Years ago, I purchased a used '74 Honda CB 550 in absolutely mint condition. It just happened to have a windshield installed on it, a first for me in my riding career up until that time. She looked just like this:





Well, wanting to see what the 4 cylinder mill could do on the open road, as soon as I left the seller's place, I had to take get on a very beautiful and wide open stretch of I-80, so I decided c rack it pretty good. As I merged onto the highway I spun it up and upon hitting top gear at about 70 mph, i threw care to the wind and went WOT.

Needless to say, I had given no thought at all to the aerodynamics of having that big transparent sail attached to the handlebars and at about 85 mph the dammed shield put me into a wild wobble, a shyte-your-shorts shimmy, in other words, a virtual tank-slapper, again the first of my riding career up to that point.

Instinctively, I chopped the throttle and held on for dear life. Quickly, my new ride was back under control and just as quickly I pulled of the road and onto the shoulder, dismounted and waited until I stopped trembling due to what I was certain was a near-death experience.

From that day on, I never took that Honda over 80 mph, figuring that it was a built in non-mechanical governor and probably the best safety feature available in its day!
 
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NO $HIT??
(regarding the shield removal)
Yes Bull, my 2014 R3T owners manual tells me to remove both the screen and the fog lights before riding above 85MPH. Not sure if that is for areodynamics or they are worried the stuff will come off.
 
Thoubring mou were tongue in cheek. I AM close to 3000 miles from the east coast. Actually am looking for a 2013 or 2014. I am probably just going to suck it up and go to a dealer for a new one.
So, thank you, but no, thank you.

If you do come over here to buy TC's bike can you bring me some Krispy Kreme's? (not jam one's though - or is that what you folks call jelly?)...and don't worry about the vagueries of each model year, they're all just cosmetic variations on the theme - a rose by any other name blah blah blah...

Oh, welcome home :D
 
theres a few of you in Arizona any have a suggestion for dealers for service work im still looking for kyle/adam at two guys? fron azsuperbike
 
Yes Bull, my 2014 R3T owners manual tells me to remove both the screen and the fog lights before riding above 85MPH. Not sure if that is for areodynamics or they are worried the stuff will come off.


I got a large screen from a harley on mine and have done a few runs 120+mph and have never seen any handling problems or anything else for that matter. It would be interesting to know why they say that.
i had that screen on a sportster top speed was 85mph.
 
Yes Bull, my 2014 R3T owners manual tells me to remove both the screen and the fog lights before riding above 85MPH. Not sure if that is for areodynamics or they are worried the stuff will come off.

I had the death wobble on my R3T between 95-105mph with the screen and no wobble without screen... One of the reasons why I got rid of it...
 
I had the death wobble on my R3T between 95-105mph with the screen and no wobble without screen... One of the reasons why I got rid of it...
Head, I haven't had the death wobble at all yet and I have had mine up to 105 one up, (by accident of course) and 95 two up (that was really by accident and don't you dare tell her she will freak out). No worries with my shield but I don't usually go above 85 due to some law about reckless driving or something other...
 
Very strange indeed. Perhaps something to do with extra weight on rear with panniers-but that makes no sense as we put bag on Roadsters.
Really would be interesting to know why a RT and not an R3R?
 
Any time you hang a big flat piece of plastic on the forks you're asking for trouble. I think it really depends on a number of conditions. Crosswinds, condition of tires and suspension, and the condition of the road all factor into whether or not she'll wobble. I've had the wobble set in at around 110 or so a couple of times and other times I've hit those speeds with no wobble at all. Nothing like a tank slapper, but a noticeable weave that quickly diminishes with a reduction of speed. The combination of the windshield and the bags don't make for a very aerodynamic package.
 
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