I'm going on a 5 day ride in September. I going to hit the back roads of southern mo and northern Arkansas. The bike is in tip top shape, just changed fluids, rebuilt forks, Aling, set steer head, belt tension ect. I have a custom c&c fast back, drivers position moved back 1.5 additional inches, gel, leather. I'm running forward controls with stirrups. I bought a set of nice hard bags for storage. The only thing I have left is a windshield. I have gone back and forth a bunch about this. Ive never had one, never even road with one. Done alot of research and just frankly I cannot stand the looks of them. So bottom line is how many of you guys tour without them? I Plan to run 1500-2000 miles on this trip so i really don't think I need one....thoughts????? Anything I'm forgetting? I do want comfort. This is a all hotel no camping run. Just some cloths, tools and cash...

 

What kind of helmet are you going to wear?

If you don't want a windshield, maybe a 3/4 or full-face with a shield would be the way to go.

A windvest sounds like it may be something for you also.

I have the HD detachable sport shield and love it because it's not a huge shield...I've cut it and modded it to my liking though. Added some home-made lowers too. I wear a half helmet (beanie) so I like the protection.

 

I wear a 3/4 licks nov dot. I have a Harley quick detach offered to me for 190 shipped. It's awful tempting.

 

My q/r w/s only comes off for a thorough cleaning. GPS is something I also wouldn't do w/o.

 

Definitly no gps, I wanna get lost!

 

I run to the Dragon's tail area once a year for a couple days over the labor day week end.
I don't leave home w/o the windshield & Tomb Stone back rest bag. This pic was taken the first trip...
I no longer take the saddle bags (I was over packed on that trip).
I remove the windshield when I get there & reinstall it for the ride home, 950 miles.



I highly recommend a windshield, it cuts down on the fatigue of riding 2 hour streatches at 70-80 mph.
It also helps with the saftey from road debris, ie sand & dirt from truck & trailers in front of you.

 

If your going for 5 straight days of riding, get a windshield. I have two. A full size fork mounted tombstone and a 15 inch bar mounted. Either works great. We rode 300 miles this Sunday. Half of it was in the rain. My 15 incher did just fine. The guys without one were freakin' miserable. If your planning to take it off the minute you get home, buy a cheap handle bar mounted unit like a Slip streamer or Memphis shades. If your planning on keeping it more often, then spend the extra money on the quick detach setup thats fork mounted. Either way, my experience tells me that if your planning 2000 miles, you WILL get rained on. That aside, reducing 5 days of wind fatigue really increases long ride enjoyment, and I assume this trip is not about getting somewhere, but the ride itself. One last rule with windshields. Don't buy one and put it on for the first time the day of the trip. Do that and you'll throw it on the side of the road the first day. Install, adjust, ride....repeat. It takes a few miles and a number of adjustments to get them where they need to be. Angle and height make ALL the difference.


______________________________

 

I tried several different shields on my Dyna and never liked any of them. Always preferred riding without it. Did a 1500 mile trip to the Smokies without a shield. I did wear my full face for that trip since we took the interstate there. If running all backroads I could go with just a half helmet.

I have ridden a lot of roads down that way it will be a good trip.

 

Screw the windshield. Good rain gear, clear and tinted shield for the full face, multiple pairs of gloves for when they get wet, sunscreen for the neck and wrists, cell phone charger and a credit card with lots of room for emergencies. I wear ear plugs under the helmet for extended 80mph blasts in between cities sometimes. If you have tubless get a plug kit and a small mountain bike pump.

 

Here's a windvest in the first pic. And a kuryakyn custom roll in second pic. Both block some wind. Check eBay you can find some killer deals.