A good quality polycarbonate shield is the way to go. I have a National Cycle VStream shield on my 2009 SG. I prefer shields on my bikes that divert the airflow around and over the riders.

I agree with Texas Rapier, where would have that stone hit without a shield installed on the bike.

 

fastair windshields out of Reno. They are cheap, but only in price.
Did I mention CHEAP ? Google them.

 

Correction. Fastaire is inexpensive, not cheap. Big difference, not just semantics.
Excuse my ignorance for this question, but are there actually companies out there that make bike windshields out of acrylic?
WTF are they thinking?

I've used polycarbonate (trade name: lexan, tufax, etc) for various projects for well over twenty years and would NEVER use acrylic (trade name: plexiglas) for anything. It scratches much easier, it's much less machineable, often cracks just cutting or drilling it. It's just about worthless as far as fabrication is concerned. Maybe in some industries it still has some application, but I can't immediately identify any of them. Industry technology has made polycarbonate very affordable. I was first introduced to it's capabilities about 25 years ago when I was the manager of a truck/auto supply retailer. This was back when the only bug-shield for trucks were those fugly, flat ones that were anchored in aluminum channel and attached to your hood with sheetmetal, z-clips. Most of those were acrylic. A product group rep came in and was showing us some new products, and one of them was the new, contoured polycarbonate deflectors that required no metal clips. We really didn't like this at first... until he took one out of the box, layed it on the floor, and proceeded to jump on it several times. The only damage to it was, he scratched some of the shrink wrap, the deflector itself was never affected. We instantly submitted an order for over a hundred of the most popluar applications.

As customers came in, we showed them the new bolt-on product (because customers LOVE bolt-on applications!). We also showed them the same pitch... jumping on them to demonstrate their durability. We sold that initial order of 100+ units in less than a month.

It was about that same time that someone tried to break into my truck. Well actually, they did. They busted the passenger window, and back then, glass dealers sometimes had to order replacement windows and they'd take several days, if not weeks to get in. So I sought out a piece of polycarbonate big enough to make a "temp" replacement to keep the rain, etc out of my truck. I was amazed at how easy it was to cut, and drill.

Bottom line... polycarbonate is the ONLY way to go on windshields.

Sorry for hi-jacking the thread, I justed wanted to share that info with folks who are unaware of the differences in material.

 

Have the HD/Klock knock off but wanted something with a little more protection when on the long trips. The HD shield kicks the air up just over my head but rain gets you right in the face. Picked up a Fast air shield on their 4th of July sale.

Ordered it on the 5th? and it was here on my doorstep 4 days later. Installed it and even at 80 it's like sitting in a bubble. If I HAD Hair i'll bet it would be barely moving

Obviously doesn't have the "cool" factor that the HD shield has but can't be beat for the price and performance.

I'm sure any of the shields that tall will perform the same way. But they all cost 4x as much. 36 bucks with shipping, I couldn't pass it up!

 

doesn't look like they make one for the RK

 

I have always said don't waste your money on an Acrylic shield...and I don't care if it's a modified super duper acrylic or whatever...polycarb has been and always will be better than acrylic.

 

Windshields get mentioned on here regularly. At least one firm that gets recommended makes aircraft canopies as well as bike windshields, which may be tougher.

 

I didn't realize it wasn't polycarbonate. Wont make that mistake again. The rock was not to big as they use D1 to patch the road, 1 inch or less in size. Anyway here is a pic.

 

Called LRS today and they said they would give me a refund if I send the shield back so I stand corrected, looks like I'll get some of my money back.

 

Sorry to hear that, definately sucks!!