Case study · Automotive
Lightweight Motorcycle Windscreens for Enhanced Rider Performance
Delivering optical clarity, durability, and lightweight performance for modern motorcycle windscreen designs.
A LEXAN™ reference application, shared to show what the material can do. Laxmi Plastopack supplies genuine LEXAN™ grades across India.
Overview
As motorcycle manufacturers continue to improve fuel efficiency, rider comfort, and overall vehicle performance, reducing component weight has become an important design objective. Windscreens must deliver excellent optical quality, weather resistance, and impact performance while allowing designers the flexibility to create aerodynamic shapes that enhance the riding experience.
For this application, Honda selected LEXAN™ FMR5XT Polycarbonate Sheet for the development of adjustable motorcycle windscreens that combine lightweight construction with long-term durability.
The challenge
The windscreen material needed to satisfy multiple performance requirements while supporting modern motorcycle design.
The selected material had to:
- Reduce component weight compared with conventional glazing materials
- Maintain excellent optical clarity for rider visibility
- Withstand long-term outdoor weather exposure
- Resist abrasion from regular use and cleaning
- Enable complex shapes through thermoforming
- Support adjustable windscreen designs without compromising durability
Balancing lightweight construction with long-term optical performance was essential to achieving the desired rider experience.
The solution
LEXAN™ FMR5XT Polycarbonate Sheet was selected because it combines outstanding optical clarity with exceptional impact resistance, weatherability, and a hard-coated surface that improves abrasion resistance.
Its lightweight construction and excellent thermoformability enabled the production of durable, aerodynamically shaped windscreens that contribute to improved motorcycle performance while maintaining clear visibility under a wide range of riding conditions.
Grade used: LEXAN™ FMR5XT Polycarbonate Sheet — ask us about availability.
Why LEXAN™ FMR5XT
- Excellent optical clarity for enhanced rider visibility
- High impact resistance for demanding outdoor use
- Hard-coated surface for improved abrasion and weather resistance
- Lightweight construction that supports vehicle lightweighting
- Excellent thermoformability for complex windscreen geometries
- Long-term outdoor durability for automotive applications
- Suitable for motorcycle windscreens and other transparent vehicle components
Results
By adopting LEXAN™ FMR5XT Sheet, Honda developed lightweight adjustable motorcycle windscreens that combined aerodynamic performance, rider visibility, and long-term durability. The material helped support modern motorcycle design objectives while delivering the optical quality and weather resistance expected in demanding outdoor environments.
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