How To Trim Your Windshield In 10 Easy Steps

Motorcycle riding can be dangerous when it is misty, foggy or raining and your windshield becomes clouded with moisture. The same can be said at night when the lights from oncoming traffic becomes distorted when looking through the shield. When seated comfortably on a motorcycle your line of vision should be just over the top of your windshield. When the air
hits the shield the force blows the air upwards and over your head. If needed the rider can easily adjust the posture and drop below the windshield.
Most motorcycle windshields are one size fits all. You can purchase standard full size or sport windshields that are shorter. Sometimes, since we all come in different shapes and sizes finding a windshield we can see over is nearly impossible.

Trimming down the windshield with the proper tools and advice is an easy solution.
Tools needed for the job:

* pencil
* string
* minimum 2" wide masking tape
* fairly coarse file
* fine sand paper
* block of wood
* jig saw with a fine tooth blade (16-18 pitch)

1. While sitting on the bike, look through the windshield fixing your sights on approximately 100 feet out, find your point, (what will be the new top)and mark that point on the windshield. Determine if you want to keep the original arc of the windshield or change it to a different design. Once you have decided how you want it to look you can begin prepping.

2. Support the bike to stand upright, removing the windshield is not recommended. Cover the tank, headlights and fenders for protection from dust and residue.

3. On the outside of the shield start at the point you marked, place a piece of tape with the edges approximately 1/2" above and 1-1/2" below the mark. Continue taping the shield in the predetermined arc to the same point on both outside edges. Accuracy is not important at this time.
Note: wide side of tape is to prevent saw rest from scratching the shield.

4. Take your tape measure and mark on the bottom edge of the shield a minimum of 6 (six)swing points spaced evenly up to the outside edges. Your first swing point mark should be located at the center bottom of the windshield and the rest should be evenly spaced from this center point.

5. Tie a piece of string on the lead end of the pencil. Holding one end of the string at the center swing point stretch the pencil end up to the center point mark at the top. Starting at the center point draw an arc going back and forth
from one end of the shield to the other. Repeat this process from each swing point. Once you have drawn the desired arc on the tape using all of the swing points, begin blending your lines together creating one solid line.

6. Place tape on the inside of the windshield centering it along the line you will be cutting from end to end.

7. Using the jig saw start cutting from one end of the outside of the shield.
Very carefully follow the line and remove the top of the shield.

8. Remove the tape and begin blending the rough edges using the coarse file. Run the file in one direction on the outside edge around the arc. Do not file across edge. Continue filing until shape is smooth.

9. Take the block of wood and wrap the fine sandpaper around the block and create a radius on the edge by going back and forth horizontally across the edge.

10. Blow the dust and residue off the windshield using any type air blower to prevent scratching the plastic before cleaning or rinse down with a water hose.

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