CEE Bailey-How much distortion is normal?

[haji3]

I just got in a Cee Bailey windshield -2 with out wings. How much distortion is normal? Here is the best way I can describe it. If I but a yardstick vertically down the middle and make it touch the the top edge (at 21') it touches the windshield again at between 6 and 7' there is a valley there that is about 1/2 inch deep at it's greatest. at the bottom of the windshield the the yardstick is about 3/8 above the windshield.

My oem has no distortion.

I can't ride for a little while due to some medical stuff so I don't know how bad it is on the road but I certainly am not happy with the view of my garage.

Thanks,

[JATownsend]

Many have posted of a slightly distorted or out-of-focus area in the CB screens. My #2-3 has an area about 3 to 4" in diameter that I would consider to be a 'soft spot'.

However, my spot and most others, seem to be well below the area you look at or through while riding. I have never been bothered by mine as it is well below my line-of-sight.

Looking through your new screen while sitting in the garage may not give you an accurate feel for the view you will be getting under power.

If your's bothers you, call them, and discuss it. I sent my first screen back because of 'numerous' issues and they cheerfully send a replacement.

[xenia]

If it is cold out, put on the OEM and ride with it in the up position. Otherwise put on the CB, put it all the way down and look over it. At least that is what I do with my CB #2 -2.

Yeah, I'm still a little disappointed about returning one shield and receiving another one with similar distortions. I am 100% certain airplane pilots don't look through these kind of windshields.

[KEPASA]

Do aircraft use polycarbonate for material? i do not know.

[RideIt]

My Cee Bailey #2 -2 has some distorted area but is out of viewing area and no problem whatsoever.
Leon
05 Blue LR

[RMW]

I believe the distortion area you are speaking of is normal. The low pressure area or depression in the shield is a slight trade off for being able to deflect more air up and over the rider using a shorter overall windshield.

My custom 18" deflects a bit more air than my factory 21" eurocut did. 95% of the time I like to be looking over the top. When its raining and I run with it all the way up the distortion is not in my line of site.

CB should include a sheet in the shipping box that explains this. I think they would get less returns if folks understood the method to the madness.

I am very satisfied with my CB shield and look forward to trying a taller version at CCR for use in the colder weather, you know, that week or two when it gets down to 50 or so here in Southern CA. :)

[hschisler]

I've had my CB #2 -2 w/wings for a few days now. There is a very small (3") area of distortion right where the "bubble" happens, but no matter where I adjust the windshield it is completely out of my view. I have no issues with it -- up, down, or in between.

[zaphod]

Do aircraft use polycarbonate for material? i do not know.

No, they use .250 aircraft grade acrylic. But Ztechnik just came out with one that is made from polycarbonate.

http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6981

[SMGray]

It seems like every time you see "Cee Baileys" written anywhere it is usually followed by the word "distortion". Makes one wonder how they stay in business!

[hschisler]

It seems like every time you see "Cee Baileys" written anywhere it is usually followed by the word "distortion". Makes one wonder how they stay in business!Good point. I'm no plastics/mechanical/any other kind of engineer, but it seems to me that a very small area of distortion, right where the bubble is formed, is unavoidable. I may be totally wrong.

The fact that it's not even in the same county as where I'm looking means it's a non-issue for me.

[JATownsend]

It seems like every time you see "Cee Baileys" written anywhere it is usually followed by the word "distortion". Makes one wonder how they stay in business!
There are a few reasons:
#1 - They offer more size, cut and color choices than other makes.
#2 - They are very reasonably priced.
#3 - They offer (generally) excellent customer service.
#4 - The uncoated screen is very ez to keep looking great, even on long trips.
#5 - Plexus, Honda Cleaner Polish, Pledge and many others give sparkling results.
#6 - As others have said, "The distortion is NOT in my line of sight!" :D

[meese]

CB uses acrylic, which is much easier to mold than polycarbonate. But if you take it out of the mold early (while it's still warm), it can sag some, causing distortion. A very small amount is normal, at the low-pressure dip of the windshield, but like people have said it's not in your normal line of sight. If the distortion is huge, then the windshield needs to be replaced due to poor quality control.

As for distortion, try an AeroFlow. The bubble is huge, which is great for aerodynamics, but bad for clarity. It actually gave me nausea, and I had to take it off after less than 100 miles. They make great windshields for other bikes, just not for the LT.

[haji3]

The wisdom of this board was correct. ON the road the distortion is not an issue. Unfortunetly, cb did not have any "instructions" describing this, I agree they would have a lot less customer service issues if they were more proactive.

Thanks for all the input!

[PATTERSON]

C'mon you guys!! Anytime you bend something, like our windshields...you're gonna get distortion!! You want something w/o distortion get a "flat" windshield. But then you get to complain about it not meeting your needs in some other way. Like one of us suggested earlier.....you want the wind a bit higher over your head....it's gotta be curved differently.

Any of you that wear glasses should know this to be true!! Take them off and hold them at arms length out in front of you.....move them around slightly.....do they show distortion?? Of course they do!! Are they Flat?? Nope!

Of course, you could go out and get one of those wafer-thin windshields! The thinner it is the less distortion you'll have.

As for aircraft....."most" forward facing windshields are "FLAT"...........

And why would anybody be looking "thru" any distortion?......lower the bloody thing until you're just looking over the top edge...........that's why they invented electrics.

Hopefully by now....more reasonable minds will have prevailed......and I apologize if this has taken on the tone of a RANT!! But.....GOOD GRIEF CHARLIE BROWN!! :rolleyes:

[MaverickAR]

Alrighty then. There you have it.

[sbrooten]

Got to put in my two cents worth, even though this appears to have been hashed over way too much already. As a couple of people have noted, the windshield has distortion, but when you look at the profile of the windshield, the "distortion" occurs at the points where the windshield curves, and should be expected. I love the CB #2 I have, even with the "distortion". As has been said repeatedly, the distortion is below the viewing area. It is in the bubble that is molded into the windshield to conform to the top of the dash area. I'll take this windshield any day for the great way it moves the air away from my helmet!