1600 Nomad Replacement Windshield

[Plato]

I'm posting this to help anyone else who goes shopping for a replacement shield for your 1600 Nomad...

I ordered a replacement from Rifle http://www.rifle.com/stores/showdetl.cfm?&DID=9&Product_ID=2311&CATID=9&Produc t=Vulcan_Nomad_1500/1600__(Kawasaki)_Replacement_Windshield_('94_-_)

The shield they list as "stock height" for 1500/1600 Nomads is NOT the same height as what came stock on my 1600 Nomad. It ain't even close, the stock shield is clearly 2"+ taller than this replacement they sent me. So tommorrow I'll try to get the ball rolling on an exchange.

If you're wondering, the reason I wanted a replacement is because the stock shield is full of spider web scratches due to my sloppy cleaning techniques. And while I could polish those scratches out -the fact is I've never really liked the overall shape of the stock shield (prefer a retangular vs stock oval shape). Also the rifle shield is noticably thicker than stock. So I figured it was a good time to make the switch. ...But as with all great plans -there must be this measure of suffering and aggravation, as any of you know who've ever totally dissassembled a Nomad windshield

Overall this Rifle shield is a good looking quality product -BUT they need to fix that website because it ain't right on this. It may be that this shield they sent me IS the same height as a 1500 Nomad stock shield (I don't have a 1500 handy to compare), but it ain't even close to the height of my 1600 Nad shield.

[SilverEagle]

Too bad you didn't know about http://www.ceebaileys.com/kawasaki/vulcan1600ws.html

They are much more reasonable too...........this is what I have, and I could not be more satisfied.

[Plato]

AND ANOTHER THING... -He gets more POed everytime he thinks about it

Where in the &#%@$$(*&* do these manufacturers measure the shield height from anyway

Sitting here measuring from the high point of the headlight cutout to the top of the shield, this Rifle measures 18" exactly -not 18.5" as their website states.

The stock 1600 Nad shield when measured the same way comes in at exactly 21"

And neither measurement is terrible useful since the actual comparison height should be taken from one of the MOUNTING HOLES.

...Why must I always be burdened with this task of discovering the incompetence of others

[Plato]

Originally Posted by SilverEagle

Too bad you didn't know about http://www.ceebaileys.com/kawasaki/vulcan1600ws.html

They are much more reasonable too...........this is what I have, and I could not be more satisfied.

Unfortunately, I don't see the issue I'm dealing with addressed on that website either. I don't ride a 1600 Classic...

[SilverEagle]

Originally Posted by Plato

...Why must I always be burdened with this task of discovering the incompetence of others

I think this is something most of us struggle with on a daily basis unfortunately.

The windshield mounts are not the same between the Classics and the Nomad's

[Plato]

Originally Posted by SilverEagle

...The windshield mounts are not the same between the Classics and the Nomad's

I'd love to think they are, but this experience has taught me to assume they are not. I've never seen a Classic with a shield that looks like my 1600 Nomad -so even if the mounts where the same I doubt I could just order a replacement and get the same height...

I can at least confirm to the 1600 Nomad folks that if they order from Rifle the 20.5" shield offered on that website is gonna be the closest to the 1600 Nad stock shield. I actually think the 20.5" will still be a tad shorter, but it should be very close.

I'm now very curious to know the height of the 1500 Nomad stock shield. I suspect this accounts for the bad info on the Rifle website. Apparently the mounting holes for the stock shields are the same on the 1500 and 1600 Nomads, but the actual shield height is different. The only other explanation is that Rifle employs folks who can't operate a tape measure

[2WheelFun]

Plato...how about a shield with adjustable brackets?

[brother]

If I remember correctle Riffle give a measurment from the top of the shield to the top of the headlight cut out. That ceebailey sight is about $65 cheaper though.

[Plato]

Originally Posted by 2WheelFun

Plato...how about a shield with adjustable brackets?

Actually, the stock Nomad shield mounts with adjustable brackets (about 2"). So I gave that a try, but it just looked goofy. When you run the brackets to the highest settings with this Rifle shield it looks like a fat guy wearing a T-shirt 2 sizes to small

[Plato]

Originally Posted by brother

If I remember correctle Riffle give a measurment from the top of the shield to the top of the headlight cut out...

The problem with that measurement (as I only discovered after receiving the shield) -is that the headlight cutout is not the same from stock to aftermarket. The proper way to compare them would be the height from one of the shield's mounting holes.

Maybe you can see it in the following attachment, where I lined-up the mounting holes of each shield for comparison. If you look carefully you see the shorter fatter shield is the Rifle, but the stock shield goes lower in the headlight area and higher at the top. In fact the Rifle is even fatter than this pic shows because out of the box is has more curve to it -when mounted it extends almost an inch farther out to the sides than this pic shows.

[brother]

I almost ordered one the other night 2" taller because I am 6ft-2 -1/2 and have my stock one adjusted all the way up. So I guess I have to go 4" taller. I emailed that bailey to see if they have one for a Nomad before I make up my mind.

[Plato]

Originally Posted by brother

I almost ordered one the other night 2" taller because I am 6ft-2 -1/2 and have my stock one adjusted all the way up. So I guess I have to go 4" taller. I emailed that bailey to see if they have one for a Nomad before I make up my mind.

That price sounds great, just make em give you an exact measurement taken from one of the high center mounting holes. Then you can measure from the center of one of those mounting bolts to the top of your stock unit for comparison.

[Eurekaboy]

I had the same problem. I ordered a 2" taller windshield and the one I received was shorter than my factory shield. Rifle said they based their measurements on information they received from Kawasaki. They also told me they were going to stop advertising the sizes by factory height and going strictly by height above the headlight cut out. That was several months ago. I guess they haven't corrected themselves. To their credit, they sent the correct windshield quickly and paid for the pickup of the incorrect one.