I'm buying the superATV flip out windshield.. it's a hard coat but I plan on having a piece of laminated tempered glass cut if mine eventually scratches. I may have to enlarge the gas shocks that hold the windshield up.. but I think this would be an awesome way to go. You might look into something like that.
You are correct in your description of the laminate glass vs tempered as far as the breaking characteristics. As an add FYI, tempered glass can't be drilled once it has been tempered. Or cut for that matter. That needs to take place before it's tempered. Laminated can be drilled, it just takes some patience, and precision as you basically drill one side to the laminate then flip it over and drill exactly in the same place on the other side. It's a bit tricky, but not impossible. I've made some hanging shelves out of lami before for ceiling mount projectors to sit on without fear of them crashing to the floor if it were damaged. Also, you need to use the proper kind of drill bit or things get ugly fast.I just posted this over on that thread - Tempered glass is like a side window in your automobile. Your front windshield is laminated glass - 2 pieces of glass separated by a plastic film that bonds them together. Laminated glass doesn't shatter in a million pieces when it breaks. Keep this in mind when planning a windshield.
I don't know what the options or requirements are for drilling laminated glass but tempered glass is drilled (obviously frequently) for multiple applications. Again, tempered glass shatters into millions of pieces and fragments. I personally wouldn't use it for a windshield.
Would any of it work well or be feasible as a replacement for an upper windshield like this??
Possibly. The bottom where its curved would pose a problem. However if it came down far enough, it would probably overlap the lower enough to sort of seal against it. I'd have to see one more close up to be certain. That being said,if the bottom edge being flat can be worked around i see no reason the hardware couldn't be retro fitted to a piece of glass. It would be best if the laminate were set in a rubber gasket though, to accommodate the rough service it would undergo as a ws on a sxs. It doesnt like to slam around, or flex too much. Hence the reason your ws vets chips from rocks, and also cracks from those points easily. Lami is "soft" compared to tempered. But lami stays intact as opposed to tempered exploding when struck just right. Glass is kinda weird in how "strong" and at the same time "fragile" it is.. the plus to the plastics is they are more predictable in how they act for the most part. I could go on, but I'm sure it would bore the hell out of most..
I think the lower bent portion can be gotten around by increasing the gasket size on the lower windshield. I guess my question is more geared towards the hardware mounting and span between it in the raised position. Would glass be stout enough to handle the abuse of riding with the windshield open. I was thinking a tempered laminated glass might be the best option but didn't know what thickness would be needed to support its own weight under riding conditions.
Well, i dont think you can temper lami as its a heat process and it would likely not agree with the lami. I think ideally tempered glass with a film on the back set in a frame would be the toughest. Kinda like the way the armourlite one is.. lami glued in a frame like it is on a car would possibly work too, just depends on how much if flexes. Thats where lami loses its strength. If its "fixed" its very strong, but the edges are weak, and flexing would be the death of it. Tempered can flex more without breaking...right up until you get to its threshold and then its like a bomb going off it explodes so hard. Ask anyone whos had a doorglass or backglass break on them and they can tell you how much energy is released when tempered goes. Like i said, glass is sort of weird in its strengths and weaknesses
I brought flip out version like Honda oem. It was on EBAY from motorheadzone. I emailed them directly and got it cheaper.
