Quick detach windshield
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: FWB, FL
Quick detach windshield
I am looking for opinions on a HD's quick detach windshield. I'd like to have one for my 13 Blackline for when I ride longer distance and on the freeway and be able to take it off once I get to my destination.
How much does it protect you as a rider from the wind? Any negative effects from having it on?
Also I have seen some blacklines with the quarter fairing installed. Are those functional or just for looks?
Thanks in advance.
How much does it protect you as a rider from the wind? Any negative effects from having it on?
Also I have seen some blacklines with the quarter fairing installed. Are those functional or just for looks?
Thanks in advance.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 875
Likes: 10
From: Corp of Discovery trail, Missouri
I love mine. I have the HD quick detach Nostalgic shield for my Dekuxe. It is well worth the money, very effective at cutting the wind and bug in the face hits. With my shield on the ride is more comfortable.
Wind noise from my helmet to my ears are almost cut to zero. I keep mine on now most of the time except for quick rides around town. Longer distance rides it is a must have on for me.
It comes off of the bike a lot easier than to put on, although not too difficult. I use a drop Dawn dish soap on each plastic gromet as lube when when installing the shield because of the tight fit of the gromets.
My shield is the 21" tall one and I thought I would get it cut down but I have grown use to looking through it. If I don't slouch while riding I can see over the top. I am keeping as is.
Wind noise from my helmet to my ears are almost cut to zero. I keep mine on now most of the time except for quick rides around town. Longer distance rides it is a must have on for me.
It comes off of the bike a lot easier than to put on, although not too difficult. I use a drop Dawn dish soap on each plastic gromet as lube when when installing the shield because of the tight fit of the gromets.
My shield is the 21" tall one and I thought I would get it cut down but I have grown use to looking through it. If I don't slouch while riding I can see over the top. I am keeping as is.
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
I am looking for opinions on a HD's quick detach windshield. I'd like to have one for my 13 Blackline for when I ride longer distance and on the freeway and be able to take it off once I get to my destination.
How much does it protect you as a rider from the wind? Any negative effects from having it on?
Also I have seen some blacklines with the quarter fairing installed. Are those functional or just for looks?
Thanks in advance.
How much does it protect you as a rider from the wind? Any negative effects from having it on?
Also I have seen some blacklines with the quarter fairing installed. Are those functional or just for looks?
Thanks in advance.
(H-D #57400111, 18", light smoke)
I prepped the bike for winter (here in PA) and still managed to get in at least one or two rides each month throughout.
The protection is great, but you will get some buffeting at higher speeds, mostly from underneath.
I think I'm already ruined by it, as I took it off on a particularly nice day last week. A half mile from home I turned around and put it back on...
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 444
Likes: 1
From: Grand Rapids, MI
The protection is great, but you will get some buffeting at higher speeds, mostly from underneath.
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
What he said. If that bothers you, as it did me, then lower deflectors will take care of it. Also, think about whether or not you will want to put on aux lights in the future. If you even remotely think you will, then get the one that fits aux lights. It is the same shield but comes with different mounts that work with the aux lights.
The mounting is different, and you'll have to choose a windshield based on whether you have aux. lights or not.
The difference is the spacing between the mounts.
The ones made for aux. lights are about 3/4" - 1" wider overall.
Other than that they're identical.
And as cmosentine said, most just get the windshield made for aux. lights, then just add small spacers to the mounting bolts to take up the slack...
The nice thing about the H-D quick detach unit, is that when you take it off, there's little evidence it was ever on.
Also, I did the aux. lights first, and they came with [4] rather nasty and out-of-place looking SS hex head bolts.
The QD replaced those with better looking Allen bolts.
Last edited by jam436; May 18, 2013 at 08:35 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
The trade-off between the buffeting and not having one for long distance riding is I'd rather have it. The only problem I've encountered is when approaching vehicles from behind, the wake will produce some wobble.
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
With the stock bars I ran a wind deflector and it worked fine as I was leaning forward and low, once I switched the bars to the 4"pullbacks and was sitting upright and back that deflector just didnt cut it, buffeting and wind noise was insane. I Went with the 19" clear quick detach windshield. Night and Day, it doesnt come off the bike now, I ended up cutting 3.5" off to fit my riding position. Unfortunatly Harley does not make a windhsield to fit aux lights for the Blackline. You only have the 16" or 19" for a choice, however, it looks like with the 19" raised all the way up I should have enough clearance to add the aux lights under the bottom bracket in the future. Bottom line? Wind noise is gone, slight buffetting above 65mph (which I almost eliminated by raising the shield slightly) and a smooth virtually bug free ride.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,718
Likes: 1,822
From: In a house
Can't go wrong with the HD detachable. Wife has it on her lo and can ride all day at any speed. Tail end may be killing her but not beat up from wind. A lot of local glass shops will cut them down to whatever size you need if you want something shorter than stock.
I understand the point about the cut outs for aux lights but think the look of the open holes would be weird. Can always just order a new shield without hardware and swap out later.
I understand the point about the cut outs for aux lights but think the look of the open holes would be weird. Can always just order a new shield without hardware and swap out later.
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Can't go wrong with the HD detachable. Wife has it on her lo and can ride all day at any speed. Tail end may be killing her but not beat up from wind. A lot of local glass shops will cut them down to whatever size you need if you want something shorter than stock.
I understand the point about the cut outs for aux lights but think the look of the open holes would be weird. Can always just order a new shield without hardware and swap out later.
I understand the point about the cut outs for aux lights but think the look of the open holes would be weird. Can always just order a new shield without hardware and swap out later.
The sides wrap down BEHIND the aux lights.
It's the same windshield panel that you'd get if you bought the shield for NO aux. lights.
The only difference between the "aux lights/no aux lights" quick-detach shields is the spacing of the mounts.
Now if you decided you want to go with the headlight nacelle, that's another story. That shield does have a larger, higher opening...
