When I was just a wee lad I rode sport bikes everywhere. The wind was wind and it never really bothered me. My first "cruiser" was a Yamaha Warrior (no windshield) and man, it looked great and felt great with that one with nature feel. Next bike was a '96 Heritage Classic with the super tall windshield and boy did that change my life in regards to being comfortable on a ride but it definitely lacked that wind-in-your-hair feel as you were looking through a windshield the whole time. Fast forward to 40 years old and I have a '19 Road King with the stock WS. Now, it's a decent ride but I'm having the issue where the top of it is right at my line of site. So the other day I took it off and went cruising to work (about 35 miles one way which I do every day). I almost turned around to go back and get it. I couldn't believe how uncomfortable I was. Then, last weekend, we ride at West Coast Thunder and that seems to be the "look" (RK with no WS). Any RK with any customization had the WS off. So what am I missing? Is there some kind of deflector I'm missing out on that would make a no WS setup more comfortable to ride with? What's the deal? Is it just my positioning on the seat? I want to put some mini-apes on it and take the WS off but I'm afraid I'll hate the ride even more. I've also been looking into the LRS shield which seems pretty cool and from the forum posts does the job for deflecting the wind and getting it out of your face. Thoughts? What's the trick on custom RK's with no WS to make them rideable? Am I just being a baby?

 

Had to chuckle on your post. Did the same thing....once. the stock windshield on your bike is to high. You want to be just looking over the top off it. Not through it. I have tried all the winshields out there and am partial to clearviews recurve. To get the right height is a trick in itself. I personally buy a cheap plastic only bolt it on and ride. Then i start jigsawing it down inch by inch until i get it just right. Then i measure it then order from clearview.

 

Waaah! JK
Fortunately the windshield on my Heritage is the perfect height, I can see over it but it pushes the wind over my head. I take it off for the brutal summers down here unless it's going to be a long/interstate highway ride.
What kind of eye protection/helmet do you wear?

 

Yuppers for what Jaftica said.

The top of the windshield should be between your nose and upper lift as I recall.

These people click HERE have GREAT windshields and I think the site tells u in detail how to get the right height. They worked wonders for me.

 

Clear view for me... Love it!

Trick to riding without a shield is to never ride with one!

It only takes about a day to realize a shield is a game changer.

17” GT Wide curved CV with dark tint... Works great and looks great!

 

I thought the stock 20” windshield was too high, so I bought an LRS 16” shield. Great height. The recurve helps a bit too. At 6’1 I look over it and it’s a comfortable ride.

 

I run a Klock Werks flare and it’s great. The top of the shield should be just below your nose when sitting on the bike in your normal riding position.

I think that’s where a lot of guys make a mistake. They’re sitting on the bike with their feet on the ground trying to hold the bike up, and that’s not your normal riding position. Use a wheel chock to hold the bike, sit in your normal riding position with your feet on the pegs, and have someone measure for you.

 

Yes.
I rode 13 years saying "if I want a windshield I will drive my car"
(this included several cross country trips on the FX)
then the FLH came with one and now I say "if I want to pull a trailer I will drive my truck"
Pretty sure I will keep saying that.

Edit. OP you get my vote for the best thread title this year.

 

I have had the LRS shield for my Road King many years and works great.

 

My experience was the same. I never had a bike with a windshield until I was 40. At first I hated it. Then after a season with it I never ride the king with out it. I use a LRS recurve at the right height so I don't look through it and never take it off.