Windshield brackets

[MrG]

Can anyone tell me what kind of brackets these are, and if there is a good windshield that will mount to them? I took off the batwing and it's brutal without it. Never been so beaten up by wind on any other bike. On the other hand, I really like the way it handles without the extra weight on the front end.

[Duke]

The w/s brackets are for all the Yamaha Road Star windshields. Check for cracks, as they have been known to break.
Yamaha Stay, part number 5GA-283560-01-00 and 5GA-28357-01-00.

[MrG]

Yeah one side is broken but looks like it can be welded. Gotta have something up there it's brutal without it, but I would prefer to have something much lighter.

[MrG]

Every replacement windshield I have seen says that I will need the pieces from the old windshield. I'm pretty sure that this was a universal fit fairing. Are these pieces the other side of the factory Yamaha brackets?

[Ahodge75]

What was wrong with the batwing anything? Those look like the brackets for the USA trailer fairing or the vector fairing which I think are actually the same fairing.

[MrG]

The fairing has some dings that could probably be fixed with a little fiberglass, I just want to get rid of the weight. My helmet com set has radio and bluetooth so I don't need most of what the fairing has.

[Ahodge75]

Well if you want sell the fairing post some pics

[mlharper]

My Reckless fairing required and bolts up to the stock Road Star brackets. You are right about the oem Yamaha brackets.

[Shores]

Rick Fortner made himself some very cool stainless steel brackets to reinforce the OEM brackets. They even look OEM but mount from the rear and attach to the OEM on the sides.

[Duke]

Any pictures Steve?

[Shores]

Any pictures Steve?

Ask Rick. He’ll post some.

[Duke]

Thank you Steve.

[Duke]

HEY RICK, Do you have some pictures?

[Rick Fortner]

Here ya go.

[Ahodge75]

Looks like you should start producing them for the Clinic Rick I’m sure several people would want a set. They look good

[Duke]

Thanks Rick.

[Rick Fortner]

Here are a couple more

[Rick Fortner]

The brackets stopped every bit of the vibration of the OEM brackets

[Horsehammerr]

That is Exactly what i see , " Stiffeners " !

[Shores]

Rick's brackets are a quarter circle of round tubing that matches the size of the OEM tubing that is in the front . There is a bracket welded to the rear of his tubing that bolts to the rear of the triple tree and then there is a bracket welded to the side of his new bracket that bolts to the side of the OEM bracket. Is that correct Rick?

[Rick Fortner]

Almost.. they are solid stainless round bar 1/2 or 5/8 inch. Slightly smaller than the OEM bracket tubing. Bracket welded to the back that bolts to the triple tree in factory holes. Had to get longer bolts. The other end is cut on a bevel and is drilled and tapped through the side of the bar and a bolted into it from the outside of the OEM bracket. If anyone wants more pics I can take some and post them.

[Brad_G]

That's a great idea to build those. I'm sure it really does take all the vibration away.

[LUV4RS]

Shores pointed those out the other day but I didn’t get a good look at them. I’ll have to take a better peek when I see you next month.

[Rick Fortner]

Yea they work great. To produce them i would have to take a lot of time to build jigs and etc to get the cost down. Even then they would still be fairly expensive. Takes alot of time to buff them to look like chrome. I would need to produce several sets at a time to also cut down on price. If I were to start producing them how much would people be willing to spend on them? Another good thing about them is they should greatly reduce the chance of the OEM brackets breaking.

[Horsehammerr]

$ 100.00

[Brad_G]

Yeah I think having a jig and being able to quickly and easily build them with ease would be the way to go. Since this reinforces the stock windshield mount there would be plenty of potential buyers.

As for cost, I'm a cheap bastard. But when it comes to things for the bike, anything under $50 I barely thing twice about. $50 - $100 I'll contemplate but buy if I feel I need it or it adds value (this part saves the OEM bracket which is known to crack so I see value). Over $100 I'll be a bit more critical of do I really "need" it.

I don't know what you'll have in material costs but I can see the polishing taking some time. Wonder if there would be any interest in using just a mild steel and painting them black. Since the triple tree and frame are already black it may not look that out of place (or may be mostly covered up by a fairing/lowers). Might be a cheaper option to produce. I assume it would provide the strength to do what's intended?

[Rick Fortner]

If I were to produce them I would offer both options. The steel would ship bare metal so buyer could paint, powercoat or what ever they wanted to do. They would probably be about 50% of the cost of stainless. Stainless would be $100 minimum. Just so much work goes into them. I have 20 + hours in my set. But other sets wouldnt take as long as I have already done the design work.

[Brad_G]

I've never had anything chromed. I wonder how it would compare on cost vs. the time needed to polish SS?

[Rick Fortner]

I have no idea of the cost of chrome. My guess is my time polishing would be cheaper. But metal cost would be higher with stainless vs steel.