Great story. I love the fact that you were paying a premium price (which includes a lot of engineering) and didn't believe the engineers when they made their recommendation. I guess we all know what's best for our bikes... until we don't. Stay safe, enjoy the ride!

 

"I love the fact that you were paying a premium price (which includes a lot of engineering) and didn't believe the engineers when they made their recommendation. I guess we all know what's best for our bikes... until we don't."

Ha!. Ain't that the truth!

 

Sounds like a great place to buy from

 

Had a 22” on mine


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I've been a customer of theirs several times over, and I'm sure I will again! They are only 25 minutes from me which is great for me. I highly recommend them as well.

 

Hi all,

After going back and forth I finally bought and installed the Madstad windshield. I have a question, which I will get to.

First let me say this - I have the cafe version of the KVS, and I took the cafe windscreen off last week in preparation for installing the Madstad. I rode it around a bit and was a little surprised to find that I actually prefer the bike w/o the cafe screen from the perspective of wind. Even at highway speeds, without the cafe screen, the wind feels overall "smoother" to me. I also actually think I prefer the look of the bike w/o the cafe windscreen.

Ok so the reason I really want the Madstad is for more wind protection yes, but more importantly, protection from bugs/rocks/etc. We have a lot of little rocks constantly being kicked up on the highways around here in AZ, and I don't like taking them in the face even with a full face helmet. And I detest a visor covered with bugs especially when those freaking butterflies are hatching.

Anyhoo, I am 5'8" tall, 30" inseam. I got the 18" Madstad based on the recommendation on their website. It actually looks better than I thought it would on the bike. I have taken it out a couple of times, zipping up and down the highway and surface streets making adjustments, but I can't seem to get quite the right settings to get the buffeting off my helmet. Some settings create teeth-chattering buffeting, others are just a bit of shaky vision. None are completely smooth like what I get with my Versys X 300. I'll contiue to play with the settings on this one but I'm afraid this buffeting might give me headaches after hours of riding. For the record I can ride the bike naked or with the cafe screen for unlimited amount of time as what buffeting there is hits below the helmet. But those bugs... ugh.

Do you think a 20" shield would provide any better modulation of the buffeting, or is it just something that comes with the design of this windshield? OP went from shorter than recommended to the recommended height with good results, but I am talking about going from recommended height to higher than recommended. Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

Do you think a 20" shield would provide any better modulation of the buffeting, or is it just something that comes with the design of this windshield? OP went from shorter than recommended to the recommended height with good results, but I am talking about going from recommended height to higher than recommended. Thoughts?

Thanks!

I'm about the same height as you, and I had similar experience with the 18". Buffeting is much reduced, if not completely eliminated, with the 20". Our height is right at the break-point between recommended heights of 18" and 20" and I tend to sit up pretty straight when I'm riding. I think that combination is why they suggested I go with the taller windshield.

The height and angle of the windshields are adjustable and I've got my 20" adjusted to be about 1/4" above the lower adjustment limit. The angle is about 60 degrees. I can still see the road in front of me over the windshield as R.B. suggested. You can raise the 18" up to that same level, but what I learned from Madstad is that you can have too much of a gap between the windshield and the headlight/speedometer cluster. Too large of a gap will allow too much air under the windshield at high speeds, which then disturbs the laminar air flow at the top of the windshield. (Too much or too little angle can do the same thing.) That disturbance results in the buffeting that I felt (and probably what you're experiencing).

"Some settings create teeth-chattering buffeting, others are just a bit of shaky vision." - I know exactly what you mean. Before I made the switch, I tried several different height/angle combinations on the 18" but still had buffeting at highway speeds - particularly when riding into a headwind. However, the 20" eliminated all of that for me except on very windy days when there is some slight buffeting.

I hope this information helps. Once I got the right size, I've been very happy with it. I got the light gray color and it looks good on the bike too.

Oh, and by the way, if any one wants an 18" Madstad windshield sans mounting hardware for their Vulcan S, let me know. I've got an extra.

 

I’ll start by saying I have never owned a madstad and I am assuming that it is buffeting you more than bouncing the front end of the bike around. Take it to a big parking lot and set something on the line of a parking space (a cone, a wife or girlfriend, etc.) now back away 50’ (about 6 parking spaces) and look at the stranded girlfriend 50’ away. Are you seeing her upper half looking over the windshield? All of her plus space in front of her looking over the windshield? All of her thru the windshield? Usually…you want to see just her upper half over the windshield and her bottom section thru the windshield. Although if the windshield line was at her ankles this would still be ok.
Another good way is sit straight on the bike as naturally as you can while sitting still and holding it up, lol. Have that same girlfriend stand directly in front of you about 6’ and squat so she is looking at your nose straight on. Is the tip of the windshield even with the tip of your nose or your chin? I am betting it is even with your chin or lower. Ideally it would be even with the tip of your nose while maintaining the same angle or just slightly less as your forks.

 

Thanks to you both, RB32504 and cking363. Good info and ideas.

I couldn't get either the wife or girlfriend to go to an empty parking lot with me for some odd reason... but I think I get what you are saying, and doing a lonely man's imitation (NOT a blow up doll, I swear), I think I have the setting in the right position, just still getting the buffeting. I compared the basic set up/view with my Versys (20" Puig Touring) and the viewpoint is almost exactly the same.

Hmm. Thinking I may need to bite the bullet and get a 20".

 

I would have liked to try them since they are closer to me than any of the others; but evidently they have an aversion to Vulcan 900’s. Since I have the factory LT brackets…I just needed the shield only but am now waiting god knows how long on Rifle in Ca.

 

I still have it, boxed and ready to go.

 

doubt it's still available but interested if so.

 

So I just admitted defeat to the wind and ordered a Madstad 20" shield. Based on my height I might have wanted the 18", but with so many trading the 18" for the 20", I figured I would just start there. I just got the credit on my Visa card for the Mustang seat return, so I was only into it for an additional $100 or so...See how I justified that? I don't understand why my wife doesn't agree.

 

See how I justified that? I don't understand why my wife doesn't agree.

I am constantly showing my husband how I save money the same way. He also does not understand .

cking363 -
I'm unsure of the height I need now as I'm only 5'2, but man that wind is pouring over my little Puig touring screen like crazy. Will check my needs on the next few rides and see about securing mounting hardware. Thanks for responding.

 

I know I posted a while ago that I was going to switch to the 20", but I ended up keeping the 18", it just took some fine tuning, and I'm super happy with it.

 

I have the madstad 22" being in Australia I figured it would be easier to cut it down a little if necessary than try to return for another one. I find it's a fraction tall depending on how upright I'm sitting. (I'm 6ft.) Sometimes I think about getting it cut down about 2" but have decided it's not worth it living in a rural area. Pretty much all my riding is done on highways and all the bugs that hit it especially high up saves a lot of gunk on the visor or getting throat punched by a grasshopper at high speed..... also stopped almost all the buffeting when a truck comes the other way.
The only issue I've had with the windscreen was that on a ride it pulled the nuts through the brackets and I almost got decapitated. Replaced the little nuts they supply with large washers and lock nuts and haven't had an issue since. I love the amount of adjustability of the madstad system. I have the light smoke windscreen, I don't ride much at night but can easily duck down behind the windscreen and cut some of the glare from headlights.

 

So Aussie. Casually says only issue is I was almost decapitated. Do you have any pics? Every winter I think about getting a screen. If you think about buying a smaller one I could buy yours.

 

G'day Shane, sorry mate don't have any pics of nearly being decapitated. Was kinda busy at the time.....
When the first factory nut pulled through at 100kph (60mph), I was like, huh what was that? When the 2nd pulled through I realised what was happening. The 3rd had popped through before I could bring the bike to a stop on the highway. I'm not really happy with the rubber o-rings I used. And I've since got some plastic washers that I will fit soon. Took a few photos of the current set-up I've got which is 316 grade stainless screws, washers and locknuts.

 

There's rubber o rings under the metal washers atm. But will get some larger rubber washers🫣
Yep lock nuts aren't too tight. I've used them quite a few times over the years, but appreciate the input 👍 😊

 

I made my own washers, I have a sheet of EDM rubber. I use to work for a wholesale plastics dealer. I made my own windshield based off the factory Kawasaki one and a Harley I used to have.

 

I have an old bicycle tube, I was actually thinking of using that. Cut into circles and glue onto the stainless washers....