Interesting Windshield Observation (Top Speed)
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
Interesting Windshield Observation (Top Speed)
Yeah, this doesn't deal directly with Sportsters, but I imagine the 'end result' might be the same.
Yesterday I quite a bit of time riding a friends Honda 250 Rebel, as they need to sell it because of money problems, and I might buy it from them as it's a fun little bike, 'bullet proof', and will go anywhere. I might put on some on/off road type tires and use it for running around on some of the dirt and gravel roads we have around here.
Anyway, the Rebel has a detachable windshield and I decided to try some full throttle runs to see it's top speed with and without the windshield.
To keep the test on equal grounds, I rode the bike in the same riding position (didn't lean over the tank or anything to reduce wind deflection), and the results were quite interesting.
Without the windshield, and the wind hitting my body and torso, the top speed on a long, level, deserted strip of highway was 81 MPH.
With the windshield, same road, same conditions, the top speed was 86 MPH.
The 250 Rebel gets about 85 miles per gallon without the windshield mounted, so I imagine the mileage might be slightly higherusing the windshield,as theaerodynamics seem to be slightly better...
Kind of interesting....
Carry On......
Yesterday I quite a bit of time riding a friends Honda 250 Rebel, as they need to sell it because of money problems, and I might buy it from them as it's a fun little bike, 'bullet proof', and will go anywhere. I might put on some on/off road type tires and use it for running around on some of the dirt and gravel roads we have around here.
Anyway, the Rebel has a detachable windshield and I decided to try some full throttle runs to see it's top speed with and without the windshield.
To keep the test on equal grounds, I rode the bike in the same riding position (didn't lean over the tank or anything to reduce wind deflection), and the results were quite interesting.
Without the windshield, and the wind hitting my body and torso, the top speed on a long, level, deserted strip of highway was 81 MPH.
With the windshield, same road, same conditions, the top speed was 86 MPH.
The 250 Rebel gets about 85 miles per gallon without the windshield mounted, so I imagine the mileage might be slightly higherusing the windshield,as theaerodynamics seem to be slightly better...
Kind of interesting....
Carry On......
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
RE: Interesting Windshield Observation (Top Speed)
That's good data. I always suspected the smooth curvature of a windshield would be more aerodynamic than a blunt torso but never could verify it. That Rebel 250 was just the trick. 
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
RE: Interesting Windshield Observation (Top Speed)
ORIGINAL: soliveria
Seems the opposite of what one would assume. Makes me want to go out and get a windshield. How high is it?
Seems the opposite of what one would assume. Makes me want to go out and get a windshield. How high is it?
When sitting on the bike I can look over the top, but if I 'stoop down a bit' I can look through the windshield.
The windshield on my FatBoy is a replacement, 2" under windshield I got from Cee Bailey. It's 18 inches from the headlight cutout to the top, while the stock Harley unit was 20 inches. I like being about to look slightly over the windshield instead of looking through it while in my normal riding position.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,067
Likes: 394
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
RE: Interesting Windshield Observation (Top Speed)
I'd like to know the top speed without the windshield and crouched down over the tank, I would think it would be quite a bit quicker.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
From: South Orange County, California
RE: Interesting Windshield Observation (Top Speed)
ORIGINAL: 1200c
Was that the top speed indicated by the speedometer? If so, then japanese speedo's are horribly inaccurate.
Was that the top speed indicated by the speedometer? If so, then japanese speedo's are horribly inaccurate.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
RE: Interesting Windshield Observation (Top Speed)
hmmm.. gives me something to compare in the spring - gas mileage with and without windscreen. Don't think the windscreen is coming off around here until at least May or June.....
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