In the experimental stage but getting close to what i want?

[pcombe]

For some time I have been considering making deflector shields to cut wind drag and keep those infernal bugs off my fenders.

Here is what I made in the last few days.

The Plexiglas is heavy duty and concave rather than a flat piece and I made some really professional looking mounting brackets, The plexi could be painted if wanted to but for now I will keep them clear.

Maybe someday I will tell you what I made them out of?

I took it out for a spin and have some adjustment to make to completely throw the wind around my fender and keep the bugs off but I will tell you the immediate difference was felt in wind drag. Kind of like I got another 10 horsepower.

I don't know yet how it will affect gas mileage, The trike was steady at highway and interstate speed and it cut down on wind buffet. A side wind didn't affect me as much as usual, so I'm gonna keep playing with it.

When I got back from my ride I had to wash three bugs off the fender and many more off the shield.

[rhino 2]

For some time I have been considering making deflector shields to cut wind drag and keep those infernal bugs off my fenders.

Here is what I made in the last few days.

The Plexiglas is heavy duty and concave rather than a flat piece and I made some really professional looking mounting brackets, The plexi could be painted if wanted to but for now I will keep them clear.

Maybe someday I will tell you what I made them out of?

I took it out for a spin and have some adjustment to make to completely throw the wind around my fender and keep the bugs off but I will tell you the immediate difference was felt in wind drag. Kind of like I got another 10 horsepower.

I don't know yet how it will affect gas mileage, The trike was steady at highway and interstate speed and it cut down on wind buffet. A side wind didn't affect me as much as usual, so I'm gonna keep playing with it.

When I got back from my ride I had to wash three bugs off the fender and many more off the shield.

Don't know about the bugs....But they look like they just might keep your knees from freezing in the winter....

[David357]

Nice looking.

[peteg59]

It feels rewarding to me when I make/fab something AND it truly works!

Hopefully it gives you the same pleasure.

I won't give away your "newly fabbed" parts previous configuration/accessory Paul, but I'll say with 99.9% certainty that it was once "one".

I've never tried so I'm not sure how well Lexan covers, but painting on the leeward, (not windward), side might work...?

Your new deflectors look good as is to me, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

Not to hijack the thread, but did you ever find the exhaust you were looking for?

[alienwulf]

I would say they are cut from windshield and brackets..look good, there was some thought put into those.

[pcombe]

It feels rewarding to me when I make/fab something AND it truly works!

Hopefully it gives you the same pleasure.

I won't give away your "newly fabbed" parts previous configuration/accessory Paul, but I'll say with 99.9% certainty that it was once "one".

I've never tried so I'm not sure how well Lexan covers, but painting on the leeward, (not windward), side might work...?

Your new deflectors look good as is to me, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

Not to hijack the thread, but did you ever find the exhaust you were looking for?

You may very well have figured it out, and the amazing thing it looks factory made.

You just watch, some one will be selling them before long. I should patent huh?

You can paint these if you clean it really well with alcohol swabs and don't touch it with bare hands, If you do finger prints show up and oil on the skin may eventually cause paint to peel.

I have seen people do it and it lasts for years.

No I haven't yet found the pipes, I may take them off and weld them.

The have a chrome heat shield over them so it would never be seen until I could pick up a set of pipes.

As you know everyone is really proud of exhaust pipes, even used ones. Its difficult being on a fixed income because I cant just go work some more to get immediate gratification and I refuse to cut a corner that makes a difference so I would have to save and save?

[alienwulf]

Novus works great for cleaning shields up. comes in #3 for deep scratch's 2 for light and 1 for polish and protect. I carry it around in the trike takes bug guts off and shines the shield. Cheap on Amazon.

[ol' school]

Looks good Paul! And you are right, they do look factory made. Awesome job! Glad they worked the way you hoped they would!

[Texan]

Hummmmmm!!!!! Looks just like a softtail windshield I have hanging in my shop cut in 1/2.

8~\o

[DK Custom Products]

That is very cool! Nice work, and it looks like a definite plus for cold weather riding.

What has me really interested...even though there is extra wind resistance at your shields, it is reducing the wind resistance at the rear fenders enough to give a significant increase in felt power?

Yes, if I were you I would definitely look into patenting it...if it is possible.

Of course, the Chinese will knock off your patent and there is very little that can be done about it....we know that all to well.

Kevin

[dmillsr3]

I was thinking about something similar to block wind from blowing my feet off the foot boards.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Nice Job Paul ... Looking Good

[pcombe]

I would say they are cut from windshield and brackets..look good, there was some thought put into those.

Bingo, They were cut from a removable windshield, The brackets needed some minor retrofit but all in all it was just a matter of figuring it out.

[pcombe]

That is very cool! Nice work, and it looks like a definite plus for cold weather riding.

What has me really interested...even though there is extra wind resistance at your shields, it is reducing the wind resistance at the rear fenders enough to give a significant increase in felt power?

Yes, if I were you I would definitely look into patenting it...if it is possible.

Of course, the Chinese will knock off your patent and there is very little that can be done about it....we know that all to well.

Kevin

Patent it and give me a cut?

Maybe I can buy some new exhaust pipes before I kick the bucket?

Kevin, im not exaggerating when I talked of wind drag, I even noticed my tach running a might slower than normal at 60 mph.

Your a might wrong about added wind resistance, The Plexiglas is concave rather than flat and the way its tilted creates a slip stream rather than a barricade.

Im going to tip the edge out into the wind a little more to avoid the three bugs I washed off yesterday.

You will notice more bug spatter on the shield closest to barrow ditch.

If a big bug comes in from the side there isn't much you can do about that one except hope it hits the passengers legs? LOL

( I didn't say that, I plead the fifth )

[pcombe]

have been tweaking them and doing some adjustment. Here's a picture from the front.

They really don't stand out just looking at them? Took it out for a 50 mile run today.

[peteg59]

They do blend in with the frontal view of your trike really well, Paul.

I still they look good "Au~naturel", so to speak! (No paint needed...?)

Doing a patent is a good idea maybe, unless it costs too much?

[pcombe]

They do blend in with the frontal view of your trike really well, Paul.

I still they look good "Au~naturel", so to speak! (No paint needed...?)

Doing a patent is a good idea maybe, unless it costs too much?

Im really pleased with the way they work in the real world.

I seen somebody selling a windshield locally today for $100.00 but I guess I don't need two sets?

[pcombe]

They do blend in with the frontal view of your trike really well, Paul.

I still they look good "Au~naturel", so to speak! (No paint needed...?)

Doing a patent is a good idea maybe, unless it costs too much?

I suppose it wouldnt fly to patent when I used someone else's product anyway huh?

painting it might look like a bat cycle?

[peteg59]

I suppose it would fly to patent when I used someone else's product anyway huh?

I guess the question that needs answered for your new business endeavor going forward is: If you modify something already existing, for something totally "new" in its application, would that be patent infringement ...?

Did HD ever patent their windshields? Even if they did, so many years have passed that the patent is likely expired/void at this point in time.

I see a few aftermarket w/s manufacturers out there who copy the HD look fairly closely, & have been doing so for years with no repercussions.

Don't know the legalities, but that's what patent lawyers are out there for?

As far as painting it, perhaps you could use dark window tint, or that PlastiDip rubber paint that you can peel off later if you don't like it?

Lots of ways to dress up the look but again, if it was mine, I'd leave it as is...

[pcombe]

I guess the question that needs answered for your new business endeavor going forward is: If you modify something already existing, for something totally "new" in its application, would that be patent infringement ...?

Did HD ever patent their windshields? Even if they did, so many years have passed that the patent is likely expired/void at this point in time.

I see a few aftermarket w/s manufacturers out there who copy the HD look fairly closely, & have been doing so for years with no repercussions.

Don't know the legalities, but that's what patent lawyers are out there for?

As far as painting it, perhaps you could use dark window tint, or that PlastiDip rubber paint that you can peel off later if you don't like it?

Lots of ways to dress up the look but again, if it was mine, I'd leave it as is...

Im sold on leaving it unpainted, I have been kicking around getting a different set of clamps and switching sides, turning them upside down to see what that does?

As far as a new business endeavor I don't think I have enough time left to see it to fruition?

Someone else would have to do it and cut me in and I don't see to many Forest Gumps out there these days?

Ole Bubba's family got a big cut of the shrimping business.

To many days I don't feel well enough to pursue it on a full time basis, Hell it takes me half a day to move around! Full time employment doesn't interest me even a little bit.

If I were younger I would start a trike conversion business. I absolutely LOVE building trikes, To bad I discovered too late huh?

Weird how I type and everything comes out double spaced? Oh well.