Batwing fairing vs RoadKing windshield.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 669
From: The Rust Belt!
Zakk13,
I have owned Road Kings and Electra Glides, and I'm currently on a 2015 Ultra Classic with the 103 engine. The Batwing definitely keeps more wind and rain off of you...period! The Road King isn't even close. BUT, the RK can be made to get close by putting on some fork mounted wind deflectors. You can't believe how much wind those things take off you. But your hands still get a lot of wind on the RK, and that will only show up when it gets cold, and THEN you will notice the difference between the RK and the Batwing, which hides your hands from the wind.
For your back, put on a Mustang backrest and you're good to go. They are easy to adjust, they fold down so you can swing your leg over your bike to mount it easily. Don't even consider the Harley backrests..they are junk, and it takes the hand strength of Superman to try to press the sides together to take it out. Harley does make an adjustable one, but the Mustang is adjustable with the screw on the back that you can do with two fingers, without having to remove it.
Oddly enough, the Electra Glide Standard is also 8 lbs LIGHTER than the RK, fully fueled.
I have owned Road Kings and Electra Glides, and I'm currently on a 2015 Ultra Classic with the 103 engine. The Batwing definitely keeps more wind and rain off of you...period! The Road King isn't even close. BUT, the RK can be made to get close by putting on some fork mounted wind deflectors. You can't believe how much wind those things take off you. But your hands still get a lot of wind on the RK, and that will only show up when it gets cold, and THEN you will notice the difference between the RK and the Batwing, which hides your hands from the wind.
For your back, put on a Mustang backrest and you're good to go. They are easy to adjust, they fold down so you can swing your leg over your bike to mount it easily. Don't even consider the Harley backrests..they are junk, and it takes the hand strength of Superman to try to press the sides together to take it out. Harley does make an adjustable one, but the Mustang is adjustable with the screw on the back that you can do with two fingers, without having to remove it.
Oddly enough, the Electra Glide Standard is also 8 lbs LIGHTER than the RK, fully fueled.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 281
Likes: 52
From: Girard Pa 16417
Ive used a few different windshields on my 2016 RoadKing, i saw improvement with each new aftermarket one i tried, havent tried a fairing as of yet, i am impressed and for the last couple of years have gone with the Klockwerks Billboard flair top when i installed this wow what a difference, on my bike i could actually feel the difference as they advertise more control in front holding the front tire to road, i actually can hear the front tire on the road, very little buff on head most i get is from the mirrors set higher and a little out cause of my bars, a little adjustment of the mirrors and that just about disappeared also, i do have the fork mounted deflectors installed, had the triple tree deflector but removed, may put back on dont know wanted to ride without for awhile to see what difference it makes, fun to check different things out, good to hear others opinions and experiences
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
You mentioned you're not a fan of a detachable batwing but it might be a less expensive experiment. I think Memphis Shades is easy on the pocketbook and you could always sell it if you don't like it. Those fork fangs might also give you a good "calm air" envelope with the shield.
I have a detachable batwing for my 13 King and I estimate it provides about a 25% better wind protection vs an RK shield. Shield or batwing, you still get that wind coming from under the tank area, but that can be reduced. I use my batwing primarily for colder weather and on long trips if the weather gets wet. The lowers go on also to keep my legs dry. Warmer weather and the batwing comes off. My batwing is a plain-Jane (no audio), so it's light up front as well and is pretty darn close to an H-D batwing, if not the same. I can use any H-D batwing parts on mine. I think 10" bars would be the limit to keep your hands out of the wind.
As far as the back is concerned, I have a backrest for all my solo and 2-up seats.
I have a detachable batwing for my 13 King and I estimate it provides about a 25% better wind protection vs an RK shield. Shield or batwing, you still get that wind coming from under the tank area, but that can be reduced. I use my batwing primarily for colder weather and on long trips if the weather gets wet. The lowers go on also to keep my legs dry. Warmer weather and the batwing comes off. My batwing is a plain-Jane (no audio), so it's light up front as well and is pretty darn close to an H-D batwing, if not the same. I can use any H-D batwing parts on mine. I think 10" bars would be the limit to keep your hands out of the wind.
As far as the back is concerned, I have a backrest for all my solo and 2-up seats.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: The Rust Belt!
I have a Road King and a Limited. I commute on the Road King and the Limited comes out for trips and weekend rides with the wife.
I really don't notice much of a difference in the wind between the two. The big difference is the hand protection. Riding the interstate in Houston traffic, I have occasionally taken small rocks and road debris to the hand and shins while on the King. That doesn't happen on the Limited with the bat wing and lowers. As far a wind management, I have a fork baffle on the Road King that blocks the wind from coming up between the tank and the windshield that cured any buffeting issues that you mentioned were beating you up. I also have a back rest.
The major difference to me between the two is the extra weight of the batwing. Not an issue at highway speeds but definitely raises the center of gravity and adds weight to the front end that you really feel in slow maneuvers compared to the king. Even thought they are the same frame, jump off the limited then onto the Road King and it makes the King feel and handle light as a feather.
If the Electra Glide looks good to you because of the money, then you should be comparing apples to apples and looking at a standard Road King. They are closer in comparison with the same motor. The Road King Special is a lot of money for blacked out and no windshield. The only big advantage for the extra money is the bigger motor.
You can't go wrong with either one.
I really don't notice much of a difference in the wind between the two. The big difference is the hand protection. Riding the interstate in Houston traffic, I have occasionally taken small rocks and road debris to the hand and shins while on the King. That doesn't happen on the Limited with the bat wing and lowers. As far a wind management, I have a fork baffle on the Road King that blocks the wind from coming up between the tank and the windshield that cured any buffeting issues that you mentioned were beating you up. I also have a back rest.
The major difference to me between the two is the extra weight of the batwing. Not an issue at highway speeds but definitely raises the center of gravity and adds weight to the front end that you really feel in slow maneuvers compared to the king. Even thought they are the same frame, jump off the limited then onto the Road King and it makes the King feel and handle light as a feather.
If the Electra Glide looks good to you because of the money, then you should be comparing apples to apples and looking at a standard Road King. They are closer in comparison with the same motor. The Road King Special is a lot of money for blacked out and no windshield. The only big advantage for the extra money is the bigger motor.
You can't go wrong with either one.
In a perfect would Harley would revamp the Softail SportGlide for 2022 and give it an FXRT style fairing. That would be the perfect bike for my needs. A nice lightweight well balanced low center of gravity tourer Softail.
Last edited by Zakk13; Jun 13, 2021 at 11:10 AM.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 669
From: The Rust Belt!
You mentioned you're not a fan of a detachable batwing but it might be a less expensive experiment. I think Memphis Shades is easy on the pocketbook and you could always sell it if you don't like it. Those fork fangs might also give you a good "calm air" envelope with the shield.
I have a detachable batwing for my 13 King and I estimate it provides about a 25% better wind protection vs an RK shield. Shield or batwing, you still get that wind coming from under the tank area, but that can be reduced. I use my batwing primarily for colder weather and on long trips if the weather gets wet. The lowers go on also to keep my legs dry. Warmer weather and the batwing comes off. My batwing is a plain-Jane (no audio), so it's light up front as well and is pretty darn close to an H-D batwing, if not the same. I can use any H-D batwing parts on mine. I think 10" bars would be the limit to keep your hands out of the wind.
As far as the back is concerned, I have a backrest for all my solo and 2-up seats.
I have a detachable batwing for my 13 King and I estimate it provides about a 25% better wind protection vs an RK shield. Shield or batwing, you still get that wind coming from under the tank area, but that can be reduced. I use my batwing primarily for colder weather and on long trips if the weather gets wet. The lowers go on also to keep my legs dry. Warmer weather and the batwing comes off. My batwing is a plain-Jane (no audio), so it's light up front as well and is pretty darn close to an H-D batwing, if not the same. I can use any H-D batwing parts on mine. I think 10" bars would be the limit to keep your hands out of the wind.
As far as the back is concerned, I have a backrest for all my solo and 2-up seats.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 3,438
From: SW WA.
I liked the price and that I could use it as a blank slate to add what I wanted and not have things I didn't need.
I went aftermarket and saved big on a lot of things like the luggage rack and saddlebag guards and bags,the windshield and windshield bag.
I added the lower fork air baffle under the lower tree and flip up deflectors on the fairing,added driving lights all for way less than H-D prices.
MSRP was $18,999 when I bought in in Sept. 2019,the new 2020's were in and they made me a deal on a remaining 2019.
After haggling I got the bike for $17,249 with a $500 gift card to use at the dealer for whatever and 15% off accessories.
I used that towards a Mustang seat and tourpac.
Yes the Batwing is much better than a windshield especially with the aforementioned windshield upgrade air baffle and deflectors added,I pout 200,000 miles on my last one a 2000 I bought new.
Last edited by Y2K; Jun 13, 2021 at 02:30 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Originally Posted by Zakk13
Sounds like hand protection is the main advantage of a Batwing over the Windshield. If I only take a trip or a long ride in the Summer time I wonder if that really even matters? I was thinking the Batwing would make a world of a difference in blocking wind where it wouldn't negatively affect my back and I can actually ride farther on Highways. Maybe that's not the case. Maybe lowers are a bigger benefit? And maybe the RoadKing is still a better for for me since it has less weight.
My riding buddies and I take an annual 2-week trip to wherever we want to go. It's our guys only trip. My King is normally fully dressed with batwing, lowers and TP. My wife and I also frequent FL (she still likes to visit Mickey Mouse for some reason, so we go). She flies and I ride my King to Orlando. No batwing so only the shield. We also like to visit the Keys, so we take the King to the Keys for a couple of days, as we like to see everything in front of us. That's the beauty of the King.
You already have a nice ride. Me thinks it's cheaper to experiment a little with it before taking the plunge.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 592
Likes: 429
From: Playing in traffic!
For a closer look at what's going on with EGS, check out this thread started by 04FordHarlyF250: Have you taken some "standard" out of your EG Standard?
Posters on this thread have all the wrinkles ironed out for an after market sound system, better, an cheaper than HD. I prefer the sound of the M8....
2019 for sale <3K miles, $17,800.00, just showing what's on the market. Good luck!
Posters on this thread have all the wrinkles ironed out for an after market sound system, better, an cheaper than HD. I prefer the sound of the M8....
2019 for sale <3K miles, $17,800.00, just showing what's on the market. Good luck!
Last edited by ChicagoBikeDriver; Jun 13, 2021 at 05:58 PM.
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