New CalSci Extra Wide GTL shield review

[Moleculo]

You may have seen the review I wrote earlier about the California Scientific windshield for the K1600 GTL: California Scientific GTL windshield review

One of the comments I made in that review was that I would like to see an ultimate protection shield for winter use. I eventually decided to contact CalSci to see if there were plans to make one and Mark told me they would do it. After exchanging a few emails and doing some mock testing with cardboard attached to the existing CalSci shield, CalSci sent me an XW shield to try out.

Here are a few pictures of the shield on my bike:






You can see that the shield is several inches wider than the other versions and the sides extend down quite a bit farther. This extra width and length makes a big difference! This shield has nearly eliminated all of the wind on my upper arms and shoulders. You still get wind on your hands and lower arms, but that is an area that a windshield just can't help with on this bike. This shield has all of the same performance characteristics that I noted in my previous review: No buffeting or back pressure and a nice pocket of quiet wind protection.

I do notice with the larger shield that a tiny bit of "twitchyness" has returned to the handling of the bike at higher speeds (80mph), but it's nothing to be concerned about. It appears that the aerodynamic characteristics of the bike prefers the other sizes of shields from CalSci for ultimate stability, but the large shield may be preferred by those wanting an ultimate protection shield for touring or winter.

I will probably put the standard size CalSci shield back on in the spring, but for now I'm still enjoying riding home from work on those nights when the air temperature is 45 degrees and the wind-chill factor at 80mph is 30 degrees. I love this shield!

[pasquenell]

Thanks for the review I just ordered a xw today

[katnapinn]

Dang & I just ordered the Tall shield today.

[DanDiver]

Does it contact the plastic plate just below the hole? My standard one does and the only way to clean it is to remove it from the bike. A royal PITA !!!!

[Moleculo]

Originally Posted by DanDiver

Does it contact the plastic plate just below the hole? My standard one does and the only way to clean it is to remove it from the bike. A royal PITA !!!!

Do you mean does the windshield hole overlap the plate? Neither one of the CalSci shields I have do that. The vent is just above the plate.

[sButz]

How is the protection for the passenger? Wondering which windshield offers better protection, extra wide or the XXL tall?


Sent from my Motorcycle iPad app

[Moleculo]

Originally Posted by sButz

How is the protection for the passenger? Wondering which windshield offers better protection, extra wide or the XXL tall?


Sent from my Motorcycle iPad app

My wife says that both shields are fine for her. I'll have to set up a test where we ride with one then swap the shield and ride with the other to see if she notices much difference.

[Chopperguy]

This looks even more like what I was looking for in weather protection for spring and fall riding.

Guess my mounted and riddin one time for a short distance XL Touring will be for sale soon.

Thanks a lot for the review. Now I just spent more $$$$

[bbolesaz]

OK, now if I can get that about 9-12" longer, I might finally have something that approaches the comfort level of my GL1200A with Tulsa Windshield.

And before you freak about that length, you have to realize that there is a fundamental problem with the Beemer windshield adjustment. Whenever the height is raised, the angle to the wind is also raised. It's that "vertical" profile that causes all of the side turbulence.

Any windshield on this bike will work vastly better if the adjustment is always kept to the lowest setting.

This minimizes the wind angle and promotes the smoothest airflow over the bike. Also, helps with that "twitchy" issue.

So, the best windshield would be one that you might never consider "raising", hence what we really need is a super long shield.

[iride4u]

Originally Posted by bbolesaz

OK, now if I can get that about 9-12" longer, I might finally have something that approaches the comfort level of my GL1200A with Tulsa Windshield.

And before you freak about that length, you have to realize that there is a fundamental problem with the Beemer windshield adjustment. Whenever the height is raised, the angle to the wind is also raised. It's that "vertical" profile that causes all of the side turbulence.

Any windshield on this bike will work vastly better if the adjustment is always kept to the lowest setting.

This minimizes the wind angle and promotes the smoothest airflow over the bike. Also, helps with that "twitchy" issue.

So, the best windshield would be one that you might never consider "raising", hence what we really need is a super long shield.

This is why I went with the V-Stream and not this windshield.