Gauge cluster sun damage ?

[RCinNC]

I'm pretty certain it IS a windshield problem, to the extent that the windshield plus the angle of the sun can focus the sunlight right onto the gauge. It wasn't 104 degrees the day it happened to my bike; probably in the 80's. My bike's been parked in the summer sun in North Carolina plenty of times, and that never happened on those occasions. If it was simply a temperature issue, I think it would happen a lot more, and it would happen on a lot of other bikes that use the exact same LCD technology in their instrument displays. I'd also expect it to be a constant problem in places like Arizona, where it can get so hot that car windshields can break. But I've heard very few reports of it beyond this and the V-Strom forum. When the 2012 V-Strom came out, there were some reports from guys whose instrument cluster actually partially melted and warped from the sun shining through the stock windshield. It probably doesn't happen very often because all the conditions have to be right; the sun has to be at a certain position in the sky, the bike has to be parked at a certain angle to the sun. the light has to shine through the windshield at the right angle for a certain amount of time, etc. All of those conditions aren't met frequently enough that it's a constant problem, the way it would be if merely a hot sun was all that was required.

Back when it happened to me, I did some research on the effects of heat on an LCD display, and the information I read sounded a lot like what happened to my display.

 

[Don in Lodi]

The top edge of my 2012 gauge is warped from the sun. The sun lensing melted a hat band on my Royal Star. It was a nice hat... A lot of Wing riders slip a t shirt over their shields. I imagine it's a lot more wide spread than we can know. It's just physics.

 

[WJBertrand]

A few weeks after I got my then new 2017, it was parked in the sun for 30 min. (the sun came from behind, not through the windshield).
And when I startet again the right side dash, was darker than the left side....and from new they was the same. Never returned to same as right side, so right side still darker than left.

This is a problem often reported by ST1300 owners and as described the dash damage happens when you park with the sun to the rear of the bike. Rather than acting like a magnifying glass, the shield acts as a parabolic reflector, concentrating and focusing downward, a dash killing death ray! I've adopted the habit of draping my 'stich over the shield, dash and tank when stopping in hot sun. Alternatively, one could take note of the direction of sunlight and orient your parking position accordingly.

As far as the left vs. right LCDs on the Gen 2 Teneres, my right side display has always looked darker from the day I brought it home.

 

[RCinNC]

An easy solution is a small laundry bag, preferably light colored. Even the mesh ones would probably work, as long as the mesh is fine enough. Slip it over the windshield when you park the bike, that way it'll cover both the back and front of it. You can tighten the drawstring at the bottom, to keep the wind from blowing it away. The sun won't be able to focus through it, and won't be able to be reflected off the back of it. Plus, nobody is going to want to steal it, the way they might if you draped a nice jacket over it (I don't have to worry about that, doubtful anyone will swipe my POC Tourmaster).

 

[Checkswrecks]

Just merged the now 6 threads on this.
As stated often before, it's not uncommon for any bike with a plastic instrument cluster and windshield.

 

[Cycledude]

Thank you all very much for your replies !!! Yes I’ve heard of and have seen a few Goldwings seriously damaged from what seems to be the same issue, the Goldwings issue all seemed to be caused by those giant Tulsa windshields but I think they are out of business now. Tulsa used to sell a T-shirt with their name on it that was supposed to be slipped over the windshield while parked to prevent this type of damage.

I was kinda kicking around the idea of maybe painting the lower inside of the shield to prevent the sun from shining through it but after reading all the replies I’m not sure if that would be the answer. I sure would hate to see my Tenere gauge cluster damaged like that.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Painting the inside of the windshield would be a clever solution. You could even use a peel-off paint to remove it when past the heat of summer.
https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/flexidip/flexidip/

 

[terrysig]

I used a black plastic side of a three ring binder. Cut about a 4 inch wide section and fit it to the inside shape of the windshield. Mounted it between the windshield and mounting bracket. Most think its a sunshield for the instrument cluster when in fact it is. Doesnt look OEM but not too bad.

 

[Cycledude]

Flexidip that’s something I never thought of trying, seems like a pretty good idea .

 

[RCinNC]

Or maybe a piece of that fancy fake carbon fiber vinyl wrap on the inside of the windshield.....

 

[AVGeek]

Or maybe a piece of that fancy fake carbon fiber vinyl wrap on the inside of the windshield.....

Worldcrosser windshield decal: