windshield or full face helmet?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,095
Likes: 348
From: Ione, CA
A windshield certainly cuts down on the neck pain caused by bracing for the wind going by you at 80 mph. A full face won't do that. I find my FB with a shield is quieter and MUCH more comfortable for the long haul than my FXST with high bars and no shield. Both bikes are louder than hell...
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
I had a sport bike once with a small windshield and getting low and under the wind sure did stop the wind noise and could actually hear the motor very well. But may not be the same on a cruiser sitting straight up
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,601
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From: east texas
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 34
From: Ca
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,557
Likes: 6
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Full face, ear plugs and the cleanest air possible...ie no windshield, is the quietest you can get on the highway.
Longer distances are tough though without something to block the chest blast on the highway. A full face will protect your hearing but your arms will get tired of holding on after 90 miles without something to block the chest blast.
Full face, ear plugs and the cleanest air possible...ie no windshield, is the quietest you can get on the highway.
Longer distances are tough though without something to block the chest blast on the highway. A full face will protect your hearing but your arms will get tired of holding on after 90 miles without something to block the chest blast.
Longer distances are tough though without something to block the chest blast on the highway. A full face will protect your hearing but your arms will get tired of holding on after 90 miles without something to block the chest blast.
Full face, ear plugs and the cleanest air possible...ie no windshield, is the quietest you can get on the highway.
Longer distances are tough though without something to block the chest blast on the highway. A full face will protect your hearing but your arms will get tired of holding on after 90 miles without something to block the chest blast.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Jul 16, 2014 at 10:08 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 461
Likes: 22
From: East Coast, US
Hearing loss sucks . . I have it (tinnitus). As a recording studio owner, musician I realize my profession has something to do with it, but I would say in my case, wearing a helmet with no plugs for a few years was the dumbest thing I could have ever done. Also riding with 'in ear' headphones at times was stupid (in my case). My dumba-ss, I thought I was bulletproof. Hearing loss sneaks up on you . . you don't think you have it until it's too late. Not even sure most FF would do the trick, without plugs
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 241
From: Southeast Texas
Get my hearing tested yearly as part of work. Have a hearing loss that is job related. Still have ear plugs when I ride. Not because noise is bad, just trying to save the hearing I have. And wear a ff.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 494
Likes: 63
From: Bay Area, CA
The windshield on my Heritage cuts the wind noise a great deal. I wear a 1/2 when the windshield is on, and only need plugs for long distance rides.
I like the no windshield look, so I went FF for the summer at least. Riding with no windshield and the 1/2 helmet vs. the FF is no comparison. The aerodynamics of the FF make a huge difference - I do not feel my head being pushed back unless I turn to the side, and there is very little noise. It is much less effort riding without the shield when I switch to the FF.
I think a lot of it depends on the bike/rider and the setup. The Heritage seems to be the fit for me. I don't have buffeting or other problems so many have with windshields.
I like the no windshield look, so I went FF for the summer at least. Riding with no windshield and the 1/2 helmet vs. the FF is no comparison. The aerodynamics of the FF make a huge difference - I do not feel my head being pushed back unless I turn to the side, and there is very little noise. It is much less effort riding without the shield when I switch to the FF.
I think a lot of it depends on the bike/rider and the setup. The Heritage seems to be the fit for me. I don't have buffeting or other problems so many have with windshields.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,557
Likes: 6
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I prefer no shield at all, but if I'm going to do some highway riding I'd rather wear a full face because I can still have the "feel" of wind flow around my body. A windshield makes me feel like I'm riding inside a pocket of still air and doesn't give me a sense of freedom at all. I feel disconnected from the environment and that defeats the purpose of riding.
I prefer no shield at all, but if I'm going to do some highway riding I'd rather wear a full face because I can still have the "feel" of wind flow around my body. A windshield makes me feel like I'm riding inside a pocket of still air and doesn't give me a sense of freedom at all. I feel disconnected from the environment and that defeats the purpose of riding.
I prefer no shield at all, but if I'm going to do some highway riding I'd rather wear a full face because I can still have the "feel" of wind flow around my body. A windshield makes me feel like I'm riding inside a pocket of still air and doesn't give me a sense of freedom at all. I feel disconnected from the environment and that defeats the purpose of riding.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Jul 16, 2014 at 10:09 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 52
From: Here and there
In town, I like wearing my FF with no windshield. The noise isn't too bad for the most part. If I'm doing any time on the highway more than a few miles, I like to bring the windshield since I cruise at 80+. But on longer trips, I definitely do the ear plugs/FF/windshield combo. I still get enough sound that I can hear the bike and things around me like emergency vehicles, but it blocks out all the wind noise.