To windshield or not to windshield, that is the question

Yep, you can do 50k in a year, if you do 20 hours a week in the saddle, and average at least 45mph, and do it 50 weeks a year. I don't do much better than that (50mph) on slab on all day runs when you factor in i/o routines. Ride 75, get gas, and or food,... back on road.

Those of us in the Northeast are envious. We only get 6 good months, and 2-3 months of shoulder to ride in. So, we'd have to do 8 hours a day 5 days a week to get that mileage.  

Speaking of windshields... What is the correct highth of a windshield. I have seen the shorty windshields that you can see over easily and some that appears to be at eye level and some that are say 22 inches high that you have to look thru. What is say the correct hight? thanks,gary  

I put one on my Virago and it's the best thing I ever added. I bought one with the quick detach mount thinking that I would take it off often - it hasn't been off yet. I wear glasses and I prefer an open face helmet. Without a windscreen I have to wear goggles over my glasses, with the screen in place I'm good to go without goggles if I want. As to height, I like to be able to look over the screen without too much effort so mine is 15" tall.  
1995 Yamaha
Virago XV750

I ride without a windshield in the summer and with a windshield and lower air deflectors in cold weather.  Get a windshield you can install and remove easily.  Whatever you decide, you will want one when the temperature drops below 60 degrees.  

I would like to add that I prefer riding without a windshield in windy weather.  With a windshield, a stong wind can push your motorcycle out of a straight path.  Without a windshield, a strong wind pushes my upper body around, but the bike stays on a straight path.  

My 2 cents, been riding for 25 years. I have never used a windshield until 2 weeks ago. I will never ride with out one again. I have to dis-agree with the strong wind issue. In a ride home yesterday in high wind I did not even know the wind was up until it moved my bike alittle but left me un-touched. Helps with cold weather for sure, was 18 degress the other morning and it sure made a huge difference on my daily 35 mile one way trip to work. I have mine mounted on a quick disconnect but as of now plan on never taking it off.  

TOAD5555:  I'm a newbie and still looking for my first bike, but my husband has had a challenge with getting the right height on his Star1300.  According to the reading I've done, you should be seeing just OVER the windshield, otherwise, you will be trying to look through splattered bugs or a rain soaked windshield (with no wipers, of course!).  My husband experienced this but a different size wasn't available for his bike.  So he took it down to the glass shop and had it cut down to his size.  It's the perfect height for him now!  It's looking like that's what I'll have to be doing on my own bike as the windshields on the bikes that I've looked at are too high.  Hope this helps albeit from a newbie...  

toad5555
New User | Posts: 8 | Joined: 08/08 Posted: 01/24/09
11:07 PM
Speaking of windshields... What is the correct highth of a windshield. I have seen the shorty windshields that you can see over easily and some that appears to be at eye level and some that are say 22 inches high that you have to look thru. What is say the correct hight? thanks,gary  

Gary - I set my wind shield at nose height so that as I ride I am looking over the shield rather than through it, that's about the standard . I find that the turbulent air is directed over my head and in rare instances that  sand or bugs get heavy I can duct quickly and look through the shield to get through the swarm.

 I personally prefer a shield on my cruiser but not on the standard/nakeds.

Terry  

people without sheilds like tattoos, they might as well get another one on their 4head that spells out F-O-O-L!!  

I'm not a fan of tattoos either, but I have friends and family who have them.  But as Bambi's rabbit friend's (Thumper) mother told him "If you can't say nothin' nice, don't say nothin' at all".  Your remark is totally uncalled for, with no constructive contribution or relevance to the topic at all.  'Nuff said.  

Perhaps his riding experience is so limited that he has no idea how foolish his statement is . That many people feel a windshield is most appropriate for a cruiser when the intention is to cruise around at relaxed pace in half helmet and enjoy the scenery or soak up the environment.
Where as someone on a sportbike or standard/naked  would prefer laying against the wind and are more likely to be wearing full face helmet cutting, carving and pushing the limits a little more . Most would consider a windshield superfluous and unnecessary.
I no longer have a dual or dirt bike but can tell you from experience a windshield would be in the way and out of the question that type bike for me .  

I've heard that windshields should be mounted parallel to the forks when viewed from the side. Anyone know if there's any truth to that?  

Get the windshield. It will save you the pressure of wind resistance which will put less strain on you and your bike and protect you from the elements of the road. I noticed a huge difference when I got my v-stream  

Go with the shield. Looks are for posers and there ain't nothing like not having to fight with wind blast .  

If you get a bike with a shield and you get buffeting, go for a ride and put your left arm across your chest, like a salute, at 60mph to see where the wing is coming from. If your arm makes you happy, the wind is coming up from below, in which case you can install lowers or you can get a "Jack's Flaps" vest.