Windshield vs. no Windshield
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 19
From: Dayton
If you have a stock bagger, you might as well leave the shield on and enjoy it. Myself, I'm on a path with this bike that would look dumb as hell with a shield (for the look I'm after), so I find a 3/4 helm with a Bell retro shield does wonders for comfort in the cold and at highway speeds.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,126
Likes: 13,075
From: Texas, USA
I almost always ride without the windshield. It goes on if it is too cold, high likelihood for inclement weather or I'm riding 2up with the wife. On rare occasions I'll put it on just to have it on.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 61
From: Albany, OR
The first thing I did to my 2010 Heritage the day I bought it was take the windshield off. Haven't used it since.
The wind buffeting is too uncomfortable, and yes I've tried a taller one, a shorter one, fangs, different helmet - you name it. The wind is constant and comfortable. IMO
The wind buffeting is too uncomfortable, and yes I've tried a taller one, a shorter one, fangs, different helmet - you name it. The wind is constant and comfortable. IMO
I've got a Windvest that is currently off the bike, I thought it was going to be the ticket, and it is by far the best for as for buffeting but after a 6 hour ride it came off. I'm resigning myself to the fact that I can't do a shield on this bike. I guess I'll just have to go buy a FLHX for the long trips and keep the fatty as the bar hopper.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 387
Likes: 34
From: North Dakota
Hate the way it looks on my bike, but I never leave home without it. My driveway comes out on the hiway, it's 35 miles to town. That's a heck of a lot of bugs I don't like to eat. Not to mention the huge bird at 75 that commited suicide on my w/s. It's ugly, but on it stays.
800 mile days on my bike, a back rest from the luggage on my rear seat was all I needed. Had a windshield on a bike years ago and hated it.
A back rest and a shield are nice, but just the shield on seemed to pull on me, killing my lower back. A full face helmet is all I'll use anymore. Idk, maybe I'll change my mind in 10 years, but for now. None for me thanks.
A back rest and a shield are nice, but just the shield on seemed to pull on me, killing my lower back. A full face helmet is all I'll use anymore. Idk, maybe I'll change my mind in 10 years, but for now. None for me thanks.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 333
Likes: 7
From: Newfoundland
I have never used the windshield on my Heritag, I think I will try it the spring tho and see how much better it is on the highway
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 19
From: Illinois
Come on all you "Blacked out" bike rider's! That's not how I imagine you guy's! I have you all pictured as mean, nasty, bug covered Dude's going down the road smiling, the buggier the better! I just can't hang with a W/S, it looks so ugly on my bike. I took my bike in a direction that is just not becoming of a windshield. I had a wasp fly in my shirt a few years back and he stung the chit out of me. I couldn't get pulled over fast enough and rolling around on the ground like I was doing a fire commercial. I went home, put the windshield on and swore I would never ride without it again. I rode downtown with it on and could see myself in the big store front window's and thought, damn that's ugly! I went right back home and peeled it right back off, getting stung be damned. I'm sure no "pretty boy" but I think my bike is and with a W/S on it looks like that pretty girl in school with those big thick pop bottle glasses on. You would ride her but hope no one seen you doing it!!!! I do think the one I had blacked out looks passable, in fact, it kind of looks hot on there but I got it to dark and can barely see out of it at night. Maybe I will take the other one and get it done in a lighter tint and see what goes from there. Have any of you guys ever considered doing that to your W/S? It does look hot and the lighter tints wouldn't be so bad at night.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 4,892
From: Missouri City,TX
LOL...this has more to do with looks rather than comfort...but I can relate to it as well. I tried running with a w/s on my street bob, but I hated it and took it off. The bike looked like **** with it on.
But my Heritage IMO looks good with the w/s on and I like not getting sandblasted in the face by trucks...so it stays on full time.
But my Heritage IMO looks good with the w/s on and I like not getting sandblasted in the face by trucks...so it stays on full time.