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Message started by sunny on 10/28/04 at 13:32:06

Title: without a shield
Post by sunny on 10/28/04 at 13:32:06

have any of you tried riding sans windshield?

so, the story:
i took a spill in the rain at an intersection on some trolley tracks last friday evening. the windshield is reparable with j-b-weld, but i am not sure i want to go through all the effort. the bracket (not the one i fixed last time) busted.
i wear a full face helmet while riding and of course i see lots of riders without shields as well as many with.

is this just a personal preference as to where you want your dead bugs?

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Savage_Rob on 10/28/04 at 13:56:31

I never rode with one until I got my Savage a few months ago and never knew the difference until then. I notice two main advantages. First is on wet roads - you get less crap all over you. Second is on longer rides - you get less stress from the wind. For those two reasons, I leave mine on. Otherwise, I think the bike always looks better without it.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Susan on 10/28/04 at 14:21:38

sunny wrote:

have any of you tried riding sans windshield?

I do both depending on the trip and my mood. I find that the windshield makes longer trips and trips on the freeway more enjoyable. I get less tired and the bike feels more stable at high speeds with the windshield on. I think the bike looks sleeker without it though.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by sluggo on 10/28/04 at 15:17:55

never had one never will......

i like the chopper look bare bones tough lookin riding machine..

in all my years i've done over 150,000 miles on several machines.
my neck is up to the task.

crud well it washes off.

i split my time between a open face and full face. just depends on my mood and riding conditions.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Paladin on 10/28/04 at 17:41:34

As a compromise I got a flyscreen http://savage.andruschak.net/Flyscreen1.jpg -- absolute minimum shielding, but it does stop the full force of the wind trying to push you off the bike.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Greg_650 on 10/29/04 at 04:35:51

sunny wrote:

Love that question....

Yes, it is personal preference. I have ridden both ways, but I prefer bugs, small rocks, and cows peeing out of the back of a trailer (yep, been there) to hit a windshield and not my face.

Besides, it does reduce stress on the arms, neck and back and gives you a little wet protection.

Another real stress reliever is not falling down. Since you weren't physically hurt (seems like), you must not have been going very fast. If you like the benefits of a windshield, the real solution is keeping the "rubber side down". But you know that. Glad that you weren't hurt.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Tony on 10/29/04 at 04:38:00

I like with the looks without the big screens but the wind does do a number on you in colder weather. I like the looks of your fly screen. I think this is the answer. What make and model is that?

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Daemon on 10/29/04 at 05:42:17

Huge difference in riding with & without shields. Personal preference but I prefer having one when taking freeway trips to reduce fatigue. I ride open-faced and like having the shield there to deflect the wind, rocks, bugs, and everything else that I don't like getting smacked with.

Full-faced takes care of that, but doesn't help with the stress points in freeway riding like a shield does.

Around town, I like to ride without one...

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by sunny on 10/29/04 at 09:32:44

the full tale: at the intersection of pearl and mckinney there are trolley tracks down the center of mckinney. one set in the left hand lane going one way and the other set in the left hand lane going the other way.

i was on mckinney, stopped in the middle of the intersection to make a left hand turn onto pearl.
it is always slicker there than other intersections. the concrete itself is just plain slick in dry weather. my boots slip sometimes... and it was raining. i was trying to get out into the country before the major storm approaching hit.
well, went from a full stop to just enough to try to get me over the tracks and whoosh, the rear end decided to spin around to my right.
landed me and the bike on our left side facing the way we had just been coming from.
to the city rush hour folks credit, no one honked or even tried to move through what must have been two light changes as i and the guy in the car that had been behind me righted my bike(it was so slick i could hardly stand, zero traction) and moved me out of the road.

i called my boss who told me to come back to the office and he and some other guys from the office put my bike in the back of his truck for a ride home.

just two big bruises and lumps on my left leg, one on the knee and one on the shin. hurt pride, of course. slightly bent clutch lever and the windsheild popped off on the right side.

the moral of this story?
trolley tracks+rain = VERY VERY BAD JUJU.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Savage_Rob on 10/29/04 at 09:51:48

Glad you're okay. Yeah, I personally hate those inlaid brick crosswalks that seem to have become popular recently (and older brick streets to). They are really slick in wet weather too.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Greg_650 on 10/29/04 at 09:54:12

sunny wrote:

Sounds like some road work needed there. Are the tracks still in use?

I was just going on with you. Glad that you weren't hurt more than bruises to yourself and pride with just minor damage to to the bike. Be careful when straightening that lever....they can break easily.

After all, I am the only one that I know that could be teaching someone else how to ride, and when going for a real demo in the art of leaning and passing, suddenly take a spill in a bunch of leaves right in front of them. Just ask my spouse :o

Now, what I did after that was to go straight to a bar, have a cold one, and then go home. So get back on that horse and ride....and buy a new shield, too.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Paladin on 10/29/04 at 13:45:10

Tony wrote:

I like with the looks without the big screens but the wind does do a number on you in colder weather. I like the looks of your fly screen. I think this is the answer. What make and model is that?

Got it off eBay, the seller claimed it was USED "NATIONAL CYCLE" FLYSCREEN LS MFG. # N-2530. It has "National Cycle" in the chrome. Arrived in a plain blown box, padded with newspaper, no instructions, but with all the pieces. Fork clamps a tad oversized, fixed with a 1"x2" piece of bicycle innertube.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by sluggo on 10/29/04 at 15:53:26

how can you tell if a savage rider is happy?

COUNT THE BUGS IN HIS/HER TEETH. ;D

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by sunny on 11/05/04 at 08:26:30

well, i rode into work today without the shield.

it was chillier, but the wind was a more constant force instead of intermittant.
there wasn't any vibration at all, which was strange. and the bike seemed smaller.
i think if i replace the shield it won't be a handlebar mounted one and i think i'll choose one a bit bigger.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Sgt_Mike on 11/05/04 at 10:45:58

The FlyScreen w/shield is available at at National Cycle.
www.nationalcycle.com
Alot of neat stuff on there.

PS. The FlyScreen is on sale for $29.00 Clic on the yellow bar to see it.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by gitarzan on 11/05/04 at 15:26:07

When I got my used 97 last spring it had a shield on it. I rode with it once.

It's been in the shed ever since. It's just too wussy for me. I might be swayed by the NC Flyscreen. It's more cafe looking.

http://www.nationalcycle.com/discount/imagesProducts/flyscreen_top.jpg

???

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by LittleRedster on 11/06/04 at 12:34:34

sunny wrote:

Yeah, I've noticed too that my bike seems smaller w/o the shield.

I have a National Cycle Deflector Shield with quick release levers on mine and I like to ride without it around town and on short trips on the back roads. Definitely like having the shield on, though, at higher speeds and in less-than-perfect weather.

Cheryl

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by sunny on 11/08/04 at 09:34:03

updated further:
the ride home from work without the shield was far worse than the ride in.

i'll be either fixing the shield or buying a new one.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Paladin on 11/08/04 at 14:35:29

Sgt_Mike wrote:

The FlyScreen w/shield is available at at National Cycle.
www.nationalcycle.com
Alot of neat stuff on there.

PS. The FlyScreen is on sale for $29.00 Clic on the yellow bar to see it.

Model #s N2550 and N2551. They're not the one I have. Those have a "Mounting wraps around headlight via Velcro fasteners. " Mine is model #N2530 and is clamped to the fork tubes. They do not show it under the Suzuki Savage page, yet the guy I bought it from listed the savage as being one of the bikes it fit and it did.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by klx650sm2002 on 11/09/04 at 02:14:01

A shield wouldn't look right on KLX, not for Me anyway.

Clive W :D

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Greg_650 on 11/10/04 at 14:22:22

klx650sm2002 wrote:

A shield wouldn't look right on KLX, not for Me anyway.

Clive W :D

Nope. Besides, KLX riders are tough and don't need shields. ;D

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Savage_Rob on 11/10/04 at 20:45:49

Paladin wrote:

Maybe those on sale are the older versions?

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Paladin on 11/10/04 at 22:14:07

Different, not older. (maybe newer as they have higher numbers.) The N2550/N2551 mount by strapping to the headlight housing. Would be easier to add/remove to match mood swings. The N2530/N2531 has heavy chrome clamps to attach to the fork tubes with cast chromed doglegged arms to connect to the screen. Fully adjustable fore/aft up/down and rake.
http://savage.andruschak.net/flyscreen4.jpg

(that image is supposed to be 230x300 pixels.) (The Nxxx0 is a clear screen, the Nxxx1 is tinted.)

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Paladin on 11/11/04 at 05:56:26

There's another N2530 on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4502213480&category=35590&sspagename=WDVW), auction ends in about eight hours.

He also has an N2531 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4502213591&category=35590&sspagename=WDVW) (dark tint).

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Savage_Rob on 11/11/04 at 05:59:29

The National Cycle site states the N2550 is dark tint for a 5-1/4" round headlight and that the N2551 is dark tint for a 7" round headlight. Anyone know, offhand, the size of the Savage's headlight?

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by gitarzan on 11/11/04 at 07:24:09

5 1/4"

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Savage_Rob on 11/12/04 at 05:23:25

gitarzan wrote:

5 1/4"

Thanks. It became moot for me though. I picked up a new N2531 on eBay yesterday for $30. I like the idea of actual chrome clamps better than velcro fasteners.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by PerrydaSavage on 11/12/04 at 06:33:55

8)Hey Rob ... congrats man! I too was lookin' at that Flyscreen and the light-tint one offered by the same seller ... didn't get either, but hey I'll get lucky eventually!
Would love to see a pic of the new Flyscreen installed on your Savage! You got the dark-tint one right?

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by Savage_Rob on 11/12/04 at 06:43:27

Yup, I first started bidding on the light tint but after it went past $30, I started on the dark tint (figuring it'd look fine on a black bike and that as small as it is, it wouldn't hamper night riding at all). The light tint one went for 60-something dollars, I think. I'll post a pic once I get it on. I'm not sure how it'll look with the topcase I have on it right now but we'll see. I *might* consider removing the topcase except for longer rides but I dunno. I really like the lockable storage.

Title: Re: without a shield
Post by suzyssuzi on 11/13/04 at 07:00:06

a bike can look cool even with a shield, roadchrome makes a 14 inch, you need to modify a little ot it vibrates but if you get the angle right you still get some wind but no bugs or rain. http://www.bikepics.com/members/suzyssuzi/ here are my pics.