windshields make your riding more comfortable and safer.
Windbender Care
Windbenders are made from the hardest cell-cast acrylic available. While they don't scratch easily, care should be taken when cleaning. Our favorite is Honda Spray Polish, but Plexus or any other non-ammonia-based cleaner designed for plastic and a soft cotton cloth will work fine. Micro-fiber towels work great, but they can trap grit, so make sure they are clean if you use them.
Let your cleaner soften the bugs before you wipe them.
Removing the top shield is as easy as pulling a grenade pin, so that you can detail the back of the top shield too. If you want to set it down, make sure to lay it on a clean soft cloth.
We suggest occasionally cleaning the adjustment rail slide area too; especially if you have the electric option.
Got Scratches?
Use these steps to polish your shield.
- Clean it as described above.
- Put a buffing wheel or foam pad polisher in your drill motor. Sprinkle a drop or two of Meguiar's #17, or PlastX®, on the scratch and polish it with the drill motor at high speed.
- If the Meguiar's #17 didn't do it, you can try Meguiar's #10, then use Meguiar's #17.
- Meguiar's didn't do it? Use a piece of wet 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper and see if you can smooth out the scratch or ding. If you can sand the scratch out the surface will be completely milky where you sanded. Smear some of that Meguiar's #17 on the milky area and use the buffing wheel until the shield shines.
- If your 2000 grit sandpaper didn't get the scratch or ding out, use progressively coarser wet/dry sandpaper, sand the scratch out then repeat step 4 with progressively finer sandpaper.
Restoring a Windbender
The use of a 3M 39008 Headlight Lens Restoration System will help you restore your Windbender to LIKE-NEW condition. We use this system in-house in conjunction with Meguiar's #17 Plastic Polish rather then the included compound.
Adjust Height for Changing Conditions
Quickly making vertical adjustments is easy. You can set your shield at the optimal height for any condition. Improve your ability to identify hazards by keeping your Windbender as low as comfortably possible. Raise it for extended riding at higher speeds. Best visibility at touring speeds is obtained with your Windbender set only high enough so air flows comfortably over your head. Conversely, it’s nice to be able to set your shield low enough to feel some air when speeds are slow or when the scenery is outstanding.
The Best Ride in the Rain You’ll Ever Have!
We like to size top shields so they can be set low enough to allow a light breeze at forehead level. This will be nice when you want a little cool air and when riding in the rain. Keeping a coat of paste-wax on your face shield will cause rain to bead-up and run off with a light breeze. Your HP will need to be at least 6" below your line-of-sight and any ST will need to be almost 4" below your line-of-sight for this to be effective. Windbender windshields increase safety with better visibility, but to keep you safe we have . . .
Two Safety Warnings
Eye Protection is Strongly Recommended!
Even though it's entirely possible to experience very calm conditions while looking over the top of a Windbender, small heavy objects like gravel or hard shell bugs can penetrate the laminar wind layer and cause eye injury.
Attempting to Adjust Your Top-Shield While Riding is NOT Recommended!
You may feel capable, but if the top shield slips out of your hand you could lose control of your motorcycle or do damage to another vehicle or person. If you want to move your shield while underway, consider our electric option. Top-shields look really neat when they're flying forty feet in the air. Not so much when they hit the ground or an innocent bystander.
Likewise, make sure your top shield is secured with its hardware before riding.