I tried the HD detachable windshield few weeks ago and it didn't work for me. Here's that thread if you want more details: Beard slappin' fun!

GRHarley.com awesomely gave me a full refund, so I decided to give the Windvest a shot. I've just returned from my first ride with it.

I got the 14"x16" clear shield. Windvest recommends the 16" version for people over 6' tall. I'm 6'3".

The 16" shield has a 2" range of vertical adjustment. Mine was right in the middle when I received it. It only took a few minutes to install and I was off to the races. I could tell almost immediately that I would need to adjust it, but it was definitely better than the HD shield. A short shot on the freeway gave me some buffeting and shifted my sunglasses around a bit.

I found an empty parking lot and moved the shield to its highest position. You only need an allen wrench to do this and it took less than 10 minutes. Back on the road and now there is no disturbance to my sunglasses and the helmet buffeting has lessened a little. At this point I can duck down a couple inches and I'm in a calm pocket of air.

You can also adjust the angle of the shield. On the Fat Bob it attaches to the handle bars and the forward adjustment is quite limited. The shield's cross brace hits the risers after only about 1/4" of forward movement, but you can lean it back so far it becomes less of a windshield and more of a dinner tray.

I changed the angle of the shield a few times, but either got too much buffeting or too much wind noise. The wind noise was so bad for a time that I could no longer hear my V&H Big Shots at anything over 35 mph.

But all hope is not lost! HDForums to the rescue! I found this thread about 2" riser spacers for the Fat Bob. I think that the highest shield position in addition to the 2" spacers, the shield will be in exactly the right spot.

So, that's it. I think the 16" Windvest would be perfect as is if I were 6' tall, but I still think I can make it work.

P.S. I can't report on the crazy beard flailing with the Windvest because I shaved it off a few days ago. It only took a few seconds of staring at my ugly mug in the mirror to realize it was a big mistake, so I'm growing it back.

P.P.S I didn't realize this was going to be such a long post. Sorry about that.

 

Please let us know how it works out with the risers.

 

I have the same WindVest and love it's great coverage for such a small profile. I was going to do the 2" spacers as well but decided instead to spend my $49 on a pull back riser set. (I'm 6 ft tall but can't quite sit straight up like I would like.)
• 4-1/2″ tall
• 1-1/2″ pullback
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/5000090



I just ordered them today but I'll post with pics after they arrive and I mount them on my Fat Bob.

***UPDATE*** These are going back. They are for 1" bars and the Fat Bob has 1.25" bars! GRRRRRRRR...The quest continues..............

 

Ok, I went on a ride with the new setup this morning and it's still no good. I feel like it's close to being right, but I just can't get it there.

If I scoot my butt forward and slouch down while I ride, I can get a break from the buffeting and wind noise. But that's not comfortable and I don't feel like I have good control of the bike that way.

The wind noise is the real killer. The buffeting has gone down from vision blurring and headache inducing to mostly just really annoying, but I can't stand the wind noise. I'd say it's louder with earplugs at 45 mph than it was shieldless without earplugs at 70. And with the shield and no earplugs, it is so loud and painful at anything over 50 mph that I think I'm going to bust an eardrum.

The last thing I'm going to try is a new helmet. So far, I've been using a Bell 500 custom 3/4. I've got a Shoei Qwest full face on the way. Maybe that's the ticket. I should have the helmet tomorrow so I'll post again by Tuesday.

Just so I don't sound like Debbie Downer here, the Windvest has been superior for me overall than the HD detachable and I'd recommend the 16" to guys just a tad shorter than me. I think I'd be happy with it if I were 5'11" or 6'.

 

There's a lot of threads about windshield on this forum. I added Memphis Shaded lowers to my Windvest install and am quite happy, had the same issues you do. The way my Windvest installs I'm able to tilt it backward a little further than the rake angle on my bike. A fork bag will help also.

Here's a link:

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...eflectors.html

 

Pics????

 

UPS just brought my helmet. I'm going to take it for a spin and get some pics with the shield.

 

Success!

My short test ride with the Shoei Qwest gave me anywhere from almost nonexistent to minimal buffeting and normal wind noise. The slight buffeting I experienced was not enough to be uncomfortable or blur my vision at all. I guess my Bell 500 Custom and my Windvest just don't get along. I'll keep them both, but I won't be using them together.

Here are some pics with the Windvest and 2" riser extensions.

 

Are you looking through the shield or over it?

Do you think the straight 14" will be too short for someone 6'?

 

I had a similar experience with the 14' Windvest. Meaning that it was almost perfect but you had to crouch just a little bit to keep it from making my glasses wobble. When I run mine, I have it mounted quite a bit lower than you do as I copied Robottom and mounted the framing directly on top of the triple trees. Since my original mounting position, I have decided that I would not try to make it stop all the wind on my face and helmet. I lowered it down and cut the bottom to follow the contour of my FatBob headlights. Now it protects the body but not the head and face. Here are a couple pics from an earlier thread...