I had planned to do a step-by-step picture diary of my boulevard screen install.
But, installing it was so difficult I got really angry and didn't take very many pictures.
The instructions make it sound like it is a real easy install but I had tons of trouble. I fortunately did not scratch or dent anything but I came very close multiple times.
I don't know if I like it yet or not. It cost $230 from my local dealer. As you can see in the following pictures, it is kinda hard to see so it really doesn't make much of a fashion statement. I rode a bit and couldn't tell much of a difference. Maybe when it warms up I will take the bike out on the interstate to see if it makes it more comfortable out there.
Here are the instructions:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8230728/f6c-boulevard-screen-instructions.pdf
Here is what you get in the box. Everything is packed really well and you almost have to damage the screen and hardware to get it unwrapped!
These handlebar hose clamps are really hard to figure out. You need to use a small blade screwdriver to depress the inner thingy (?) to allow the clamp to come off. Even with the clamps off the brake lines are really hard to maneuver around. It would be very easy to scratch the handlebar and/or the instrument cluster if you didn't pay serious attention during the install.
Here is the rider view. It is "clean" and looks like OEM equipment so that is a plus. The rubber "screw-in-a-bushing" mounting method is very secure and with a 5mm allen wrench you could remove the screen in 30 seconds or less. I really had my doubts about the screen-to-mount interface but I am surprised at how well it works.
Here is a close left side view. You are supposed to use a torque wrench to tighten the mounts but I just used a 10mm combination wrench and a 5mm allen wrench. The nuts look a little weird sticking up from the mounts and they are easy to nick with a wrench. I was very careful and put masking tape on the nuts and I still nicked them. I made certain to use a 6-point wrench, too. I will use a sharpie pen to color the nicks, just like I colored the scratch in my front rim. Getting everything aligned before I tightened everything down was not easy at all. I am pretty sure it is on straight but I must have checked it 20 times.
Here is a close side view. The screen is very clear and fortunately it will be very easy to clean both the screen and all around it. Even though it looks "nice", when I see how little I got (in materials) for $230 I just feel cheated a bit. $150 would have been a much more reasonable price. (My dealer even gave me 10% off!)
Here is a front side view. I like how the bottom of the screen matches the contour of the LED headlight. Even just a few feet away it is almost invisible. The brackets look a little weird since you can see them through the screen. I think a light tint on the screen would look better. For example, check out the tint on the screen in the next picture.
This is the tinted screen on my VFR1200. (I traded the VFR in towards the Valkyrie.)
Here is the other side from the front. This side is the most difficult side to install because the throttle cables get in the way.
Here is a side view. The screen is almost totally invisible. I'm not sure how "sporty" a boulevard screen is supposed to look. I'm not even into fairings very much but in the catalog this screen looked a bit sporty. Since I have already bought it and there is no way to send it back, I will mentally trick myself into thinking it is awesome. It will take a while though!
Here is a frontal view. I run the LED headlight on bright all of the time so I think that will overpower anyone being able to see the screen from the front. You can see that it does not rise over the instrument cluster very much so I doubt it will do much to change the amount of wind that I feel when riding. I'm okay with that because I like the feel of the wind. Hopefully it doesn't create any turbulence or buffeting. I will eventually post a follow-up report with that information.
Here is a view from farther behind the bike. Like I have mentioned before, you can barely see it, but maybe in the end that will be a "cool" thing. My wife just washed and detailed her car last weekend so it looks all nice and clean and pretty. She and I are totally opposite when it comes to cleaning vehicles.
So, a summary:
The good:
It looks OEM.
It isn't overly flamboyant with style so if a more subdued look is what you are after this is not too bad.
It is very sturdy.
If I had to install one now, knowing how it goes on, I could do it in very little time.
The packaging is crazy over-the-top so it arrives in perfect condition.
The bad:
The throttle cables rub the mount on right hand turns.
The instructions are only available via PDF on the Internet. There are no instructions in the box.
The ugly:
It costs $230.
It was a PITA to install.
I don't think it does anything other than "look somewhat cool"?
Anyways, that's all I have for now!
