Givi AF214 Airflow Adjustable Windshield install on 2012 SW

I just finished installing a new Givi AF214 Airflow adjustable windshield on my 2012 Silverwing and thought I would share the steps I went thru. I know Jeffr posted instructions for installing a Givi windshield (which I also refered to, thanks Jeff), but there are some differences here. I hope this helps others. I am attaching a PDF file which has the pictorials and instructions I created. It took me about 1.5 hours to complete but I could do another in 30-45 minutes now that I know what to do. I assume that the procedure would be the same for previous years. The instructions provided by Givi are the worst I have ever seen!

I don't know why my PDF file didn't upload. I selected it but it didn't go Can anyone tell me what I did wrong?

I just noticed that the max file size is only 0.195MB. My file is 14MB.
How can I upload and share my file (Instructions)?

Rich,

Glad my pictorial helped you out. If your .pdf is 14mb that is a pretty big file. How many pages is it? Maybe you can reduce the file more so it will fit.

JeffR_ wrote:

Rich,

Glad my pictorial helped you out. If your .pdf is 14mb that is a pretty big file. How many pages is it? Maybe you can reduce the file more so it will fit.

Jeff,
Thanks. I'll see if I can reduce the size of the file. It is 12 pages. The original Word Document file is 2.87 MB.

I was just hoping to be able to contribute something to the forum here.
Thanks for all the pictorials you have provided here, they have been a great help.

After installing the Givi Airflow adjustable I notice much reduced buffeting. The wind noise is some what reduced. There is less wind on the hands also. I do not notice any pressure on the back of my head as has been reported by some others here. I have it adjusted at about 3/4 up which allows me to see over the windshield. I have rode up to 70Mph and it does provide a more comfortable ride. I was hoping that it would be much more quiet in relation to wind noise but I do not find the wind noise to be that much less than the original Honda windshield. I don't ride any passengers so I can't report any effect in that concern.

Do you use Dropbox or Google Drive? All you need to do then is post a link like for pictures.

RichG wrote:

I just noticed that the max file size is only 0.195MB. My file is 14MB.

I have Adobe Acrobat Professional ... There is a way t reduce the PDF size without removing content. If you are not able to find then I can reduce it.

+1 for Dropbox

Cheers,

RichG - Dropbox accounts are free, so you can sign up for one at - https://www.dropbox.com

I created a dropbox account and uploaded the instructions I created for installing the Givi AF214. I uploaded both a PDF file and a word document.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0cmjz9k1udiaxr8/iDCSxJz5hP

I hope this link works. Let me know if any problem accessing it.

Also, honda_silver, if you want to try and reduce the file size I would appreciate that also.

Downloaded both files AOK. Gave me the option to download to laptop or to my Dropbox account - great job! - the pdf version took a few minutes to d/load. But all good.

Not to be critical but I believe you left out one screw from the Givi supplied brackets.

model28a wrote:

Not to be critical but I believe you left out one screw from the Givi supplied brackets.

You are correct, I did leave out 1 screw on each side in the 45 degree bend section of the Givi brackets. I drilled one side and did not find any threaded area to screw in the Givi supplied screw so I did not drill out the other side. I did not see any need for the screws. I really don't see any need for the Givi supplied brackets, actually. I don't know if the threaded section was only on swings prior to 2012, or if I missed it, but Givi says to use the bracket as a template. So the hole I drilled should be in the correct area. I did not see any threaded hole after drilling through and I could not get the Supplied screw to thread into the hole so I just left it out.

RichG wrote:

I did not see any threaded hole after drilling through and I could not get the Supplied screw to thread into the hole so I just left it out.

If you 'drilled' too hard and too deep you may have stripped the thread.

You can actually remove the sacrificial metal from the area of the thread using a drill bit by hand the metal is that thin.

Best way to locate the area to remove the covering of metal to fix the bracket is with the mark 1 eyeball. You can see the rear of the threaded section and simply remove the metal on the reverse side exposing the hole.

Many people have left the bracket off but I am of the opinion Givi wouldn't have supplied it for nothing. My guess is stress related but it's exactly that - a guess.

Waspie wrote:

RichG wrote:

I did not see any threaded hole after drilling through and I could not get the Supplied screw to thread into the hole so I just left it out.

If you 'drilled' too hard and too deep you may have stripped the thread.

You can actually remove the sacrificial metal from the area of the thread using a drill bit by hand the metal is that thin.

Best way to locate the area to remove the covering of metal to fix the bracket is with the mark 1 eyeball. You can see the rear of the threaded section and simply remove the metal on the reverse side exposing the hole.

Many people have left the bracket off but I am of the opinion Givi wouldn't have supplied it for nothing. My guess is stress related but it's exactly that - a guess.

Thanks Waspie, I did not press on the drill hard and quit drilling just as the drill bit broke thru. I guess it is possible that I did damage the threads or just didn't see them but I could not get the screw to screw in to anything. I agree taht Givi wouldn't have supplied it for no reason, I just don't know what that reason is. My install is solid so I doubt that I will take it apart again to try anything with those holes/screws. It would be nice to know Givi's reason for the brackets.

RichG if you stopped as you broke through - doubtful you would have damaged the thread. The actual internal nut is about a quarter of an inch in so the drill bit would have needed to be roughly the same diameter and have pushed through.

I did have to reason to re-examine my fit about a year after initial fitting to check the tightness of the screws that fit into the rubber nut/grommet 'thingy-ma-jigs!!!! Chose to check the remainder of the bolts at the same time. (Opportunist maintenance).

RichG wrote:

I really don't see any need for the Givi supplied brackets, actually.

I agree, I didn't see the need for the brackets ether and just left them out. Over the weekend I was with a group and when passing a truck we got up to 95 mph and the windshield seemed fine to me. I think it is more important to make sure the 10 mm nuts are tight like you said in your instructions.
Thank you for all the work you put in to the instructions. I hope I didn't offend you. I didn't mean to pic your instructions apart I just thought it was part of the process.

model28a wrote:

RichG wrote:

I really don't see any need for the Givi supplied brackets, actually.

I agree, I didn't see the need for the brackets ether and just left them out. Over the weekend I was with a group and when passing a truck we got up to 95 mph and the windshield seemed fine to me. I think it is more important to make sure the 10 mm nuts are tight like you said in your instructions.
Thank you for all the work you put in to the instructions. I hope I didn't offend you. I didn't mean to pic your instructions apart I just thought it was part of the process.

Roger,
No, I'm not offended at all. It's always good to have others tweak one's work and make suggestions.

Rich,

Good job on the pictorial. I didn't install the metal bracket and I have many miles on it and have exceeded 100 mph a few times. I don't feel any shaking or it seems the shield as very solid. It is by far the best shield I have had on the SWing, and I have had the stock, Clearview, standard Givi, and now the AF Givi. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Greetings, all!
Silverwing (and forum) noob here, with two questions about the Givi AF:

1. How much better is the wind deflection on the grips/levers? I still have the stock 'shield, and couldn't feel my fingers thirty minutes into a sub-freezing interstate trip recently, despite good gloves and heated liners. Looked at HippoHands, wind/brush deflectors, etc, but would prefer better air management from the screen.

2. Anyone seeing an improvement in MPG? I'm not terribly aerodynamic, sad to say. Any noticeable help from the screen?

Thanks in advance!
Drew

The AF is great in all whether condition, very good on big bug impact but for total cold hand protection, get the Oxfort Heatzer grips .

The AF is great in all whether condition, very good on big bug impact but for total cold hand protection, get the Oxfort Heatzer grips . As for mpg , with no hard buffeting ,on your body you can get a small increase in mpg.

wonder if grip protectors would help with the fingers anyone know who makes them

Drew,

The AF214 is so much better than the stock screen, as are the Clearview and the standard Givi. The stock screen really doesn't do anything for the grips IMO. I can't ride the Swing with the stock shield and my wife rode on the back once with the stock screen and said she would never do that again.

Thanks for the responses, gents! I've ordered an AF214 for my 2012, and am looking forward to handling the install expertly, with a tip-of-the-helmet to all of you who have contributed instructions, illustrations and suggestions.

Gratefully,
Drew

I put the Givi adjustable on my Silverwing a couple months ago and think it's great. It does keep the wind off you hands, nice in the winter. I have Gerbings electric heated gloves and when the OEM shield was on the bike it took almost full power to keep my hands warm, with the adjustable I it took half the power in the gloves during a 30 mile run at 40F on the freeway. Almost no buffeting and a great windshield. I did install the reinforcement brackets on my SW installation. It was necessary to adjust the bend a bit to get the brackets to lay flat but once fitted right they screwed down nicely with the three screws. The brackets give a lot of solidity to the intallation. They transfer the stress and loading of the windshield to the metal frame of the scooter rather than depending on just the plastic. It takes a bit of tweaking on the brackets to get the front and back pieces of plastic to fit back snugly to each other at each side of the windshield.

Drew,

You will like thE AF214, I installed one on mine about 17,000 miles ago and I love it. I can see over it in rain or make it higher to keep the wind off. Hope you like it as much as I do.

cathy

Drew,
I'm sure you will like the Givi AF214. It's a good improvement over the standard SW shield. Follow the instructions posted on this forum and you shouldn't have any problem installing it. The only real negative to Givi is that they provide horrible instructions (If you can call them instructions) for their products. I hope they will fix this problem some day.
Enjoy your AF214 and happy riding!

Looks like I'm gonna have to invest in one, too.

I am also considering the AF214.
Would like to know vertical distance from the keyhole to windshield top when adjusted to maximum height. I have a Cee Bailey which measures 24.5" and its just a tad short for me.

Another of those anthropometric things, I guess....

TIA,
Slick

Mine measures 24 1/8" I only use it at its highest setting when the weather is cold or rainy.

exavid,

Thanks for quick response. I'll take take that dimension into account.

Cheers,
slick

RichG

How do I get to your pictorial for the install of the Givi AF214 ? Meerkat

meerkat wrote:

RichG

How do I get to your pictorial for the install of the Givi AF214 ? Meerkat

Follow this link to my dropbox .....
I created a dropbox account and uploaded the instructions I created for installing the Givi AF214. I uploaded both a PDF file and a word document.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0cmjz9k1udiaxr8/iDCSxJz5hP

RichG

Thank you ,Found it . Meerkat

The Givi AF214 that I ordered from Cli-Max last week arrived three hours ago (paid $227 including shipping) and is now installed on my 2011 SW. The installation went without a hitch thanks to RichG’s pictorial and comments/cautions posted by other forum users.

The install took 90 minutes -- probably slower than most other installers. The trickiest and most difficult part of the installation for me was removing the front screen cover without breaking the mounting tabs and marring the Tupperware. I ended up, as RichG suggested, using a credit card (I actually used two credit cards simultaneously) to raise the cover over the lower cowling. Thanks RichG.

After reading posters comments about problems that I might encounter when drilling the two holes for mounting the support brackets I was nervous about completing this part of the install. So, as suggested by a poster, I used the Givi bracket as a template to determine where to drill. I carefully drilled the holes using a 1/4-inch bit to expose the threads perfectly centered. Relief! I was able to install the brackets with the four screws supplied by Givi and have no concern about windscreen stability.

The remainder of the install was easily completed. My problem now is what to do with the stock SW windscreen.

I fitted the Givi adjustable screen together with Honda heated grips, last summer. I commute about 50 to 70 miles each way, depending on which base I am at.  The combination provides with a calm bubble of relatively undisturbed air and keeps me dry in the rain. Winter riding is now very pleasant

I know it's bugger all to do with the topic but wasn't the Black Sapper a British comic character of the 1950's? He was a bloke dressed in black... natch, who had this black cylindrical contraption he lay flat in with a large conical drill at either end. He was a criminal who bored his way into the Tower of London ( just like I'm boring you dear reader) and stole the Crown Jewels.

I Google'd Melvyn Llewellyn Drew and came up with nothing. Is that a fictional British shady character?

Why on earth would there be any info about me on Google worth searching for?

Meldrew wrote:

I know it's bugger all to do with the topic but wasn't the Black Sapper a British comic character of the 1950's? He was a bloke dressed in black... natch, who had this black cylindrical contraption he lay flat in with a large conical drill at either end. He was a criminal who bored his way into the Tower of London ( just like I'm boring you dear reader) and stole the Crown Jewels.

Yep - he was in the Beezer comic late 50's early 60's. Bad lad turned good goody superhero.
(So me dad told me!!  )

I used the Givi original on my first Silverwing and the adjustable one on this one. I like this one better, but it does not offer as much protection as the fixed Givi shield. (Just my opinion)

Meltzer, you are correct. The use of the name is because I was a Sapper, a British Army Royal Enginer (info for our Colonial cousins) and my riding kit is black. I used to read about the Black Sapper in the Beezer.

You're a colorful character, Black Sapper who lives in Grays. Not all of us provincials are so provincial as not to know the meaning of 'sapper'.

A Sapper is the title for a Private in the Royal Engineers. Other variations of the same rank in the British Army are Craftsman, Trooper, Gunner, Rifleman, Kingsman, Fusilier, Signaller, Ranger, Drummer, Guardsman, etc. There are a few other titles newer titles like Highlander, and Airtrooper.

Meldrew wrote:

A Sapper is the title for a Private in the Royal Engineers.  Other variations of the same rank in the British Army are Craftsman, Trooper, Gunner, Rifleman, Kingsman, Fusilier, Signaller, Ranger, Drummer, Guardsman, etc. There are a few other titles newer titles like Highlander, and Airtrooper.

Thank you for that primer Meldrew.

Tim

That's OK, next time I'll be explaining why real gravy is brown and not white in colour, and what you call biscuits are really scones!

Tell them about faggots too!

Colin B wrote:

Tell them about faggots too!

I'll bite. That is an offensive term here in the USA and would result in a head bashing in certain parts, but is probably some savory dish in the UK.