[Gerry O]

Has anyone had any success with cutting down a standard windshield with positive results as far as improving the ride?

I have an 08 Burgman 400 and I'm thinking about doing it. I'm 6'2" and wondering how much to cut off. Any suggestions/experiences with this.

I don't really like the look of the Give shield.

 

[v8eyedoc]

How is cutting down your stock windshield going to improve your ride.???

I dont understand your question..

 

[Gerry O]

How is cutting down your stock windshield going to improve your ride.???

I dont understand your question..

That is the question! Does cutting down the windshield improve the air circulation around your head...less buffeting, a more direct wind flow!

 

[Coz Boogie]

There are a couple threads floating around here that discuss this. I cropped mine on my 650 to get some extra air during our hot summer months (90's and 100's). In town the extra air is great. At highway speeds I end up raising my shield a bit just to direct the airflow up and over me a bit.

As to how much to cut off...well that's up to you. I easily took off a few inches. I then sprayed the inside of the windshield black (a few coats) and finished it off with a clear coat.

late,
Coz

my cut down shield

 

[momule]

That chopped down black windshield looks pretty good. You really DID cut a lot off your windshield though...I assume your scoot is an executive since you raise it up a bit. How much wind buffetting did you gain by cutting that much off your windshield? I have a standard 650 and like having wind/rain protection but I'd love to cut several inches off the top so that I easily ride with my eyes above the shield. As it is, with a bubble on my helmet and the windscreen and my prescription glasses when it rains it is way too much to look through to see properly.

 

[Coz Boogie]

Yes....I have the Exec and a stock windshield waiting in the wings for the colder/wetter months. You can find a used replacement windshield pretty cheap on the forum. Honestly, at highway speeds, the buffeting is that bad.

You could simply remove your windshield completely and motor around a bit to see what the effect could be like.

late,
Coz

 

[pyfis]

I'm 5'11" and I cut my Burgman 400 stock windscreen down to 20" along the contour. The bike itself felt great. No more top-heavy feel and associated heavy steering. It felt (and looked) like a sportbike. It did away with all the buffeting of course as my whole head was exposed to clean air, but the downside is the bugs. It'd be great for summertime.

 

[flinghammer]

What do you cut down a wind shield with?...example..circular saw?

 

[v8eyedoc]

I just swiched out the stock windshield on my '08 400 for a Givi and am very happy with the way the wind goes around me.......

 

[Dave_J]

What do you cut down a wind shield with?...example..circular saw?

Most of us have used a saber/scroll saw. A few, with steady hands, used a Rotorzip type tool. Any way you try, mask it off so you don't scratch the plastic. You need to go slow and let the saw do the work, no pushing.

Many postings on the WWW and here on how to do it. It is easy but the old saying, measure twice and....... Once you cut it, its done and no backing up.

 

[mikeyMarine]

just taking the mickey mouse ears off the stock shield will make a difference in handling, the front tire won't feel the windshield , and it may be enough to satisfy you, but they gotta go ,

 

[v8eyedoc]

just taking the mickey mouse ears off the stock shield will make a difference in handling, the front tire won't feel the windshield , and it may be enough to satisfy you, but they gotta go ,

mikey.......!!!!!!!! You just gotta stop either drinking so early in the morning or stop smokin' that wacky tabaccy...............

 

[pyfis]

If you want to see what a difference it makes, just remove the windshield completely and go for a ride. It only takes a few minutes to pull it off and I would wager you'll be surprised how much different the scooter feels.

 

[flinghammer]

thanks for the info Dave J...

 

[Gerry O]

Does anyone have any photos of the cut down screens. I'm anxious to get rid of the "barn-door" look of the standard and even more so with the Givi!

 

[fernando]

if you're in a real hot spot, cutting down the windscreen will help, however if you want to ride at 40-50mph on highways, you will miss those inches less in the screen. many people want to get a higher screen to add protection and reduce buffeting, i dont think buffeting will get reduced by cutting off the screen. i may be wrong though... I personally went from stock to givi af266, adding few inches more. and those are really nice when doing long rides.

 

[pyfis]

Cutting my windshield down eliminated the buffeting, but did increase the wind load on my neck and head at highway speeds. For hops of less than half an hour it was no big deal, but I missed the protection of a taller windscreen on longer trips. What I didn't miss was the buffeting I had with the taller screens. I decided on the Givi AF266 as a compromise since you can remove the 2nd windscreen for a really short in-town windscreen or slide it all the way up when in the rain. The AF266 is much better about buffeting than the original stock windscreen or the Givi 266DT (which I also cut 2" off of so I could see over it).

 

[Mike337]

Is the AF266 a lot nicer then the DT266? In what ways?
I cut my DT266 down 1-1/2" and my fiancé says she can really tell on the back. I wouldn't mind something adjustable I could raise to the moon.

 

[pyfis]

My personal experience is that the AF266 has less buffeting. The 266DT has better weather protection (since it's solid). The stock windscreen is best when it is cut way down.

 

[Flywheel]

Rotozips work pretty well, but if you don't have one (they're a bit expensive to buy for one or two uses), then find a drill bit for "sawing" holes in drywall. They're used to cut openings for power receptacles and light switches, about $10. The cutting spiral is broken up into dashes, titanium nitride coating. Set your drill to top speed (safety goggles please!) and get to work.

I cut my Givi windshield down by about 1.5", then another 1.5" after some testing. It reduced the buffeting but noise levels were about the same. More pressure on helmet at higher speeds, nothing dramatic. The Le Dude shimming didn't seem to have any effect regardless of shield height; the turbulence was still quite loud without earplugs.

Used a spade bit to add some 3/8" holes towards the windscreen base. Helped a small bit, I think, but not dramatically. Drill in forwards to start, then reverse to melt though the rest (or it may chip/crack).