Windshield Advice Needed
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 119
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Windshield Advice Needed
I am coming up on my one year anniversary on purchasing my Softail Standard so I consider myself still a newbe. Over the winter I added the Harley detachable compact windshield. I took my first long ride yesterday (York, PA for the tour) and noticed that the front end would catch wind and I fought the front end a little. Is it a matter of learning how to ride with a windshield and new wind distribution or am I missing something? I like the fact that the shield catches a lot of road debris and bugs but I don't know if I want to fight the front end. I have it mounted just below my eye sight so I have it on correctly. Any advise would be helpful.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Brookville, Ohio
RE: Windshield Advice Needed
For every measure of pleasure there is an equal measure of pain.
That holds true for a lot of things. The windshield will catch bugs etc but it will fight back in a cross wind or if you get into the buffeting zone of large vehicles. It's just something to deal with. If you have ever carried a 4'x8' sheet of plywood outside in the wind you'll understand what happens with the windshield. I've also read a lot of posts about solid wheels doing the same thing on fatboys etc. It bothers some folks more than others. The softail standard with the skinny front tire doesn't help much either at higher speeds. A friend of mine added the full size detachable to his Softail Standard last fall and he loves it.
I've added lower wind deflectors to my Heritage Classic. In conjunction with the full size windshield I find the ride more enjoyable. It didn't seem to change the way it handles either. I still get a little resistance in cross winds etc but not enought to worry about. It's worth it. I'm an older rider and prefer the more comfortable atmosphere with the shield and lowers.
Ride safe.....
That holds true for a lot of things. The windshield will catch bugs etc but it will fight back in a cross wind or if you get into the buffeting zone of large vehicles. It's just something to deal with. If you have ever carried a 4'x8' sheet of plywood outside in the wind you'll understand what happens with the windshield. I've also read a lot of posts about solid wheels doing the same thing on fatboys etc. It bothers some folks more than others. The softail standard with the skinny front tire doesn't help much either at higher speeds. A friend of mine added the full size detachable to his Softail Standard last fall and he loves it.
I've added lower wind deflectors to my Heritage Classic. In conjunction with the full size windshield I find the ride more enjoyable. It didn't seem to change the way it handles either. I still get a little resistance in cross winds etc but not enought to worry about. It's worth it. I'm an older rider and prefer the more comfortable atmosphere with the shield and lowers.
Ride safe.....
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 284
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Windshield Advice Needed
I have an 06 Softail Standard and have also added the detachable windshield. I took it off to ride and could not get above 60 mph. The wind noise from the half helmet and the wind pushing me was unbearable. I put the windshield back on and have no problems running 85 on the interstate. I have noticed that when I ride with the full face helmet the exhaust is too loud. I don't have the noise problem with the half helmet & I am running V&H shortshots with the baffles removed [sm=confused06.gif]
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 1
From: Southwestern Virginia
RE: Windshield Advice Needed
A couple of tricks I learned when I notice my windshield being buffeted by the wind:
Draft 5 to 6 car lengths behind a fully loaded 18 wheeler for a few miles. After 1 or 2 miles of that, pass the rig. You'll be saying to yourself, "what wind?"
You can also add 10 to 15 mph to your speed for a few miles (watch out for LEOs) when you go back to the posted speed you will again be saying "what wind?"
A word of caution, be REALLY careful in cross-winds. Where I live, in some unprotected areas (valleys) we can get cross winds of 25-30mph out of nowhere. That will make your stand on end at 70mph -- and with the length of my hair, that is really saying something!
Draft 5 to 6 car lengths behind a fully loaded 18 wheeler for a few miles. After 1 or 2 miles of that, pass the rig. You'll be saying to yourself, "what wind?"
You can also add 10 to 15 mph to your speed for a few miles (watch out for LEOs) when you go back to the posted speed you will again be saying "what wind?"
A word of caution, be REALLY careful in cross-winds. Where I live, in some unprotected areas (valleys) we can get cross winds of 25-30mph out of nowhere. That will make your stand on end at 70mph -- and with the length of my hair, that is really saying something!
ORIGINAL: DFTL20
I am coming up on my one year anniversary on purchasing my Softail Standard so I consider myself still a newbe. Over the winter I added the Harley detachable compact windshield. I took my first long ride yesterday (York, PA for the tour) and noticed that the front end would catch wind and I fought the front end a little. Is it a matter of learning how to ride with a windshield and new wind distribution or am I missing something? I like the fact that the shield catches a lot of road debris and bugs but I don't know if I want to fight the front end. I have it mounted just below my eye sight so I have it on correctly. Any advise would be helpful.
I am coming up on my one year anniversary on purchasing my Softail Standard so I consider myself still a newbe. Over the winter I added the Harley detachable compact windshield. I took my first long ride yesterday (York, PA for the tour) and noticed that the front end would catch wind and I fought the front end a little. Is it a matter of learning how to ride with a windshield and new wind distribution or am I missing something? I like the fact that the shield catches a lot of road debris and bugs but I don't know if I want to fight the front end. I have it mounted just below my eye sight so I have it on correctly. Any advise would be helpful.
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