I cannot stand the look of the OE windshield that came with my bike. It is so tall and feels ridiculous. I much prefer the look of the shorter "wind deflectors" is what HD calls 'em. Anyone running the 11" or 14" wind deflectors and what are your thoughts and experiences? Or post your pics of other short(er) windshield solutions.

 

I know that we have exchanged a couple of messages about this, but I'll add a bit more, even though I don't have apes...I find that my 14" wind deflector works pretty well and looks good (IMO) to boot. With my 3/4 Shark helmet I get almost no buffeting, but that may be because the helmet seems to be very aerodynamic with the face shield down. With my H-D brand skid lid type helmet, I do feel a bit of lift on the helmet.

The downside of the shorter deflector is that it doesn't really offer much in the way of rain protection. My face takes the full force of a good downpour.

That's a good looking bike you have, and I have to wonder if the wind deflector would take away from the overall look of the apes?

 

Where did you get your apes?

 

CD....Thanks, yeah hoping for some pics of that shield with some apes.

Big Al....I bought 'em from the dealer before I took delivery. 16" Wild One Chubbies.

 

I have run those shorter windshields and honestly the ride is smoother with no windshield. The only windshield I have used that even begins to work is a Clearview with recurve, I have a 14" and it's just barely better than running no shield.
I invested in a fairing with no radio and that thing works, you can ride for 6 hours and you're no beat up at all.

 

I picked up a Memphis shades 14" replacement shield which ended up being a couple of inches shorter than the stock shield. Better view, and no buffeting issues. Cost $90 took about 20 mins to swap out.
I pop the shield off when running around town, but if I get on the highway, it wears me out without the wind block. Better have ear plugs too, not for the exhaust, but the wind noise.

Want something taller than my police bars, just haven't pulled the trigger yet. Specs show them at 8.5" rise "inside", thinking maybe some 12"s?

 

I run a tinted 17" recurve Clearview. I don't have apes yet but I think the apes will still look good with this shield. The top of this Clearview is about at the tip of my nose so I am looking over it by quite a bit but it deflects the wind over my head. Without a helmet, I feel a slight breeze on the very top of my head. With a helmet (1/2) I feel no wind disturbance or buffeting.