Windshield Rubber?

[BwanaDik]

When I put my windshield up these days, a rubber gasket looking thing comes out of the bracket slider holes and flaps around in the breeze. It's apparently broken/torn but I can't see what it actually does down inside the fairing.

Can I just cut it off or do I need to replace it? To do so I have to remove the nose so it's no small job. The bike is six years old now, is it a good idea to clean and lube the Rube Goldberg lift mechinism anyway?

 

[mcatrophy]

When I put my windshield up these days, a rubber gasket looking thing comes out of the bracket slider holes and flaps around in the breeze. It's apparently broken/torn but I can't see what it actually does down inside the fairing.

Can I just cut it off or do I need to replace it? To do so I have to remove the nose so it's no small job. The bike is six years old now, is it a good idea to clean and lube the Rube Goldberg lift mechinism anyway?

You can cut it off, all it does is reduce the amount of crud and water that gets in.

On my '06 it started to come away, I finally pulled it right off during a front fairing removal when one of the loose dangly bits caught on something.

(Click on image for larger view)



The original was stuck on with double-sided adhesive tape of some sort which remained stuck to the fairing, but was coming away from the rubber. I left that in place, and glued the rubber to the original tape.

Because I had the front off anyway, I re-stuck mine with some adhesive, I can't remember what I used, but it lasted at least for the year up until I changed my '06 for a '10.

 

[Harald]

I'm guessing it's there to reduce the amount of crud getting to the windshield mechanism, but it won't stop all of the crud. There's been reports of the rubber coming loose and binding up the works. Mine came loose also while on the road, so I just ripped it out to avoid a binding problem. I have YES coverage until the end of August, so I may see about getting it fixed under warranty but won't lose any sleep if they refuse.

 

[BkrK12]

Mine came unglued and got in the way a couple of years ago. I cut it free and have been riding that way ever since.