detatchable screens

[SJC69]

Originally Posted by rocketman

Steve

How shorter are the smaller screens?

You can buy just replacement blades which are shorter, taller, standard size, smoked, clear etc. They are easy to fit you use all you existing brackets and fittings.

The shorter screen for a Road King is 4 inches shorter.

How much do they cost?

Part No 57768-00 Shorter Screen blade clear from Guernsey H-D is £114.36

Do they have the same quick removal type fittings?

Yep as they use all the standard parts {your existing fittings if you buy just the blade}

How do I cut the existing screen down?

I looked into this and used a fine tooth metal cutting blade in the jigsaw with masking tape both sides of the screen blade.
Slow and steady as too much heat and you will melt the screen, finished off with a file and stone with a bit of metal polish too.

The first cut is a real leap of faith, a practice is worth while, eg cutting a small piece off at the very top first to try out your technique.

As said you quite often see secondhand screens for sale which are a bargin compared to new.

[lawnmower]

good call. i bought one of these memphis screens last year from the cci catalog i think. theres a good bit in there regarding the height of the screen/rider which is where i got the 5ft 11" being std height from. The memphis screens are just as good as orginal and at £80 considerably cheaper. yes they are anti scratch coated too and have inserts where you bolt them up which would appear to be a good idea. Simon i have my old roadking screen somewhere which needs 3 inches cutting off the top mate, ill bring it to oswestry

[Justcruising]

I bought my Lowrider with a National Cycle screen, 3 yrs ago now.
I very rarely ride the bike without it.
Its adjustable for hieght with the help of an allen key.
I think the bracket work is a bit neater than the stock HD stuff. ;)
Most of the after market catalogs list them.
Be carefull with ebay. The HD screens are not always interchangeable.

[Gary_M]

 A Cut Above By Buck Artwork by Mr. TidySo you ordered the wrong height windshield, and now you have to sit on a pillow to see over the top? Well good friend, let's try to fix that. Following is a method we all can use to cut down the height of our windshield , and still make it look  "Factory Fresh".                             .First, determine the exact amount needed to remove. The best method is to place a "band" of blue masking tape with the top edge where you think you want to cut. Make the band of tape at least four inches high, so that you cannot see under the bottom of the tape.  Now take a ride !! A good long one !! Keep the tape on for a few days if necessary. You will find that after a few minutes you "settle in the saddle" , which gives you a more accurate idea of how much to cut. I learned this the hard way and ended up cutting my shield three times before I was satisfied.  On a piece of cardboard, trace the shield's top outline. Cut this outline out from the cardboard.   Place a 2" wide strip of blue masking tape on the INSIDE of the shield, centered over where the cut will be.  Use the cardboard pattern to trace a "Cut" line on to the tape.  The shield will be cut with the front side of the shield down on the bandsaw table top. If using a Saber saw, cut from the front side of the shield with the inside down. The curved front of the shield must be covered to protect from scratches.  I usually cover with a thin cardboard or heavy plastic bags. Anything to prevent scratched. Many will disagree but almost any type of saw blade will work. Most shields are tough Polycarbonate plastic (Lexan) which does not crack, chip, or scratch too easily.  I use a "Six teeth per inch" wood blade on my bandsaw. A finer blade demands less sanding but I am too lazy to change blades. Cut on the line, using as smooth a motion as possible so as to reduce the sanding chore.  Here is a very important hint : Sand the edge round (like the rest of the shield)  WITH THE SHIELD STANDING UPRIGHT !!  If you lay it down the plastic dust will cause scratches where it contacts the table.  Use 80 grit paper in a palm sander then switch to 220 for a "Fairly" smooth finish. This job can also be done by hand using the sandpaper on a piece of wood 2 x 4.  Just get a smooth finish with a curved edge that is the same as the rest of the shield. The final step that produces that "Factory" edge is sort of delicate. If you slip here you will have a spotted shield! Most hardware stores sell M.E.K. (methyl ethyl keytone) as a universal solvent. This stuff "Melts" plastic. Moisten a COTTON rag just big enough to wrap over your index finger. Get it very wet, but not dripping. With a steady motion, wipe the newly sanded edge in one smooth stroke. WOW !!! It turns clear !! If necessary , wait a few minutes and do it again. The plastic dries almost immediately. I suggest you practice the "Wipe" on the piece you cut off. It really is easy , as long as you don't drip. That's it ! Simple, but do it right the first time.And don't sniff too much of that M.E.K. ! From This To This

[dpb-RK]

The height issue is a bit misleading as the important measurement is from arse to eye, and most of us are far from standard

I bought a cool looking short screen, HD, smoked, fit straight on the standard mountings, looked the bizzz, it was like having a vibrator taped to the back of my helmet ( you all know what I mean !) absolutely useless to me, my head was right in the buffeting zone, I'm 6' tall.

So if any shortstop wants it send me £50 and it's yours, and that includes the postage. or I will bring it to the AGM.

I'll even leave the dpbRK stickies on it.

[Topefisher]

I have a 2003 anniversary Fatboy in black with passing lamps fitted.

I opted for the adjustable height screen which I think is no longer listed & which I think the part number is 57703-02. I had it brought over from a USA Ebayer H.Dealer. They are still showing over there on Ebay if you can get somebody to ship to UK.
They are quickly detachable and I only tend to put it on for the longer motorway rides. It adjusts very easily with a couple of toggle clamp levers.

It goes well with the black model and gives the advantage of a low screen when needed + higher if you want. On the low setting you can see over easily when raining but it buffets the top of your helmet at higher speeds. I have tried it on the higher setting but I prefer looking over the top edge on the lower setting, plus it looks better on the shorter setting.

If I was opting for a non-adjustable I would go for the low height model deffo.

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by dpb-RK

it was like having a vibrator taped to the back of my helmet ( you all know what I mean !) absolutely useless to me, my head was right in the buffeting zone, I'm 6' tall.

I know exactly what you mean. I had an adjustable screen on my last Softail and played around with the settings to achieve the best results.

However, at ALL height settings I experienced major buffeting, which would often move my head from side to side enough to affect vision. This became evident at motorway speeds, which totally defeats the object of having a screen. Based on this experience, I do not plan to ride with a screen again.

PS the prospect of taping a vibrator to my helmet seems strangely attractive. I know, TAXI...

[Cybertec™]

Originally Posted by tardle

Thanks for the information folks,
Think it will be a HD screen & I,ll cut it down in stages & see how it goes. But, maybe if I buy & fit the mounting kit my local dealer may let me try some different size screens from the s/hand bikes if I'm buying the screen from them.
Thanks for taking the trouble to answer
trev