View Poll Results: Do you ride with a windshield?
No way
122
26.35%
Won't leave home without it.
341
73.65%
Voters: 463. You may not vote on this poll
Windshield. Yes? No?
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 619
Likes: 9
From: Auburn, GA
Geoff, I respect you and your comments, but this is just flat wrong. It appears to be the case for about 75% of the people on this board, but that doesn't make it a fact.
I realize its all anecdotal, but this year I rode from Dacula, GA to Split Rock, MN and a whole lot of places in between. I did 2,800 miles that week. My buddy with the Fatboy with the windshield rode from Wichita, KS to our meeting spot in MO. My other buddy rode his Ultra from Peoria, IL to our meeting spot in MO. When the week was over I had accumulated over 400 more miles than the other two because I had started from farther away. Yet I, the guy with no windshield, was no worse off than the other two. I would say that the only hassle I experienced that was different from the other two was when we approached Superior, WI I was a little more excited about putting on my jacket than the other guys.
Its all just a state of mind.
I realize its all anecdotal, but this year I rode from Dacula, GA to Split Rock, MN and a whole lot of places in between. I did 2,800 miles that week. My buddy with the Fatboy with the windshield rode from Wichita, KS to our meeting spot in MO. My other buddy rode his Ultra from Peoria, IL to our meeting spot in MO. When the week was over I had accumulated over 400 more miles than the other two because I had started from farther away. Yet I, the guy with no windshield, was no worse off than the other two. I would say that the only hassle I experienced that was different from the other two was when we approached Superior, WI I was a little more excited about putting on my jacket than the other guys.
Its all just a state of mind.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 1
From: LI, NY
I never rode with a windshield, wimpshield, wussshield, whatever you want to call themshield.
I have driven my jeep with the doors off and the side curtains off were it was comfortable during the day only to have to drive later in the evening after the sun has been down for a few hours and found the windshield, firewall, floorboards did not deflect enough air to keep me from being cold.
This leads me to feel that a windshield fairings lowers would not help much to keeping one warm enough to make any difference.
However riding a electra glide at a Harley demo ride on a hot summer day my son complained that the windshield blocked the air enough to make riding that bike too hot. Being that most people ride the warm half of the year it would seem that having a windshield would make one feel too hot more often then keeping one warm.
Last I am not surprised that most of the votes have gone in favor of windshields being that at anyone time the people logged on are about 50% touring bike, 20% softail, 20% dyna, 10% sportster.
Adding a windshield to a bike seems to me as the person that goes camping in a tent. Only to wanting more comfort. So they move up to a popup to get off the ground. Then wanting more comfort move up to a travel trailer. Then wanting more comfort moves up to a RV with AC, four slide outs, full kitchen, washer dryer, satelite TV, wife can get up and fix him his lunch as he keeps driving, etc.
Sort of guy goes from a sportster to a dyna, softail, touring, trailer for the electra glide to dressed as a pirate while driving their PU towing their bike on a trailer to go 130 miles to a rally.
Comfort. Comfortable can not be measured only perceived. So what feels good to one is then good for them but not everyone.
I have driven my jeep with the doors off and the side curtains off were it was comfortable during the day only to have to drive later in the evening after the sun has been down for a few hours and found the windshield, firewall, floorboards did not deflect enough air to keep me from being cold.
This leads me to feel that a windshield fairings lowers would not help much to keeping one warm enough to make any difference.
However riding a electra glide at a Harley demo ride on a hot summer day my son complained that the windshield blocked the air enough to make riding that bike too hot. Being that most people ride the warm half of the year it would seem that having a windshield would make one feel too hot more often then keeping one warm.
Last I am not surprised that most of the votes have gone in favor of windshields being that at anyone time the people logged on are about 50% touring bike, 20% softail, 20% dyna, 10% sportster.
Adding a windshield to a bike seems to me as the person that goes camping in a tent. Only to wanting more comfort. So they move up to a popup to get off the ground. Then wanting more comfort move up to a travel trailer. Then wanting more comfort moves up to a RV with AC, four slide outs, full kitchen, washer dryer, satelite TV, wife can get up and fix him his lunch as he keeps driving, etc.
Sort of guy goes from a sportster to a dyna, softail, touring, trailer for the electra glide to dressed as a pirate while driving their PU towing their bike on a trailer to go 130 miles to a rally.
Comfort. Comfortable can not be measured only perceived. So what feels good to one is then good for them but not everyone.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,067
Likes: 60
From: Chesterfield, VA
You didn't specify but I'm assuming you mean on my motorcycle? the answer is no way. I do have one in my car though......
Honestly I am always completely baffled by posts about windshields - I simply don't understand the appeal. I've ridden hundreds of miles a day for days at a time and never once have I wished I had a windshield - it simply never occurs to me....... feeling exposed with the wind in my face sounds a bit cliche but for me that's what it's about. When I hear comments like there's too much wind on my motorcyle without a windshield it reminds me of going into a restaurant and ordering a steak dinner but asking them to hold the meat.......
Honestly I am always completely baffled by posts about windshields - I simply don't understand the appeal. I've ridden hundreds of miles a day for days at a time and never once have I wished I had a windshield - it simply never occurs to me....... feeling exposed with the wind in my face sounds a bit cliche but for me that's what it's about. When I hear comments like there's too much wind on my motorcyle without a windshield it reminds me of going into a restaurant and ordering a steak dinner but asking them to hold the meat.......
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 182
Likes: 2
From: Albuquerque
recently upgraded windsheild. Sold the old one before the new one came in so had to ride a couple days without one. Was I ever glad when I got the new one on. Never know how much you miss it till it is gone.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 17,625
Likes: 1,665
From: Blairsville GA
When the weather is nice I prefer to ride without. When it gets cold or wet I love my windshield. It's been in the 30s in the morning in the mountains lately and I put the windshield back on last weekend. I also like it for long trips. My days on the road to Sturgis are normally 6-8 hundred miles, and I'm too old to do it without a shield.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,877
Likes: 577
From: Raleigh NC
Always rode without a windshield when I was younger, now that I'm a "senior" I wouldn't leave home without it
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Joe Kucinski
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,499
Likes: 3,717
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
My 65 came with a windshield. Tried it once, took it off and stored it. Still have it and figure when I am able to do a complete restoration on the pan I will have it as part of the package.
Been as far as Kentucky on the pan. No windshield. Think if you are using freeways at high speed it would be an asset. I use secondary roads so most of the speeds are around 55 max (Texas excluded).
Finished a 4K round trip to Texas from Kali without one. Guess at 63 I am just too old to change.
Been as far as Kentucky on the pan. No windshield. Think if you are using freeways at high speed it would be an asset. I use secondary roads so most of the speeds are around 55 max (Texas excluded).
Finished a 4K round trip to Texas from Kali without one. Guess at 63 I am just too old to change.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 786
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB.
Last year, I used the Windvest almost all season. This year, I took it off in the spring, and haven't put it back on. Once I hit around 4 hours on the bike in a day I start wishing I had one, but I rarely put that many miles on in a day. I wish I had time to.
Now that it's getting cold again, I'll probably put it back on.
Now that it's getting cold again, I'll probably put it back on.