Batwing fairing vs RoadKing windshield.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
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From: The Rust Belt!
Batwing fairing vs RoadKing windshield.
For as long as I've been riding 25 years I've never rode or owned a bike with a fairing. Crazy. For the longest time I road dynas and mostly Softails and when I did move into the touring platform I went with a RoadKing.
recently I've decided to try and find the perfect bike. Something that I can make super comfortable not only locally but if I did want to hop on the highway and take a trip it could eat the miles without beating me up and affecting my bad back. This may be a fantasy but I'm definitely looking into it.
I really love the look and style of the new 2021 RoadKing Special with the 114 bit it's starting price of $23k is not cheap. I still would have to add the windshield and I'd op for the RDRS so probably looking at around $25k or so till it's all said and done.
This is where the Electra Glide Standard comes in. At $18,999 it's pretty intriguing. It's got that old school no nonsense look to it. I love vivid black and the red tank badge and I feel like its only a few tweaks away cosmetically and functionally where I would want it. I can really make this blank slate bike my own.. The most important part is the Batwing fairing. How good is the Batwing really? Especially on the highway? Would it take a lot of wind off my my body? I feel like with my bad back that's probably been the #1 think that aggravates it. Getting beat up by the wind and fatigued.
in reality how much better is the Batwing fairing bike compared to a RoadKing with a windshield? If it's a lot better the Electra Glide Standard might be worth taking a look.
recently I've decided to try and find the perfect bike. Something that I can make super comfortable not only locally but if I did want to hop on the highway and take a trip it could eat the miles without beating me up and affecting my bad back. This may be a fantasy but I'm definitely looking into it.
I really love the look and style of the new 2021 RoadKing Special with the 114 bit it's starting price of $23k is not cheap. I still would have to add the windshield and I'd op for the RDRS so probably looking at around $25k or so till it's all said and done.
This is where the Electra Glide Standard comes in. At $18,999 it's pretty intriguing. It's got that old school no nonsense look to it. I love vivid black and the red tank badge and I feel like its only a few tweaks away cosmetically and functionally where I would want it. I can really make this blank slate bike my own.. The most important part is the Batwing fairing. How good is the Batwing really? Especially on the highway? Would it take a lot of wind off my my body? I feel like with my bad back that's probably been the #1 think that aggravates it. Getting beat up by the wind and fatigued.
in reality how much better is the Batwing fairing bike compared to a RoadKing with a windshield? If it's a lot better the Electra Glide Standard might be worth taking a look.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 149
Likes: 54
From: Olean NY
This year I installed a Reckless Joker batwing fairing to my 2014 RK. It is very similar to a factory batwing. The kickass tunes system adds a whole new dimension to riding and the wind protection to me is perfect. It's not coming off. Take that EG for a test ride! Hope this helps.
Update - I just noticed the EG Standard is stereo delete. That would change things for me.
Update - I just noticed the EG Standard is stereo delete. That would change things for me.
Last edited by bmur66; Jun 13, 2021 at 07:46 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 8,138
Likes: 9,544
From: central NC
You’ll get some buffeting to your head/helmet/sunglasses with the batwing. This however is completely manageable with fork mounted and/or triple tree mounted wind deflectors, and a recurve windshield of the appropriate height for you.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 700
Likes: 312
From: southwest Va.
I put a Memphis Shades batwing on my Road King several years back to see if it helped in colder weather. Haven't taken it off. If I were going to start over and in the process convince
myself I could live without the 114 I'd give the Electra Glide Standard a close look.
myself I could live without the 114 I'd give the Electra Glide Standard a close look.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 655
Likes: 759
From: Coconino County AZ
This is subjective and you're going to get different opinions. I've ridden Road Kings, Street Glides, and Road Glides -- all have different wind screens. I love the nostalgia look of the Road King and the windshield is good enough for me, but it doesn't compare to the Street Glide in terms of blocking the wind. For my height and the way I ride, the Street Glide faring hits the sweet spot. It blocks the wind without any noticeable helmet buffeting (I'm 5'10") and the interactive controls are in easy reach. But as they say, your mileage may vary.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 1,466
From: Charleston, SC
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.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 792
From: Kansas City, Missouri
For me the batwing and shark nose fairings provide better wind management than a windshield. The trade off is the fairing can't be removed. I'd look at a street Glide. it's a grand cheaper than the Road King special. Better yet get a Road Glide. Or buy the road King and add a detachable fairing for long rides.
Last edited by heavymetalthunder; Jun 13, 2021 at 08:48 AM.
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: The Rust Belt!
For me the batwing and shark nose fairings provide better wind management than a windshield. The trade off is the fairing can't be removed. I'd look at a street Glide. it's a grand cheaper than the Road King special. Better yet get a Road Glide. Or buy the road King and add a detachable fairing for long rides.
As far as getting the RK and doing an aftermarket Batwing fairing I've never been a fan of that.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
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.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,709
Likes: 9,209
From: Snow Hill, NC
I like the protection of the fairing. I think if you don’t want all the bells and whistles the EG standard is a good value. It’s the same price I paid for my EG Classic 15 years ago.