2015 Softail Deluxe - 18" or 21" windshield?
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 132
Likes: 90
From: Home of the Alamo
2015 Softail Deluxe - 18" or 21" windshield?
Just picked up a 2015 Deluxe and my first 100 mile ride convinced me I need a windshield.
II'm planning on buying Harley OEM. i'm 5-11 and was wondering if you all recommend an 18" or 21"?
Thanks in advance!
II'm planning on buying Harley OEM. i'm 5-11 and was wondering if you all recommend an 18" or 21"?
Thanks in advance!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 10,833
Likes: 6,485
From: Canada Flats
What you should do is sit on your bike and have someone take a measurement from the top of the headlight straight up until it's level with the area between your top lip and nose . That would be the ideal setting for your windshield , too low and you'll get buffeting , too high and you'll be looking through it , which is not great during rain storms or at night .
Forgot to mention , congrats on the purchase , one sweet ride you got !
Forgot to mention , congrats on the purchase , one sweet ride you got !
Last edited by MyFavRk; Sep 21, 2020 at 09:58 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 488
From: Central California
I think you will need to experiment as it seems no single solution works for everyone. My deluxe came with a giant 21" screen. I'm 5'8" and I was looking through it. But it did block the wind!
I tried a 16" recurve and it was at what is said to be optimum height relative to my eye level. However, the helmet buffeting was so bad above 50mph, it was unrideable.
So, I bought an 18" recurve. Better, but still unpleasant above 60mph.
I think a lot of it has to do with handlebars too. I have wide beach bars. It sets me more upright with arms wide....like a human sail.
Since I got the 16" on sale, and was pretty much unsellable because it cost more to ship than I could ask for it, I decided to go the opposite way and cut it down. Everytime I cut it, it got better.
As of now, it is little more that a sport screen. About 9" above the headlight housing, and an inch on either side of the mount brackets.
It keeps most of the wind pressure off my mid section, and puts my head it clean air. Still, a bit unpleasant to ride above 70mph. But I don't care. I rarely ride on the slab anyway. For back roads, it's awesome.
I tried a 16" recurve and it was at what is said to be optimum height relative to my eye level. However, the helmet buffeting was so bad above 50mph, it was unrideable.
So, I bought an 18" recurve. Better, but still unpleasant above 60mph.
I think a lot of it has to do with handlebars too. I have wide beach bars. It sets me more upright with arms wide....like a human sail.
Since I got the 16" on sale, and was pretty much unsellable because it cost more to ship than I could ask for it, I decided to go the opposite way and cut it down. Everytime I cut it, it got better.
As of now, it is little more that a sport screen. About 9" above the headlight housing, and an inch on either side of the mount brackets.
It keeps most of the wind pressure off my mid section, and puts my head it clean air. Still, a bit unpleasant to ride above 70mph. But I don't care. I rarely ride on the slab anyway. For back roads, it's awesome.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 156
Likes: 152
From: NE Nebraska
First congrats on the new ride...
I prefer the 16-inch recurve combined with the fork deflectors (fangs), at 5'9" this provides the best solution. Have a 21 OEM screen, buffeting was bad and the vision through the screen was terrible, purchase a 18-inch recurve - reduced the buffeting but was still an issue at 65/70... then came the 16-inch recurve, absolutely love it.
But as the others have shared, this is a trial and error situation, unless you have friends with the screen heights you would like to try...
Good luck and keep it upright...
I prefer the 16-inch recurve combined with the fork deflectors (fangs), at 5'9" this provides the best solution. Have a 21 OEM screen, buffeting was bad and the vision through the screen was terrible, purchase a 18-inch recurve - reduced the buffeting but was still an issue at 65/70... then came the 16-inch recurve, absolutely love it.
But as the others have shared, this is a trial and error situation, unless you have friends with the screen heights you would like to try...
Good luck and keep it upright...
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