2009 FJR and Windshield Spacers? No Way?

[dasadab]

Merry Christmas fellow farkelers,

I wanted to try some windshield spacers on my 2009. I read the threads and looked at the photos. I read the stuff about spacers possibly causing frame damage by rubbing. On my 2009, it looks like I have plenty of clearance between all portions of the moving parts of the windshield and the frame. All of the photos and instructions seem to contemplate an upper and lower metal "W" bracket (I'm not talking about the plastic "W" finishing bracket on the outside of the shield). When I removed my windshield there is a solid, one piece, metal W bracket attached to the raise/tilt mechanism with 4 arms. There is no lower bracket to use spacers with. My conclusion: With an '09, there is no way to use spacers to get more tilt.

I can't really see using spacers between the windshield and the bracket as this would not allow solid contact between the windshield and the metal W bracket.

Anybody disagree or have any other suggestions about adding more tilt, i.e. so the shield is less verticle?

I have a XL CalSci, which is the best shield I have tried so far. I just think a little tilt would smooth the air.

 

[madmike2]

Yes, the design is different. ON the Gen I, and early Gen II, bikes there second bracket under the lower "W" bracket.

The design was changed on the 2008 model so your motor arms are connect directly to the lower "W" bracket.

On the Gen I FJRs, spacers created more room for air passage between the nose piece and the windshield. This allowed more air to flow and decreased wind buffet.

The redesign of the fairing on the Gen II allow much more air to pass under the windshield and around the instrument cluster so I doubt spacers would help much in that regard.

They would tilt the shield back so the upper portion would be closer to your face, but that's the only positive gain.

It looks like "spacers" will not fit on Gen IIs from 2008 and 2009.

 

[Fairlaner]

You are right Mike, I just made my holes bigger on teh brackets so i could tip it back a bit...

R

 

[road runner]

Didn't know they change in 08. My 07 is tilted and it is better that way.

Maybe the 07 parts will fit the 08 if you want to tilt it. Or something, don't know what the new setup looks like.

I'll trade you my W bracket for your throttle bodies :santa:

 

[Checkswrecks]

Make your own. Get some scrap 1" square nylon rod from a plastics supplier. It's a very easy material to work with, even with hand tools.

Piedmont Plastic Supply has showrooms around the country and they have all sorts of cutoffs and scraps that you can buy by the pound: https://www.piedmontplastics.com/locations.asp

 

[madmike2]

Make your own. Get some scrap 1" square nylon rod from a plastics supplier. It's a very easy material to work with, even with hand tools.
Piedmont Plastic Supply has showrooms around the country and they have all sorts of cutoffs and scraps that you can buy by the pound: https://www.piedmontplastics.com/locations.asp

That won't work!

2008 and later the entire assembly is changed. On the earlier version one could make a spacer and place it between the U-bracket and the lower W-bracket.

On the new version the motor arms attach to the sides of the lower W-bracket, eliminating the U-bracket between the arms that protrude through the nose piece (that the spacers used to mount against).

To fully understand, if you can't picture it, pull up one of the online parts catalogs and enter 2008 or 2009 in the year, look up "Cowling 1" and see the exploded view.

Fairlaner posted his solution for his 2009 in post #3.

 

[dasadab]

You are right Mike, I just made my holes bigger on teh brackets so i could tip it back a bit...

R

Richard,

You made the holes larger in the metal "W" bracket where the arms attach? I am thinking maybe the holes the arms themselves were elongated?

Is the shield still stable?

Thanks. Dean

 

[Checkswrecks]

Make your own. Get some scrap 1" square nylon rod from a plastics supplier. It's a very easy material to work with, even with hand tools.
Piedmont Plastic Supply has showrooms around the country and they have all sorts of cutoffs and scraps that you can buy by the pound: https://www.piedmontplastics.com/locations.asp

That won't work!

2008 and later the entire assembly is changed. On the earlier version one could make a spacer and place it between the U-bracket and the lower W-bracket.

On the new version the motor arms attach to the sides of the lower W-bracket, eliminating the U-bracket between the arms that protrude through the nose piece (that the spacers used to mount against).

To fully understand, if you can't picture it, pull up one of the online parts catalogs and enter 2008 or 2009 in the year, look up "Cowling 1" and see the exploded view.

Fairlaner posted his solution for his 2009 in post #3.

Mike - I think it could be done by tapering the nylon block to go up each side, beneath the windshield and using longer screws. Then put a separate block across the middle.

But simply going to a different windshield is sure easier!

Whatever

Bob

 

[madmike2]

Mike - I think it could be done by tapering the nylon block to go up each side, beneath the windshield and using longer screws. Then put a separate block across the middle.But simply going to a different windshield is sure easier!

Whatever

Bob

Yes, now I see what you're saying.

Someone with access to a milling machine (or some "mad" hand tool ability) could make nylon wedges or a complete angled W-shaped plate to fit between the windshield and the W-bracket.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

FWIW, I got some Skyway spacers thrown in on a used Yammie touring windshield I bought from a forum member a couple years ago. I've been running the shield with them on since. The shield tips back so I get decent coverage (Some buffeting about the head but I'm old-school and like to feel I'm not in a car). The one downside is the windshield in the full down position touches the fairing on either side for about an inch. I disconnected the automatic retract and leave it up a smidge. The look is also better, IMHO -- not as barn door like.

 

[Fairlaner]

Shiny the Skyways will not work on the 08/09's.

The Holes i made bigger are the 4 holes that hold the bracket together nothing to do with the windshield itself. if you put a spacer between the shield and the W bracket then you will have no where for the trim piece to mount......

R

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Shiny the Skyways will not work on the 08/09's.
The Holes i made bigger are the 4 holes that hold the bracket together nothing to do with the windshield itself. if you put a spacer between the shield and the W bracket then you will have no where for the trim piece to mount......

R

Thanks, I had trouble visualizing that. I usually have to see something to get it. Just rambling, but what about the plastic tapered block Checkswrecks suggested? Would that work with disabling the auto retract, then leaving enough space so it doesn't rub the fairing?

I'm in over my head a bit. I really have been lax in the technical changes made to '08-'09 FJR's.

 

[road runner]

FWIW, I got some Skyway spacers thrown in on a used Yammie touring windshield I bought from a forum member a couple years ago. I've been running the shield with them on since. The shield tips back so I get decent coverage (Some buffeting about the head but I'm old-school and like to feel I'm not in a car). The one downside is the windshield in the full down position touches the fairing on either side for about an inch. I disconnected the automatic retract and leave it up a smidge. The look is also better, IMHO -- not as barn door like.

Shiny

If you take the piece out that is rubbing and grind it down as much as possible without going threw to the threads it won't rub anymore. This is the brace that goes from side to side and the spacers go on top of it. The part that rubs is the round part of casting were the screws go into it from the side arms. If you look it is pretty thick there, you can grind it down to leave about 1/8 or 1/16" . Then paint it with some semi gloss black and it will look factory. I did this on mine and it works good, no more rubbing. Just take note and make sure you grind it in the correct spot and angle.

A.C.

 

[dasadab]

Here is a diagram from Rifle showing the installation of the angle optimizers for '06 (the kit is listed as '06-'09). The "W" sure looks like the one on my '09. Richard, are you sure it won't work?

https://www.rifle.com/pdf/rifle_fjr06_winds...nstructions.pdf

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

FWIW, I got some Skyway spacers thrown in on a used Yammie touring windshield I bought from a forum member a couple years ago. I've been running the shield with them on since. The shield tips back so I get decent coverage (Some buffeting about the head but I'm old-school and like to feel I'm not in a car). The one downside is the windshield in the full down position touches the fairing on either side for about an inch. I disconnected the automatic retract and leave it up a smidge. The look is also better, IMHO -- not as barn door like.

Shiny

If you take the piece out that is rubbing and grind it down as much as possible without going threw to the threads it won't rub anymore. This is the brace that goes from side to side and the spacers go on top of it. The part that rubs is the round part of casting were the screws go into it from the side arms. If you look it is pretty thick there, you can grind it down to leave about 1/8 or 1/16" . Then paint it with some semi gloss black and it will look factory. I did this on mine and it works good, no more rubbing. Just take note and make sure you grind it in the correct spot and angle.

A.C.

Thanks, but I think I didn't explain well. With spacers in and the Yammie touring shield on, the lower outer edges of the lexan (it is lexan isn't it?) shield touch down on the fairing for an inch -- but only in the full down position. If I wasn't lazy I'd dremel the edge of the shield. Not putting it all the way in the down position works "goodenuff". Alternatively, I could buy some washers at the hardware store that are thinner than the skyway spacers and thereby raise the angle of the shield a bit -- but I like the airflow the way it is.

End of Hijack

 

[dasadab]

I just spoke with Rifle. The angle optimizers WILL fit a '09 bike. I spoke with Gary, who was super helpful, he mentioned I could come by Atascadero and check it out. I may just do that.

 

[Fairlaner]

Looking at the rifle diagram it looks like it will work. I may have to head up there with you to check them out.

or I may try and get Mr Carver to stop by and pick one up for me.

R

 

[Fairlaner]

Ok i just spoke with Gary and what you forgot to mention is that it ONLY works with Rifle shield.......

R

 

[dasadab]

That's true. The hole alignment will be different. Sorry about not mentioning that.