Windshield Act as a Sail?
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Club Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6,905
Likes: 4,877
From: Midwest
Windshield Act as a Sail?
I installed my detacheable windshield for my Super Glide. It was pretty windy today and I noticed I was getting blown around the road from crosswinds. Earlier in the day I had road it without and it was just as windy and the wind didn't seem to be that noticeable in terms of blowing me left or right. I got it with the $1,000 credit I got as part of the bike purchase.
Does anyone else get this or is it in my head?
The shield isn't all what I expected it to be. I had it fitted correctly so the top was just below my line of sight. The lip is kind of distracting, however. I look down the road but still, the bubble takes some getting used to. I kind of felt like I was in a fishbowl peering over the edge of the bowl. I also noticed the air was coming off the top of the shield and batting my head around pretty good. I like riding without it better. It will come in handy when I take long highway trips as it keeps the wind from blowing my torso backwards, but I won't keep it on all the time.
Does anyone else get this or is it in my head?
The shield isn't all what I expected it to be. I had it fitted correctly so the top was just below my line of sight. The lip is kind of distracting, however. I look down the road but still, the bubble takes some getting used to. I kind of felt like I was in a fishbowl peering over the edge of the bowl. I also noticed the air was coming off the top of the shield and batting my head around pretty good. I like riding without it better. It will come in handy when I take long highway trips as it keeps the wind from blowing my torso backwards, but I won't keep it on all the time.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 367
Likes: 8
From: Pa, USA
I installed my detacheable windshield for my Super Glide. It was pretty windy today and I noticed I was getting blown around the road from crosswinds. Earlier in the day I had road it without and it was just as windy and the wind didn't seem to be that noticeable in terms of blowing me left or right. I got it with the $1,000 credit I got as part of the bike purchase.
Does anyone else get this or is it in my head?
The shield isn't all what I expected it to be. I had it fitted correctly so the top was just below my line of sight. The lip is kind of distracting, however. I look down the road but still, the bubble takes some getting used to. I kind of felt like I was in a fishbowl peering over the edge of the bowl. I also noticed the air was coming off the top of the shield and batting my head around pretty good. I like riding without it better. It will come in handy when I take long highway trips as it keeps the wind from blowing my torso backwards, but I won't keep it on all the time.
Does anyone else get this or is it in my head?
The shield isn't all what I expected it to be. I had it fitted correctly so the top was just below my line of sight. The lip is kind of distracting, however. I look down the road but still, the bubble takes some getting used to. I kind of felt like I was in a fishbowl peering over the edge of the bowl. I also noticed the air was coming off the top of the shield and batting my head around pretty good. I like riding without it better. It will come in handy when I take long highway trips as it keeps the wind from blowing my torso backwards, but I won't keep it on all the time.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Whiting, NJ
At 5'7", my H-D compact detachable windshield works very well for me on my 2010 SuperGlide. I will say that I wear a Shoei full face helmet. Seems buffeting was worse with an HJC FF but the Shoei's aerodynamics is better, even when looking off to the side. Other helmet types don't fare so well with the compact either. The compact doesn't act like a sail even on 60 mph side winds I've been caught in, allows longer ride time without exhaustion and protects from a great deal of debris and flying insects. It still allows quite a bit of airflow as opposed to the taller windshields. I have mine set at the lowest possible position so it might be chin/lip level. Only drawback seems to be some reflection of the LED headlight back at me but it is very minor.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 641
Likes: 0
From: none
leave the sails to the boats and windshields on cars......never mix the 2
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
Your w/s is adjusted too high.
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 669
Likes: 21
From: Riverside, CA
Windshield have only one advantage for me and that is it cuts down on the wind that hits my chest and allows me to ride more comfortable. That said I don't use one nor will I. Not only does it create more drag on the bike, but it makes the bike use more fuel and it changes the stability (which you are experiencing) plus I dislike how they take away from the looks of the bike (except for RK's and such).
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,831
Likes: 15
From: Nomad
Cut it down!
Ever notice the sportbike and GS crowds never have problems with their windshields?
You don't have to cut yours that short, but you do need to cut it short enough so that your head is in clean air.
After I cut my QD windshield down about 3", it is infinitely more useful to me. It does it's job much better and does not act like a sail or create any buffeting.
Ever notice the sportbike and GS crowds never have problems with their windshields?
You don't have to cut yours that short, but you do need to cut it short enough so that your head is in clean air.
After I cut my QD windshield down about 3", it is infinitely more useful to me. It does it's job much better and does not act like a sail or create any buffeting.