10/10/97

I just got back from a 1 hour test ride with my new Rifle Windshield

on my V65 Sabre with Hondaline Fairing. My initial impression is that it is definitely going to be a quieter, and less turbulent, ride.

A little background: first of all, it was my first ride on my v65 in about 3 weeks(I've been giving the project bike all my seat time).

It was also the first ride on the oem seat(the corbin that the po had put on was all I've ridden on since getting the bike 14 months ago).

And finally, I was replacing the Gustaffson windscreen, which I have felt was contributing a lot of turbulence at about forehead level and above on my helmet.

I rode Don Bernhard's V65 with the Rifle Windshield at SMOT. Don is about 3 inches taller than I, so he had a 19" windshield on top of the Rifle base. I talked to Rifle when I ordered, and they didn't really make a recommendation as to the size of the windshield, so I ordered the 17" size. When I started the install on Monday night, I had the corbin seat on, and I noticed that I was definitely going to be looking through the windshield when I rode. I then remembered that Don had the oem seat, so I retrieved mine from the attic and put it on the bike. This made a definite difference, and now I look through the windshield only for the 20 feet or so directly in front of me.

I waited til today to ride because Rifle had not included enough plastic washers to complete the installation correctly(I called them and they sent me some more, which I understand Don B had to do as well. If you're thinking about ordering, better ask them to include extra washers with your order).

I did a little riding around the neighborhood to test and make sure the install was ok, then I hit the freeway and headed north towards Denton. I rode at speeds between 50 and ...well, more than 70. I also adjusted my posture from slouched to straight, etc, and shifted around on the seat during my ride, and the only turbulence I experienced was when I stretched up(uncomfortably) and looked completely over the windscreen. So from a 'noise' perspective, this is a solution.

As luck would have it, I went through a little sprinkle shower about halfway to Denton. The only drops to hit me were on my sunglasses and the top of my helmet, so from a protection standpoint, this is a solution.

I guess the other area of concern for me is the appearance of the windshield. It does stick up quite a ways. It does resemble the big windscreen you see on Goldwings. It's not as 'sporty' as the stock windshield. On the other hand, after our ride to Talimena(prior to SMOT), the turbulence had stopped up my ears so bad I couldn't hear my wife welcome me home(yes, I was wearing ear plugs). So I guess function wins over form in this instance.

The installation was fairly quick and easy(except for the missing washers), and I'm getting used to the look of the fairing without the strakes around the mirrors(D Bailey had a real good picture on his web page if you want to see what I'm talking about), so in sum, it's a keeper. I'm riding to Alabama next weekend, so I'll post any update on this opinion after that 1600 mile weekend.