For you guys little sanding that want to do this Bosch makes a "Lexan/Plexiglass" blade that works incredibly well. The tooth design doesn't melt the plastic and you get a beautiful smooth cut. Very little sanding and polishing to do
I just bought my first Harley, 98 road king, absolutely love it! But the windshield is huge, will definitely be cutting it this week! Thanks for the video instructions ! And thanks to the other people who commented some great tips.
The BEST video on the subject on RU-vid. Hard to watch the ones that didn't even cover their bikes. Zero protection. Bike got Covid for sure. And looking for your file at the end is EXACTLY how I work. LOL. Liked & SUBSCRIBE. Cheers 🍻
I have done this a few times for myself and friends. I am not as patient as you ;-) After cutting, I begin sanding with a block fitted with 40 grade 3M green production paper. With such coarse paper, always start pushing from outer edges toward the inner (top) area. As fast as a mill file and getting the corners with a nice rounded shape goes pretty quick. Then 100 grade, and so on. I never thought of using a polish or compound, good idea. My bike has the factory shield now and I can tell Ya that it looks a lot rougher than yours on the edge (2018 Honda GL1800 Tour). So Ya done good!
yes i have to do this to mine soon. i picked up a used 02 heritage and hate looking thru the glass. i have an old hand jig saw in the garage and it looks ez to do. thnx
Used the technique Gary Bowen described to draw the arc on the windshield, did a practice cut near the top and then went for it. Turned out plenty good. Not perfect like a factory but darn near. Thanks to Jerry and Gary for the how-to!
That is a job that most people are afraid to try. I have done several myself, but I take them off and use a fine tooth blade on a table saw. Tape the shield and fasten a clean towel to the table saw, and final polish with 800 grit on a air powered d/a orbital sander.
Frank Headley i needed an excuse to buy a new bosch jigsaw to do this. Should i use a metal fine tooth blade to cut my windshield? Should I angle the blade or keep it. Straight up and down?
A tip: When you get it smooth and begin using the very fine grades of paper, use a felt chalk board eraser (now that IS old school) as your backer. They are pleated, so hold them diagonally instead of long way as you rub the edge. Produces that neat very slightly rounded edge.
I sand with 200, 320, 400, 600 and then 1000 grit. Once I have it smooth I use a piece of box wood and Plexiglas polish and the edge comes out perfect.
MM, another great one, I've been lucky and never had to trim the windshield. I replaced the shield on my 12 FLHTK (it was tented, given to my by a buddy 7 years ago) this time I went back to clear from F4 10 in windshields, it has a slight curve and it fits me perfect. It is a lot thicker that the crap that Harley installs. Great people to deal with..
A good way to get a nice finish on an acrylic edge is to sand it down smooth first, then use a sharp blade from a Stanley / craft knife and draw it towards you across the edge - leaning the blade towards you to stop it snagging. Then, if you have access to one, use a polishing wheel.
Solid video! After the sanding take a small butane torch to the edge where it was cut very lightly and it will give that perfectly clear shiny edge just like factory.
Looks like a nice clean job #Motorman. If you don’t me asking Y cut it though? And now when it’s cut when you ride do you look over it or still through it?
I cut it because it was too high. That forced me to look thru it rather than over it. At night or in the rain, looking thru it causes distortion. Now, I can look over it or duck down a bit to look thru it.
Great video and tips, I installed a 16” shield and had terrible head buffeting, bought a 18” and it eliminated most of the buffeting up to about 75 mph. I feel if I go with taller shield I’d be looking through it which I don’t want. Thinking about cutting the 16” down a bit just to get some wind blast off me , I rode with a shorter shield and didn’t get head buffeting can’t figure this one out. Any advise appreciated. I know it’s tuff question to answer . I ride a 2010 fat boy im 6’ . BTW I bought your Ride Like A Pro video and book years ago, helped me tremendously, I always recommend it to newer riders
A lot of buffeting comes up from underneath the windshield. H.D. used to have chrome lowers that mounted to the forks and the windshield brackets that helped with buffeting. I can't use them because the siren speaker would be in the way.
Question: How high should a windshield be for a rider that’s 5’7”? The bike is a Heritage. The windshield is about 18 1/2” now measured as you do. The buffeting is so bad at 65 or 70 that I feel beat to death. P.S. Loved you CD I bought a few years back!
It's hard to say. I'm 5'7'' and about 17'' is good for me. But a lot depends on your seat as well. Cutting down the windshield may, or may not help the buffeting. Air coming up from underneath the shield could cause buffeting also. Fork lowers can help that.
I could not get masking tape to stick because I use Pledge on my shield. So I measured and used a belt sander. I took it out of the fairing and it took 4 times as long doing it this way. All I needed was 1". The 10" factory was splitting my line of sight and driving me crazy.
Ya make it look easy! I find it odd also how all those files just seem to vanish from the garage. It like up North here when it snows everybody runs to the store to buy a new shovel. Where the hell did the one they bought last time it snowed go? And I swear there is a huge stash of small hand tools in heaven.
I’m 5’6” and the factory King shield came with bike >22”. Can you imagine how I feel when riding with shield on? 😂 thanks for the tips from you and others comments.
A little off topic, but I wonder about folks installing higher and wider aftermarket windshields. Is the hardware on the motorcycle capable of supporting it? Do these aftermarket windshields meet any sort of safety standard?
Mine has some protective door edging around it from the 40,s, so this ought to be a snap. If mine were any taller I wouldn't be able to go through a drive-thru. Thanks
Gidday Jerry. Mate can you tell me the blade you used on your jigsaw? I'm about to try this on my Triumph Bonneville T100. The screen is too high and the buffeting around my head makes my helmet vibrate.
If the windshield is too tall,, you can't see through it in the fog. Can't see as well if it's raining either. There's also a bit of distortion when looking through windshields.
Hey GREAT, Jerry! I'm buying a fresh bike next week... and it will need some trimming. QUESTION: What sort of Jigsaw Blade to use? Fine? How to keep the shield from chipping or cracking?
@@motorman857 Thanks a heap for this video, Jerry! I followed your lead and mine came out great! No problems.. smooth. I used a small sanding "flapper" wheel after the jigsaw cut... worked great... followed by 220 to 400 to 800 grit... a little polish.. looks Pro!
@@motorman857 Thank you. One more question, do you get that HUGE wind noise in your ears now that the windshield is lower or does the wind still go past your head. Thanks again
@@motorman857 I DID IT!!! Cut my windshield down today with my grandson! Followed your lead. My 6yr old grandson was quoting your instructions as I was doing things, lol. It came out great and NO wind noise. I went from a 20" height to a 15" height. Looks great and rides great. I can now see over the windshield!! Thanks again!!
I am about to cut my windshield down. Should i be concerned about cracking the windshield if i dont use the right blade? I have a fine and i guess its a medium blade for my new jigsaw. Any ideas?
i have the electric hand jig saw but don't know if i have a steady enuff hand. i also have a hand coping saw and some other small hand saws with small blades, i may do it that way. i feel i might have more control over the cut cause once i mess it up it would be a mess but i'm gonna try it anyway.
I wouldn't use a coping saw. A jig saw works better and easier. Just take your time and be patient. You can also practice using the jig saw on a thin piece of plywood before cutting the windshield. If you screw up and wind up with bumps on the windshield, a power sander will fix that.
I was going to use the special, and very expensive blade used at the space station and recommended by NASA, but I ran out of them. So I just used a fine metal hacksaw blade I had laying around. 😁. C'mon. Don't over think this. Any mistake you make can be fixed with a file, sand paper and polish.
@@motorman857 Some people say that using a jigsaw will cause hairline cracks and the windshield will look like garbage; that may be why the question was asked.
Get a Plexiglas/Acrylic jigsaw blade an Lowes. Under $10, makes VERY clean cuts, no heating of the windscreen edge. Minimal vibration, works well at slow blade speeds. This is a case where the right tool make a big difference.
@@HD2O13XL12OOC Hmm, looks like they might not carry them anymore. Home Depot does: www.homedepot.com/p/Bosch-3-5-8-in-10-Teeth-Per-in-Bi-Metal-Jig-Saw-Blades-for-Cleanly-Cutting-Plexiglass-3-Pack-T102BF/203451220
@@pilotalan Thanks man. Yeah I'm gonna try to cut my "wide" shield to slim it down. It stretches over the grips so yea i'm gonna try to hack those wider parts off. I'll prolly end up buying a new shield after all lol
