Bat wings are great in the cold, Windshields are good on the cold, only downside to the batwing is going 15 mph in traffic on a 90+ degree day. They can become downright HOT.

 

Like others have said, it's not just the windshield or fairing, it's also about dressing warm.
And when it starts to get real cold, break out the heated gear.

 

I have 2 windshields for my RK, a shorty for summer and the tallest I could find for winter.
I like the wind in the milder times, so a full fairing is not for me.

 

I have a small Memphis Shades sport shield on or the cold weather. It does keep the air blast off my chest. But I also wear a heated jacket and gloves and have ridden down in the 20s in the past month. No problems at all.

A larger windshield would help, but even the small sport shield does enough to keep the wind off my "core".

 

Bought my bike used and it came with heated grips. Boy are they ever nice. Been on the highway in 38 degrees and they kept my hands warm.

 

When riding with freinds in cold weather if find the I, and those others, with fairings are not as cold as those with windsheilds. The guys with nothing are either freezing or don't ride. I found that my GW was warmer for cold weather riding as it was a one piece fairing. I've been trying to think of a way to provide more wind blockage between my lowers and the main fairing.

 

I've never riden with a windshield before last week. Best thing I ever bought for my bike. I did about a 100 miles today no problems. My knees were a little cold.

 

Yes they help a lot. I use a detachable one in the cooler months.

 

I remember the first time I rode with a windshield after a couple of years without. I couldn't find the highway fast enough!!

 

Love the windshield on the RK, never had one before. No batwing but stay warm into the 30's with good gloves and properly dressed. Have ridden in the mountains in low temps with bad gloves and the hands were like a couple of tree stumps.