[flytrap]

Tonight I installed a new 15" Madstad windscreen. As mentioned here earlier, those rubber well nuts don't work for attaching the metal bracket. Big washers and nylon lock nuts on the same screws, however, did the trick. The bracket was not the best fit, but I eventually worked it into place and it is solid. Yes. Makes a huge difference in air pressure on the body. It took a little adjusting but 60 degree slant at about nose level worked the best for clean air at helmet level. Air temps in the high 80's and it was clearly hotter than with the short screen...but not unbearable. Now I know that the front mirror covers don't "pop off" by pushing them forward. You pull them sideways. Duh. I am finally making peace with the CTX plastic pieces. The instructions that came with Madstad screen gave a pretty good narrative on removing plastic. However, the instructions lacked some very basic stuff like the proper orientation of the adjuster units. Luckily someone posted a picture of their bike here and I was able to use that as guide. Planning a big trip this weekend so that will be the test.

 

[sleepngbear]

Very nice. Post pics if you get a chance!

 

[MarkH]

Looking forward to a report on how well the windshield performs during your trip.

 

[MarkH]

Tonight I installed a new 15" Madstad windscreen. As mentioned here earlier, those rubber well nuts don't work for attaching the metal bracket. Big washers and nylon lock nuts on the same screws, however, did the trick. The bracket was not the best fit, but I eventually worked it into place and it is solid.

I read this when you posted it 2 weeks ago and then promptly forgot about it. This afternoon I installed a Madstad windscreen and fought with the metal baseplate for the better part of an hour before getting it installed with the rubber well nuts. It seemed to be solid, but I don't have a good feeling about those nuts so I think I will go back in there some day soon and replace with washers and lock nuts.

 

[TennesseeSmith]

I've been wrestling with that base plate for twenty minutes. I think it's a bit too flat to fit properly. It seems that the plastic shorty shield flexes a bit when you line up the four rubber pieces. The metal base plate is too sturdy to flex much.

I will try a bit more, but I'll probably put the shorty back on and try this again after a trip to the hardware store in the morning.

Even if I get it on, it seems like it will be under quite a bit of stress.

I had hoped to install this shield tonight and head for Tennessee early in the morning. I wish I'd let the dealer install this when he did the 600 mile service this morning.

 

[TennesseeSmith]

Well, I give up. Maybe if I take the base plate to a fabricator and get someone to bend it, then it would fit. It does not match the shape of the shorty shield I took off. The holes will not line up close enough to get it mounted to the bike.

I've put the shorty back on the bike. I'll call MadStad on Monday to see about getting a plate that matches the shape of the shorty a bit better. I can send them the shorty from my blue CTX for comparison.

I don't consider the hour I worked on this last night to have been wasted because I would not have been riding anyway. But this morning I've put two hours into it when I could have been riding. The plan was to take the red bike to Bald River Falls for a photo. That plan is scrapped now and I probably won't get another dry weekend off work until September.

I really wish Honda had chosen a better design for the windshield mounts on the CTX. I'm not a big fan of the design and build quality of any of the current "Premium" bikes on the market. I don't like the way the mirrors attach to this bike. I really don't like the way that front cowl mounts.

Changing the windshield on my ST1100s took about five minutes. This is not progress.

 

[Bthomas]

Well, I give up. Maybe if I take the base plate to a fabricator and get someone to bend it, then it would fit. It does not match the shape of the shorty shield I took off. The holes will not line up close enough to get it mounted to the bike.

I've put the shorty back on the bike. I'll call MadStad on Monday to see about getting a plate that matches the shape of the shorty a bit better. I can send them the shorty from my blue CTX for comparison.

I don't consider the hour I worked on this last night to have been wasted because I would not have been riding anyway. But this morning I've put two hours into it when I could have been riding. The plan was to take the red bike to Bald River Falls for a photo. That plan is scrapped now and I probably won't get another dry weekend off work until September.

I really wish Honda had chosen a better design for the windshield mounts on the CTX. I'm not a big fan of the design and build quality of any of the current "Premium" bikes on the market. I don't like the way the mirrors attach to this bike. I really don't like the way that front cowl mounts.

Changing the windshield on my ST1100s took about five minutes. This is not progress.

Be sure you call the Madstad folks--they're pretty great! Madstad has been making their brackets for the Victory Cross Country for years -- They remedy probably the worst problem with a stock Cross bike which is horrible buffeting north of 70mph...

Anyway, my point is that a LOT of Cross owners convert to the Madstad and they have a huge reputation for good products and good customer service on the Vic forums... I bet they'll fix your problem when you call them....

Good luck!

 

[MarkH]

I struggled with this, too. Did my own bending and got it on, but the baseplate droops a bit on the right side when viewed from the seat. I'll work on it some more when I have another reason to go in there, or make it a winter project. Am interested to hear how this progresses for you.

 

[TennesseeSmith]

Well, I posted this in the other MadStad thread. Then I realized it belonged in this thread:

I was too busy at work the past couple of days to call MadStad about the base plate. When I got home tonight, I found a properly sized log in the woods and bent the plate over the log. It's not perfectly symmetrical, but it works.

I rode around a bit to adjust the position. I won't really know which position I like best for a couple of days.

CTX1300D - TennesseeSmith

 

[TennesseeSmith]

I had to ride over a pretty good bump as I left the gas station this morning and the MadStad plate popped loose. It's barely hanging on by the mounts on the front cowling. I knew those little rubber things were not working well, but I didn't expect it to jump off like that.

I rode the bike slowly to work. When I get home this evening I'll take the MadStad off. My Cee Bailey has shipped, so I'll just ride the Blue Bike until the new windshield arrives for the Red Bike. I will go to the Honda shop on Tuesday and order some replacement rubber mounting pieces.

I don't think the MadStad mounting system is robust enough for the CTX1300 due to the cheap way Honda chose to mount the original shield. I really think that whole front end needs to be beefed up. The bike needs more metal to hold the various plastic pieces in place.

 

[MarkH]

I had a similar experience when a couple of the rubber well nuts failed and my windshield suddenly got a bit floppy. I went back in there and did as flytrap suggested above and replaced all the well nuts with big washers and nylon lock nuts. It has been solid for over 3,000 miles so far.