Home Brew windshield

Has anyone ventured to make their own windshield?

All I have seen so far are the universal things. I just dont like them...

So tonight I picked up a sheet of Acrylic and hopefully over the course of the weekend I can fab up my own!

Plans are to find some sort of solid and standard mounting. Add some Aluminum rails like the Harley's got. Also cut and bend the acrylic on a jig so I can make more...

Thoughts?

 

Im about to make a little fly screen for above my headlight.... Lexan, dremel and tint spray...

 

Yes, I'd be very interested to know where to get this stuff and to see some pictures.

 

lexan is cheap as crap. i bought a 12x18 sheet of it for $3 at homedepot, which means its overpriced anyway. I made a fishtank out of a keg with it. =]

 

If it's from Home Depot, it's probably not Lexan, especially for $3. From what I remember from my racing days, an 1/8" thick Lexan sheet will run close to $100, but that's for a rather large 4'x6' piece.

 

Plexiglass ?

PS: do your fish swim sideways ? 8O

 

No trust me, its real on Lexan. As for scratch resistant... its not that bad, it wont scratch to noticably unless you physically key it with something.

As for that tank, it was one of the first ones I made, First i welded the bottom shelf, then just matched the sheet into the curvature of the tank and used Silicone II and lastly glued a top shelf on the top for extra rigidity.

All the ones i made after that i found a way to mold the glass to the shape of the key so it isnt just straight across but in shape with it.

The sheet isnt that thick.. maybe 1/8" I wanted to use 1/4 but they only sold that in larger sizes than i wanted.

 

Well I bought Acrylic... I think its 18"X24" and its .100" Thick. I paid $6.57 for it.

Please realize that different materials have different properties. "Clear Plastic" isnt just Plexiglass, lexan, or Tuffac... These are Trade Names- like Band Aid and Kleenex.

I would preffer to have Lexan or Tuffac for this project but didnt have any available quickly or cheaply.

Acrylic is rather stiff and is prone to crackign while drilling.

Plexis isnt as stout. Its rather flimsy.

Lexan is hard AND is impact resistant.

Tuffac is about the same material, jsut slightly different formulation and someone elses trade name...

 

any reccomendations on how to shape clear plastic into perhaps a dome like shape?

 

Well you need a form and you need heat.

Now for the windshield I intend on measuring, planning and using my CAD abilities to figure where everything goes before making any bends. SO I will pre-drill all holes. Cut out the shape and radius the edges.

Then I plan to bend on the jig/form. I intend to start from the center and bend it outwards while utilizing clips to hold the plastic down as I go.

WHen I get done and if it all figures/goes well I may offer some up for sale if Sno allows it. Or just offer the plastic windshioeld... hmmm

For a full dome you will need a form. You will also need even heat. If you get it to hot it will melt, to cool it will brake. A little to warm it might cloud up...

sheesh...

 

Well started on the brakets to hold the windshield on the bike.

The two holes on the lower triple tree and the hole on the braket where the headlight pivots are flush (well very very damned close!) so Im using them for mounts.

That piece is angle, 3/4" 1/16" thick Aluminum.

I will have a CAD drawing for these pieces when I get it all finished!

 

hope it helps. i found a place in new zealand that still makes screens for the seca. i bought 1 and im very happy with it.about 140$us. theweb is http://bikescreens.com hope its helpfull for all.

 

I found some good ideas on
this site, especially the mounting via copper pipes.

I'm very inclined to build myself something similar.

 

RyanfromOhio,

So did you ever get this windshield made, do you have any pictures of it. I would like to know how you made out.

 

I made windshields for a couple of my bikes in the past with Lexon. I cut the shape out with a saber saw and sanded the edges on a blst sander and buffed the edges smooth. I use old windshields mounts to mount it to the handlebars and upper for legs. To make the arch in the windshield, I placed it in an oven set at 250 degrees until it softens like a big piece of rubber. Then I layed it over a large piece of cardboard bent over a scrap 2X4 to make the arch. I left it there until it cooled and it turned out just like a bike windshield. You want to wear cloth gloves to handle it when it's hot and be very careful not to squeeze it or you will leave finger marks in it. ALso it distorts very easy and will be a pain in the ass to see thru if you let it get too hot. I like to just get it warm enough so it starts to bend and take it out of the oven to form it as quick as possible. I made one for my Vetter fairing and it's been on it for 2 years with no problems. I always wash it with Simple Green and it doesn't seem to scratch.

 

Try a store bought "steamer". The kind that shoots steam out of the tip. it will take a little longer to heat the plastic but the results are uncanny. No clouding, bubbling or warping. Try it on a small piece first to get the hang of it.

 

i made one out of plexy glass check my gallery