dcarver
Well-known member
Rifle has been busy building a prototype screen for the 06 FJR. See Earlier Post.
Before anyone asks, I have not posted photos per request from Gary; this is a prototype, it's not a finished product yet.
For the record;
I’m 5/11, 32” inseam. Bike is stock; bars in the full back position.
Arai XD Helmet (full face helmet with built-in visor and shield; think cross-over of dirt and street and you’ve got the idea). The Arai XD is noiser than a true street bike helmet, so factor that into my comments below.
First Sight Impressions
1. The shield is ~ 4 inches taller than stock.
2. The shield has more of a 'curve' to it than stock. That is, it is deeper from the centerline to edges.
3. The shield uses blocks under it to angle it closer to the rider, to keep it less vertical.
4. The shield is wider than stock, with a very nice flair at the bottom for extended coverage of hands, wrists, elbows.
5. Clarity is perfect. No creases to look through. Optically correct.
6. The shape is very pleasing. My lady friend, who has an eye for shapes, commented immediately about how great it looked; so much better than stock.
4. Rifle is developing an adapter plate for the cosmetic blue 'W' shape on the front. The greater curvature of the shield doesn't allow mounting the shield to the existing Yamaha shape. Rifle is also looking at making a complete new 'W' unit with the correct shape and color matched. This is still to be decided.
Impressions After 200+ Test Miles
Test ride was +200 miles with ambient temps starting at 58 and up to 92 F.
1. Lowest position - Noisiest position. Much quieter than stock though ear plugs probably a good idea. On the positive side, the air hits low enough to provide cooling. The Arai XD was venting well and with my jacket unzipped the first several inches I was getting good flow through it too. The ride is a ‘sport’ ride; closest to the stock feel.
2. Medium position – The ‘Sweet Spot’. Noise down to almost nothing. Is the engine really making that sound? Hmmm.. so that’s what the front rotors sound like when brakes are applied. With ear plugs in, it’s almost too quiet. Surreal. Vision is still over the top, not through the shield. From low-medium to high-medium setting, I could still easily see over the top. Air flow for cooling is not as good as in the lowest position. The Arai still flowed cooling air, but the jacket was not. In this position, I could easily ride with helmet visor up, just sunglasses. This is my preferred style, but on only a few bikes can I ride this way; my eyes tear up easily in any kind of wind – so for me, this position is really a good find. The bug factor is excellent; only two bugs splatted on the eyeglasses or visor; normally the visor would have been a mess in the first 10 miles.
3. Highest position – Quieter yet. No cooling air flow. If sitting straight, can see over the top, but just barely. Would be great in really cold wet weather or for tall riders. I don’t like looking through the shield, so for me this position would seldom be used.
4. Rideability – The shield, for being larger stock, handled my 5 mile long dirt road very well. It doesn’t appear to be ‘overpowering’ the lifting mechanism, even at 40 mph on a stutter-bumped road.
Overall, I think Rifle has done a great job at the first prototype. I know that Gary has been reading the FjrForum windshield threads and wants to build the very best shield possible.
Disclaimer: I own no stock in Rifle, have no interest in the companies well being yada yada yada. Rifle did offer me a free shield for using my 06 as a test mule. This is my first use of any product made by Rifle.
My recommendation to Rifle would be (for me, my size) to cut 1” off the height. This would make the lowest position ‘sportier’ and provide even more cooling for those hot summer days just ahead. It would also make the full up position where I could see over the shield without having to sit straight up.
I’m very interested in doing a side by side comparison of the Rifle vs. the V-Stream. Maybe I can talk TWN into a ride..
And guys – Rifle is reading your comments. Post up and make your input known. It’s kind of fun to be involved in the development aspect.
Questions? Ask away and I'll do my best to post back quickly.
dcarver
Before anyone asks, I have not posted photos per request from Gary; this is a prototype, it's not a finished product yet.
For the record;
I’m 5/11, 32” inseam. Bike is stock; bars in the full back position.
Arai XD Helmet (full face helmet with built-in visor and shield; think cross-over of dirt and street and you’ve got the idea). The Arai XD is noiser than a true street bike helmet, so factor that into my comments below.
First Sight Impressions
1. The shield is ~ 4 inches taller than stock.
2. The shield has more of a 'curve' to it than stock. That is, it is deeper from the centerline to edges.
3. The shield uses blocks under it to angle it closer to the rider, to keep it less vertical.
4. The shield is wider than stock, with a very nice flair at the bottom for extended coverage of hands, wrists, elbows.
5. Clarity is perfect. No creases to look through. Optically correct.
6. The shape is very pleasing. My lady friend, who has an eye for shapes, commented immediately about how great it looked; so much better than stock.
4. Rifle is developing an adapter plate for the cosmetic blue 'W' shape on the front. The greater curvature of the shield doesn't allow mounting the shield to the existing Yamaha shape. Rifle is also looking at making a complete new 'W' unit with the correct shape and color matched. This is still to be decided.
Impressions After 200+ Test Miles
Test ride was +200 miles with ambient temps starting at 58 and up to 92 F.
1. Lowest position - Noisiest position. Much quieter than stock though ear plugs probably a good idea. On the positive side, the air hits low enough to provide cooling. The Arai XD was venting well and with my jacket unzipped the first several inches I was getting good flow through it too. The ride is a ‘sport’ ride; closest to the stock feel.
2. Medium position – The ‘Sweet Spot’. Noise down to almost nothing. Is the engine really making that sound? Hmmm.. so that’s what the front rotors sound like when brakes are applied. With ear plugs in, it’s almost too quiet. Surreal. Vision is still over the top, not through the shield. From low-medium to high-medium setting, I could still easily see over the top. Air flow for cooling is not as good as in the lowest position. The Arai still flowed cooling air, but the jacket was not. In this position, I could easily ride with helmet visor up, just sunglasses. This is my preferred style, but on only a few bikes can I ride this way; my eyes tear up easily in any kind of wind – so for me, this position is really a good find. The bug factor is excellent; only two bugs splatted on the eyeglasses or visor; normally the visor would have been a mess in the first 10 miles.
3. Highest position – Quieter yet. No cooling air flow. If sitting straight, can see over the top, but just barely. Would be great in really cold wet weather or for tall riders. I don’t like looking through the shield, so for me this position would seldom be used.
4. Rideability – The shield, for being larger stock, handled my 5 mile long dirt road very well. It doesn’t appear to be ‘overpowering’ the lifting mechanism, even at 40 mph on a stutter-bumped road.
Overall, I think Rifle has done a great job at the first prototype. I know that Gary has been reading the FjrForum windshield threads and wants to build the very best shield possible.
Disclaimer: I own no stock in Rifle, have no interest in the companies well being yada yada yada. Rifle did offer me a free shield for using my 06 as a test mule. This is my first use of any product made by Rifle.
My recommendation to Rifle would be (for me, my size) to cut 1” off the height. This would make the lowest position ‘sportier’ and provide even more cooling for those hot summer days just ahead. It would also make the full up position where I could see over the shield without having to sit straight up.
I’m very interested in doing a side by side comparison of the Rifle vs. the V-Stream. Maybe I can talk TWN into a ride..
And guys – Rifle is reading your comments. Post up and make your input known. It’s kind of fun to be involved in the development aspect.
Questions? Ask away and I'll do my best to post back quickly.
dcarver
