i know what the rule is on windsheild height but i want to know what everybody else thinks i have a softail deuce i had it just above my eyesight where i could sit up real straight and see over it it is getting old and dull so i cut it down to 15 inches i like that i can see over it but the head buffing is worse. Where do most of you like yours. The 19 inch is what i had think about going to 21 inch but i am worried about being able to see when it is raining.

 

When I am sitting in my normal riding position, I have it adjusted so my eyes just look over the top of it. Not a whole lot of "buffeting", but some. Can't seem to ever get rid of all of it.

 

I wish my windshield story was like the kid's story, "The Three Bears". In my case I haven't found a just right combination. I'm on my third windshield. The first was much too short, the second I bought new from Harley thinking it was just right since I actually spent the time at the dealership getting fitted. I went with a 18" and yes I can see over it, but I soon realized it was too short as well. The wind buffeting was annoying the crap out of me. With the third shield I sought out the used market to save money. I got lucky and found one reasonable with the brackets, it measured out to 20". The good news was the extra height improved the wind buffeting, the bad news was the fact the upper shield would interfere with my line of sight, especially while in the twisties or on hilly roads. I would have to purposely sit up taller and I didn't want to do that all the time. You would think at this point the easy solution would be to cut the windshield down, but now far? I have learned there is a fine line between being too short or too tall. The other variable is when I eventually decide to change out my seat, it needs improvement. No guarentee the new seat will be exactly the same as the old, so I'll then have to deal with that hassle.

I'm almost at the point where I might try a 22" tall shield and just look through the damn thing and be done with it. I haven't tried the look through style, I've always looked over the shield, not that I want to because of deflection, bug splatter, night riding vision, etc. But I have crunched down to get an idea how looking through might be and there is a quiet zone doing that. The key is not get any closer to the shield, because the closer you are the better protection from the wind and noise. That would be a false read.

Helmet choice is another variable. I have five full helmets and bought a 3/4 when I bought the bike, it has a flip down clear shield. I wore a full helmet for a short while before getting the 3/4 and it did protect better against wind buffeting.

I know there is wind and thats the nature of riding, but wind buffeting is another matter. I ride half the time without a windshield and prefer that in the summer months. For those who also ride without a windshield, there are certain conditions when its better to ride without than with, its called clean air. Anyway, its a perplexing problem and not one easilly solved, depending on your tolerance level to wind and wind buffeting. Good luck

 

I have both of my windshields where If I sit straight my eyes are just higher then the top of the windshield.

 

just went thru a similiar trial and error .. I can tell you that ANGLE of the shield is almost important as the height and a set of LOWERS made all the difference

 

I have an HD Compact QD 19" windshield and really hate the thing. I have adjusted that thing up, down, back and forth and even added some home made lowers to it and the thing still buffets the crap out of me. I wear glasses and it shakes them so bad I can hardly see. Another problem with this shield is the distortion in the upper 1". It is so bad if you try to look through it the white lines on the sides of the roads appear to be converging and makes me car sick.

I am now riding without a shield with a 3/4 helmet and pull down visor. Much better to get hit with clean air than buffeted air.

I realize most folks on the forum like to look over their shield, but the best shield I ever had was a Memphis Shades Fats 21". It was tall enough I looked through it and there was absolutely no distortion at the top of the shield. No buffeting and pretty quiet behind the shield.

If I had the $$$ I would by one for my Dyna.

Wish I would never bought the HD QD, could have bought the Fats and mounts for less $$$.

 

Bingo. Sometimes, a lot of the buffeting comes from under and around the bottom of the shield. Lowers help a bunch with this.

Also, there is a shield out there that supposedly cuts down on buffeting a lot. It has a curved top. Unfortunately, I can't find the darn thing now.

Here's some good info though.

http://www.nationalcycle.com/WhyBuy/chapter3.html

This may be the one I'm thinking of...
http://www.kustombaggers.com/Billboa...atalogId=-1790

 

Clearview Shields have an option for a recurve at the top, supposed to move the air same as a shield 1.5-2" taller. Pretty sure I will order one just trying to figure out how to reuse my current hardware without damaging it removing.

http://www.clearviewshields.com/shop/index.php

 

The day I bought my Heritage I noticed on the ride home that the windshield hit exactly where my line of sight was. I cut an inch and half off the next day.

I didn't notice much difference in the buffeting at all. Certainly nothing that would get me upset or anything. Hey, it's a motorcycle.

 

Try a Longrideshield! They are a sponsor on the forum and have what I feel to be a great product at a fair price!
I have one and like it a lot! It has the recurve at the top! I look over the wind screen! Have little to no buffeting!