Warped Cee Bailey windshield - K1200LT

[st2en]

I wanted to share my experience with Cee Bailey (CB) windshields (w/s) with you so that you may avoid similar experiences as I have gone through.

I had ordered the standard-shape w/s in the +2 inches length. My first impression when I received the w/s was positive, but once it was installed on the bike, I noticed that it was not symmetrical. The left side, when seen from the riders point of view, was drooping.

I wrote to CB about this and CB replied that my w/s had probably been taken off the mould too early, but found to be ok after quality control.

I therefore took the w/s off the bike so I could take a couple of photos (attached) and send them to CB and ask for a replacement, which CB agreed to after seeing the photos.

The replacement w/s arrived relatively quickly. And, lo and behold, it is warped in the same way as the one I initially received. This leads me to conclude that the mould CB is using, is out of whack...

I have written about this to CB but don't expect that there is anything more they can do if the mould is, indeed, out of whack.

Although CB's product is around half the price of BMW's, it is disappointing no less that the w/s is not symmetrical.

Ride safely
Steen Puggaard
Singapore

[messenger13]

All you can ask out of a company is good customer service. And unless I'm missing something here, CB is trying to provide that to you. I doubt highly that their mold is "out of whack". They probably just had a bad run and you (unfortunately) received two of them. Yes...that sucks. But I wouldn't say it's the end of the world just yet. I think you have to give CB one more chance to make it right. Then you can rant and rave all you want to. :)

[bruce2000ltc]

All you can ask out of a company is good customer service. And unless I'm missing something here, CB is trying to provide that to you. I doubt highly that their mold is "out of whack". They probably just had a bad run and you (unfortunately) received two of them. Yes...that sucks. But I wouldn't say it's the end of the world just yet. I think you have to give CB one more chance to make it right. Then you can rant and rave all you want to. :)
No, all you can ask of a company is to supply you their product as advertised. Mistakes happen, and occasionally a defective product gets sent out -- but not every time. My personal experience, that of my friends and the many posts on this site demonstrate that it takes two or three shields before your receive one that is acceptable.
I think the pattern is clear -- they send shields they know are defective and hope you won't notice or care.

Bruce Hodges

[hschisler]

Wow, that's pretty warped (no pun intended). I'll be taking a closer second look at my just-received #2 w/wings, with this in mind. I was looking for distortion, asymmetrical or otherwise, not warping.

Thanks.

[messenger13]

When I bought my shield, 35 of us placed an order at the same time. I only recall 1, maybe two shields having an issue. That certainly doesn't sound like "the majority".

Yes...I think CB should reevaluate their quality-control process. But I do know that their customer service is VERY good.

I don't mean to sound so argumentative. I just don't think we should be throwing out the baby with the bath water. IMHO, CB makes the best shield for the LT. It just seems sometimes that a few have to jump through some hoops to get "the perfect shield". In a perfect world, this wouldn't happen. But that's not where we live.

[RideIt]

I am going to have to give CB the benefit of doubt. I have had their windshields on 3 different bikes and have been please with shields and their service. Hang it there and I feel as though you will be satisfied in the end or at least I hope you will be. Keep us posted.
Leon
05 Blue LT

[Bob204bc]

My personal experience, that of my friends and the many posts on this site demonstrate that it takes two or three shields before your receive one that is acceptable.
I think the pattern is clear -- they send shields they know are defective and hope you won't notice or care.

Bruce Hodges

I think that's a bit harsh. I received a fine windshield from Cee Bailey as have many here who read the posts on this site. This situation has been damned inconvenient for you, without a doubt, but I really believe that Cee Baileys will make it right

Good Luck.

[Rush1517]

No, all you can ask of a company is to supply you their product as advertised. Mistakes happen, and occasionally a defective product gets sent out -- but not every time. My personal experience, that of my friends and the many posts on this site demonstrate that it takes two or three shields before your receive one that is acceptable.
I think the pattern is clear -- they send shields they know are defective and hope you won't notice or care.

Bruce Hodges

If it takes five or more tries, it's definetly worth it. The Cee Bailey windshield is far superior to anything else out there. BMW should really take note and start making them OEM.

[bruce2000ltc]

If it takes five or more tries, it's definetly worth it. The Cee Bailey windshield is far superior to anything else out there. BMW should really take note and start making them OEM.
Hey Guys, I'm not knocking their windshields, I had one on my 00LT and loved it. I may roll-the-dice and get one for my 05. It's their quality control (or lack of it) I'm questioning. They obviously have never heard of Six Sigma or ISO 9001.
I commend their customer service efforts -- it's the reason I still recommend them, but with the aforementioned caveat.
Maybe the problem does lie with BMW. They make such a crummy shield that we're so thrilled when we receive a clear one that we overlook it's flaws and the trouble it took to get it.

Bruce Hodges

[lovetomotor]

All you can ask out of a company is good customer service. And unless I'm missing something here, CB is trying to provide that to you. I doubt highly that their mold is "out of whack". They probably just had a bad run and you (unfortunately) received two of them. Yes...that sucks. But I wouldn't say it's the end of the world just yet. I think you have to give CB one more chance to make it right. Then you can rant and rave all you want to. :)

Joe,
Just curious; Do you feel the same about Bridgestone tires?

[messenger13]

Joe,
Just curious; Do you feel the same about Bridgestone tires?Bridgestone denied my claim against their tire that failed.

But let's look at this from another angle, shall we?

It's VERY hard for me to separate the safety issue of a (almost NEW) tire failing at 70mph . . . versus a warped windshield. Now if one was to mount a CB windshield, and at 70mph the thing started breaking apart, I might be singing a little different tune.

See my point?

[lovetomotor]

Bridgestone denied my claim against their tire that failed.

But let's look at this from another angle, shall we?

It's VERY hard for me to separate the safety issue of a (almost NEW) tire failing at 70mph . . . versus a warped windshield. Now if one was to mount a CB windshield, and at 70mph the thing started breaking apart, I might be singing a little different tune.

See my point?

So, Not just trying to 'draw you out', but curious if Bridgestone's customer service was responsive and did they replace your tire without a struggle? I'm still in the Bridgestone camp and have yet to experience a failure.

[lovetomotor]

So, Not just trying to 'draw you out', but curious if Bridgestone's customer service was responsive and did they replace your tire without a struggle? I'm still in the Bridgestone camp and have yet to experience a failure.

Oh, guess I didn't read your Whole post. So they didn't even replace the tire huh?

[messenger13]

Keeping in mind that I was dealing with a dealer that didn't have much interest in going to bat for me . . . but they said Bridgestone was giving them the run-around so I just dropped it.

Please let me add that I have two BRAND NEW Bridgestones ready to be mounted to my Ninja. I just don't think that the B'Stone Radial can take the weight of the LT under certain conditions. A risk I'm not prepared to take.

[RonKMiller]

If it takes five or more tries, it's definetly worth it. The Cee Bailey windshield is far superior to anything else out there. BMW should really take note and start making them OEM.

Rant mode ON.

Why anyone would buy a windshield that is 20 times less impact resistant than OEM polycarbonate?

Jeez Rush - you really are WAY off base here - far superior? Maybe incrementally better in visibility and air management. (I've owned two CB's... but ever since once I pounded on one clamped in a vise with a 5 lb. hammer and had it literally explode into sharp knife like shards...)

Acrylic windshields are designed to be solidly encased in a metal frame - not bolted on to four tiny mounting points and have holes drilled through them. They are a small fraction of the cost for raw materials - and simple to manufacture - compared to polycarbonate which requires sophisticated and extremely expensive steel molds. They are a commodity product and not worthy of BMW engineering standards.

There are no Federal safety standards for motorcycle windshields. :crazy:

So there you have it - IMHO - a simple matter of a company providing vastly inferior and potentially dangerous products for - you guessed it: PROFIT, at the expense of their customer's safety. :mad:

Rant mode OFF. ;)

[meese]

Nah, that's the new Cee Bailey #1.5 windshield. For winter riding, just lean to the right. For summer, lean to the left. Simple, really. :)

Sorry that it's taking several tries to get it right. I agree their quality control and pre-shipment inspections could be a bit better.

As for those other claims, I don't have a vise on my LT, nor a 5-Lb. hammer. So no problem there. :)

[motorman587]

[QUOTE=st2en]I wanted to share my experience with Cee Bailey (CB) windshields (w/s) with you so that you may avoid similar experiences as I have gone through.

I had ordered the standard-shape w/s in the +2 inches length. My first impression when I received the w/s was positive, but once it was installed on the bike, I noticed that it was not symmetrical. The left side, when seen from the riders point of view, was drooping.

I wrote to CB about this and CB replied that my w/s had probably been taken off the mould too early, but found to be ok after quality control.

I therefore took the w/s off the bike so I could take a couple of photos (attached) and send them to CB and ask for a replacement, which CB agreed to after seeing the photos.

The replacement w/s arrived relatively quickly. And, lo and behold, it is warped in the same way as the one I initially received. This leads me to conclude that the mould CB is using, is out of whack...

I have written about this to CB but don't expect that there is anything more they can do if the mould is, indeed, out of whack.

Although CB's product is around half the price of BMW's, it is disappointing no less that the w/s is not symmetrical.

Ride safely
Steen Puggaard
Singapore[/QUOTE

I had one too, and the customer service sucked. I had the non-english speaking guy. "What do you mean, windshield warped'? Yup, I said, windshield sucks. Had to go through 3 different people and tell the same story before I was told to return it. Then I heard a story about them holding the money for months, but that was not the case for me.

[messenger13]

Rant mode ON.

Why anyone would buy a windshield that is 20 times less impact resistant than OEM polycarbonate?I CRASHED THROUGH AN OEM POLYCARBONATE SHIELD IN 1995! I'M NOT IMPRESSED!!!

Besides...show me ONE report of a rider getting hurt because he/she had an aftermarket shield. Just one Ron. Good luck with that.


Oh...and...your seats stay WET after it rains. OEM does not. SO your seat is 20 times LESS water resistant! So there! :D

[STYLNLT]

First off, Thanks for posting this information. I cracked my last w/s back in Sept/05 (long story, some other time). I'm currently borrowing a friends stock w/s, and do plan on getting another CB, simply because they are thicker and don't wabble as much in heavy winds, as does the stock BMW w/s.

Fortunatley I live here in Long Beach, CA. and will be picking up the windshield direct from the MFG.

I will now be more aware of the recent flaws when I goto pick up my replacement.

As for the customer service, I've heard both good and bad. If I get the opportunity to speak with the owner or GM, I'll definately pass along to them about the problems. Hopefully, they will take a postive interest towards getting things resolved.

[st2en]

LBOCEAN,

That's the beauty and purpose of a community as this. That we can share experiences and hopefully also "help" suppliers, workshops, etc., provide better QC and customer service.

Good luck with your windshield.

Steen

[BushWacker]

I do question the method of measurement that you used only because you have it sitting on a flat surface with the sides of the windshield and this is not the way the windshield mounts to the bike.

With this method should one of the sides be just slightly longer than the other side it would appear warped or more exagerated.

I suggest mounting it to the motorcycle or somehow suspending it from the center of the windshield and remeasure.

Should one side be just slightly longer than the other side I doubt it would make any difference when riding.

I make no claim as to whether CB is the Best or not but it is a good product for the price and their customer service has been good for me.

[RonKMiller]

I CRASHED THROUGH AN OEM POLYCARBONATE SHIELD IN 1995! I'M NOT IMPRESSED!!!

Besides...show me ONE report of a rider getting hurt because he/she had an aftermarket shield. Just one Ron. Good luck with that.


Oh...and...your seats stay WET after it rains. OEM does not. SO your seat is 20 times LESS water resistant! So there! :D

Joey - you just don't get it... :(

Your OEM polycarbonate windshield is not designed to keep you from crashing through it. It is designed to keep objects like a 1 lb. rock lodged between the tires of an 18 wheeler - and ejected at speeds up to 300 mph - from smashing you in the face.

The Makrolon 2677 polycarbonate (made by Bayer AG - not GE's Lexan that everybody calls it) used by BMW in their OEM windshields is DESIGNED to keep you from coming into contact with that rock. There is a design specification known as Charpy Impact strength that specifies this. Without going into details, commodity acrylic has 20 times less impact resistance. Period. I guess you'll just have to take my word for it... but since you obviously are an expert at impact resistance of polycarbonate vs. acrylic you already know this.

Which material do you really want between you and that rock? As you are so fond of saying: "The proof is in the pudding". :rolleyes:

I'll make sure I dig out every ER report from motorcycle crashes that note that the rider died or suffered severe injuries from a piece of razor sharp acrylic plastic stuck up his ass. ...which is where you should put your megalomaniac, condescending and insulting attitude that everyone on this site talks about behind your back. Me? I don't have a problem letting you know up front. I'm that kinda' guy.

BTW: no question our seats stay wet after a soaker - for about half an hour. They key thing here is that the FOAM deep inside can NEVER get wet - and mold and mildew like all other aftermarket brands with needle holes in the vinyl ...and take WEEKS to dry out.

But since you don't have any first hand personal experience with one of our seats - how the hell would you know?
Wait - I know: you heard it on the Internet! :alien: :abduct:

[messenger13]

Boy o Boy . . . you told me Ron!