Add a Goldwing Windshield Vent and Keep Your Cool!

Thanks to Leo Jansen, aka Mtn1600 For This Project

Almost every rider who sits behind a windshield enjoys the wind and bug protection it affords but on those toasty days, whew! It can get pretty warm with the lack of airflow. The solution? Do what Goldwing riders do and put a vent in the windshield.

Actually that's where Leo got the idea, from a Wing he parked next to fairly frequently at work.

What You'll Need

• 1- Windscreen air vent designed for Honda Goldwing. The part is available from J&P Cycles for $49.99 (at this writing). Part numbers are ZZ75278 (clear) and ZZ75280 (smoke). From J&P the vent comes complete with all hardware and templates needed.
• Drill bit(s) made for poking holes in plastic (use the radius of the template corners to determine size)
• 1- Fine tooth (metal cutting) jigsaw blade and jigsaw
• 1- Dremel power tool with sanding drum or sanding block and fine sandpaper
• Masking Tape

How To Do It

1. 
   As shown at left tape both sides (front and back) of the windshield and place the template in the location you have chosen. Trace the opening on the tape with a thin permanent marker.
2. The SPOOKY part: Remove the template and drill the four corners with drill bits of the same radius as the template corners (keep the drill 'inside' the lines). You might find the top corners are larger radius than the bottom two so choose your bits accordingly. IMPORTANT: Use a drill bit made for drilling plastic and go slow, letting the tool do the work or you risk cracking the windshield.
3. 
   Use a fine tooth (metal cutting) blade in a jigsaw run at high speed to cut between the holes. Use low pressure when pushing the saw and stop if the plastic starts to melt. You want to cut the plastic not melt it. Be sure you have plenty of tape on both sides of the windshield with enough margin so no part of your saw will touch the plastic. If there's any question at all, add more tape. The base plate of a saw 'will' scratch or even gouge the shield if the plastic isn't protected. When finished you'll have a nice clean hole as shown at right.
4. Remove the tape and clean up the hole using the Dremel sanding disk or sandpaper. You'll want to make sure any nicks made by the blade are removed since they could act as stress risers and lead to windshield cracks in the future.
5. 
   Now consult the instructions that came with the vent for the final installation which involves slipping the 'vent' section through the hole and attaching it to the front grill. You should have the parts shown at left.
6. You're done! Go ride with the vent open or closed you may discover some side benefits including less helmet buffeting as air flows in to help eliminate the low pressure area behind your windshield.

Riders View Vent Closed

Riders View Vent Open