Windvest vs LRS

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Sep 27, 2014 | 08:45 PM

#11

PopsHD

Road Warrior

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 1,862

Likes: 126

From: Republic of Texas

Have never had a Windvest. Have had two LRS, one of which is currently on my 2014 Limited. Love LRS!

Sep 27, 2014 | 09:24 PM

#12

slick hd

Cruiser

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 237

Likes: 0

Same here love my LRS.

Sep 27, 2014 | 10:23 PM

#13

mcain49

Road Master

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 943

Likes: 41

My 9" LRS recurve has been on my UC for 2 years now, functions perfectly, and still looks brand new. Will be upgrading to their polycarb when this one (acrylic) starts showing some age. Haven't owned a Windvest so can't compare it.

Sep 27, 2014 | 10:24 PM

#14

steveg56

Road Captain

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 555

Likes: 75

From: California

No experience with LRS, but put windvest on every bike I get and have loved them all. Currently have a 6" Windvest on my 2014 SGS and its really good IMO. Boy if LRS were any better I might not ever get a chance to see for myself as I've always been happy with windvest.

We need more opinions from those that have owned both...

Sep 28, 2014 | 05:38 AM

#15

MikeZ

Road Captain

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 648

Likes: 24

From: New Jersey

LRS here. Regardless of which manufacturer you choose, go with polycarbonate vs. acrylic.

Sep 29, 2014 | 06:35 AM

#16

Road_Star

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 148

Likes: 38

From: Indiana

Can you elaborate on that Mike? I was wondering about the poly v acrylic thing. What is the advantage of poly? It's only $20 diff on the LRS so not big deal. What are stock H-D shields made of?

Sep 29, 2014 | 06:55 AM

#17

harfooz

Tourer

Joined: Aug 2009

Posts: 364

Likes: 8

From: Newberry SC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Star

Can you elaborate on that Mike? I was wondering about the poly v acrylic thing. What is the advantage of poly? It's only $20 diff on the LRS so not big deal. What are stock H-D shields made of?

I used to work in a plastics warehouse, and sold and worked with both materials daily, but that was many years ago, and the technology for both materials has likely changed since that time. Back then, acrylic would shatter into large, sharp shards that would do some serious damage if you weren't careful and used gloves in the warehouse and cutting/bending room. The Lexan polycarbonate we sold and worked with did not shatter, but was very easy to scratch and hard to buff out successfully. At that time the polycarbonate was cut to fit stock car and dirt track windshields, and the thicker polycarb was used for the "bulletproof" glass used in convenience store windows or armored vehicles' windows. The 1.25" and 1.5" thick Lexan was claimed to be able to stop a .50 caliber round. The acrylic was just for picture frames, keychains, and so forth. The acrylic was easy to manipulate into other shapes using heat. The Lexan polycarbonate just had to stay flat in sheets, but could be cut to size, drilled, etc.

I'm using a National Cycles V-Stream polycarbonate for the reasons I'm describing. Polycarbonate just meets my needs better. There is some curvature to the V-Stream, and it's remained nearly scratch-free for several years now, so that leads me to believe there have been significant improvements in the material's ability to be bent through forming or heat.

Hope this helps,
'fooz

Last edited by harfooz; Sep 29, 2014 at 06:59 AM.

Sep 29, 2014 | 08:58 AM

#18

Road_Star

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 148

Likes: 38

From: Indiana

Thanks 'fooz!

HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Pouria Savadkouei

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Pouria Savadkouei

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Verdad Gallardo

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Verdad Gallardo

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Verdad Gallardo

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Verdad Gallardo

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Joe Kucinski

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Verdad Gallardo

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Verdad Gallardo

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Verdad Gallardo

Sep 29, 2014 | 10:45 AM

#19

nevada72

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 44,790

Likes: 29,725

From: PNW

I've long ago learned not to ask opinions on windshields. There are too many variables at play between bikes, riders, and options on the bike, i.e. seats, fangs, baffles, lowers, deflectors, etc. It's obvious because one guy hates the Windvest and another guy thinks it's the best thing out there. It's not that one guy is more discerning than another. It's that he's different.

The best you can hope for is a manufacturer that will let you try the shield (usually with the protective wrap on) or demo a shield like Klockwerks or Harley.

The one difference that is indisputable is the Poly-carbonate vs Acrylic.