Madstad Windshield
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 7,971
Likes: 6,864
From: NC
I never could figure out what caused that blast of air from under the tanks. The vacuum makes perfect sense.
Im running an 8" Freedom Shield and HD fangs on a batwing which has completely eliminated the buffeting, but I would be willing to spring for a new windshield if it eliminated it without the fangs.
Let us know how it works please.
Im running an 8" Freedom Shield and HD fangs on a batwing which has completely eliminated the buffeting, but I would be willing to spring for a new windshield if it eliminated it without the fangs.
Let us know how it works please.
I have the Madstad installed, but it looks like today will be a washout for riding to test the windshield. Tomorrow is looking good!
*Gosh my garage is a mess. 4 projects and I need a dump run!*
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 8,113
Likes: 9,504
From: central NC
Looks like for my height I would have to go from an 8 Freedom Shield to the Madstad 13 which looks to be mounted maybe 11.5" to 12 above the fairing. That would change the look. Running a dark or medium smoke windshield (like I do now) in the Madstad would hide some of that mounting hardware, but I dont think Id want a dark screen that high in my field of view. I went from 9 dark smoke (not black) to 8 medium smoke just to see whats right in front of me when I pull in the garage.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 7,971
Likes: 6,864
From: NC
Looks like for my height I would have to go from an 8 Freedom Shield to the Madstad 13 which looks to be mounted maybe 11.5" to 12 above the fairing. That would change the look. Running a dark or medium smoke windshield (like I do now) in the Madstad would hide some of that mounting hardware, but I dont think Id want a dark screen that high in my field of view. I went from 9 dark smoke (not black) to 8 medium smoke just to see whats right in front of me when I pull in the garage.
A stock Harley ElectraGlide windshield only comes up to my shoulders. I was running a 14 inch LRS recurve shield before this one.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 69,901
Likes: 18,589
From: South Florida
Looks like for my height I would have to go from an 8 Freedom Shield to the Madstad 13 which looks to be mounted maybe 11.5" to 12 above the fairing. That would change the look. Running a dark or medium smoke windshield (like I do now) in the Madstad would hide some of that mounting hardware, but I dont think Id want a dark screen that high in my field of view. I went from 9 dark smoke (not black) to 8 medium smoke just to see whats right in front of me when I pull in the garage.
I stand 5'8" and have a 29 inch inseam. Which means when I am in the saddle, the distance between my butt and my eyes are much higher than the average person my height.
So it is not how tall you are, is the distance between you were sitting in the saddle and how high up you go.
And then, it depends upon what saddle you were in and if your saddle has been scooped out like mine because my legs are so short I need to reach the ground.
Bottom line, when the bike is upright and you were sitting in the saddle way you normally would, a measurement needs to be taken so the top of the windshield falls within your philtrum. <-- The space between your upper lip and nose.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 8,113
Likes: 9,504
From: central NC
Be careful my friend. If I understand what you are saying above, your height has nothing to do with the height of the windshield.
I stand 5'8" and have a 29 inch inseam. Which means when I am in the saddle, the distance between my butt and my eyes are much higher than the average person my height.
So it is not how tall you are, is the distance between you were sitting in the saddle and how high up you go.
And then, it depends upon what saddle you were in and if your saddle has been scooped out like mine because my legs are so short I need to reach the ground.
Bottom line, when the bike is upright and you were sitting in the saddle way you normally would, a measurement needs to be taken so the top of the windshield falls within your philtrum. <-- The space between your upper lip and nose.
I stand 5'8" and have a 29 inch inseam. Which means when I am in the saddle, the distance between my butt and my eyes are much higher than the average person my height.
So it is not how tall you are, is the distance between you were sitting in the saddle and how high up you go.
And then, it depends upon what saddle you were in and if your saddle has been scooped out like mine because my legs are so short I need to reach the ground.
Bottom line, when the bike is upright and you were sitting in the saddle way you normally would, a measurement needs to be taken so the top of the windshield falls within your philtrum. <-- The space between your upper lip and nose.
About 1” to 1.5” of the bottom of the Madstad screen looks to be below the top of the fairing so their 13” screen will be the height of an 11” to 12” "any other" screen.
Edit to add: They only come in three heights for batwing (maybe the others too) 9”, 11” and 13” so they're pretty big increments and you wanna get it right.
Last edited by gonemad; Mar 12, 2022 at 10:03 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,426
Likes: 2,486
From: Lititz Pa
After looking a the Madstad windshield I don't like the looks of it. I have a 2019 Flhtk and run a Harley wind splitter on my bike and most of the time on the highway well over 70 Mph no problems and it protects the wind from your hands too. I do use aftermarket parts but sometimes you don't have to any farther than your local HD dealer. Oh ya they have them to try out first.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 69,901
Likes: 18,589
From: South Florida
Interesting listening (reading) abt what you guys are saying. Was just thinking how NICE it would be if HD made windshields adjustable. Like I think the Honda Gold Wing does. 
Aaaah, I could dream..........
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 7,971
Likes: 6,864
From: NC
I received my Madstad windshield last Thursday, when the rains started. I installed it okay. The directions were not very well written. But it was still assembled and on the bike in 30 minutes.
This is on a 2019 FLHTP. I rode with the stock police windshield for a couple thousand miles. I then purchased a Long Ride Shield 14 inch recurve shield. That was better than the police shield. But at interstate speeds brought up more disturbed air from below the fairing.
I am 6'7", 36 inch inseam, so I sit tall in the saddle. Stock ElectraGlide windshields (with stock seats) are shoulder height for me. Add to that that I am on the stock police pogo seat that raises me up 2+ inches over a standard ElectraGlide seat.
I ordered the 13 inch shield setup from Madstad.
I started with the shield in the lower position, in the full out position so it was upright as much as it can be. I went for a ride in the cold but sunny weather on Sunday. I got up to 80 MPH to see how it worked. I stopped to adjust the shield to tilt back. Each adjustment fine tuned the wind around me.
I ended up with the shield at max height, Second notch from full upright.
The results are good. Reduced buffeting from below the fairing. Reduced, not eliminated. But reduced enough so that riding out a tank of fuel (160-200 miles) is much more pleasant.
I'm not in a pocket of calm air to smoke a cigar. It is not beating me with hard puffs of air like the solid windshields did. This system reduces the buffeting significantly. Now the wind from under the fairing are soft puffs of air instead of a hard push.
The result is I have a much more pleasant ride on the interstate at speeds 65+. I will keep the Madstad shield system. I am considering a 'special order' of a 14 inch shield.
This is on a 2019 FLHTP. I rode with the stock police windshield for a couple thousand miles. I then purchased a Long Ride Shield 14 inch recurve shield. That was better than the police shield. But at interstate speeds brought up more disturbed air from below the fairing.
I am 6'7", 36 inch inseam, so I sit tall in the saddle. Stock ElectraGlide windshields (with stock seats) are shoulder height for me. Add to that that I am on the stock police pogo seat that raises me up 2+ inches over a standard ElectraGlide seat.
I ordered the 13 inch shield setup from Madstad.
I started with the shield in the lower position, in the full out position so it was upright as much as it can be. I went for a ride in the cold but sunny weather on Sunday. I got up to 80 MPH to see how it worked. I stopped to adjust the shield to tilt back. Each adjustment fine tuned the wind around me.
I ended up with the shield at max height, Second notch from full upright.
The results are good. Reduced buffeting from below the fairing. Reduced, not eliminated. But reduced enough so that riding out a tank of fuel (160-200 miles) is much more pleasant.
I'm not in a pocket of calm air to smoke a cigar. It is not beating me with hard puffs of air like the solid windshields did. This system reduces the buffeting significantly. Now the wind from under the fairing are soft puffs of air instead of a hard push.
The result is I have a much more pleasant ride on the interstate at speeds 65+. I will keep the Madstad shield system. I am considering a 'special order' of a 14 inch shield.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 356
Likes: 83
From: Plant City FL
I never could figure out what caused that blast of air from under the tanks. The vacuum makes perfect sense.
Im running an 8" Freedom Shield and HD fangs on a batwing which has completely eliminated the buffeting, but I would be willing to spring for a new windshield if it eliminated it without the fangs.
Let us know how it works please.
Im running an 8" Freedom Shield and HD fangs on a batwing which has completely eliminated the buffeting, but I would be willing to spring for a new windshield if it eliminated it without the fangs.
Let us know how it works please.