Tried riding without windshield
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Belfast, Irl
I demo'd a Fat Bob last weekend and had a great time for an hour or so. It was a nice feeling to be totally in the wind but i could only handle about an hour max - missed my Glide windshield big time as well as didnt appreciate having to clean all my gear from all the flies etc - i'll stick to the Glide 
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 8
From: Detroit, the asshole of America
Mine has been on my bike for probably 200 of the 2200 miles I've put on it since the end of August. It's okay when it's below 40, but I prefer a closed face helmet and no windshield. The buffeting alone of the stocker is enough for me to leave it off most of the time.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: N.W. Iowa
I'm 58 years old. I rode my RKC on the highway without the windshield for the first time and felt something flapping on my face. I leaned over and looked in the mirror. It was my skin flowing in waves in the wind! Guess I'm too old to ride without the shield. Besides, I'd hate to get a June bug or a rock to the face. I'm ugly enough the way it is!
Banned
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Willcox, Arizona
I'm selling my Electra Glide Classic for a Road King just so I can ride without the windshield. It's all in the head, about riding w/o a windshield. Used to ride a low rider w/o a windshield and, sure, on the highway it was a pain in the ***, but off the highway it was the only way to ride for me.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,960
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL
When I traded in my Sporty I went with the RK because the windshield was detachable. Well the windshield has NEVER been off the bike since I got it. It's actually one of my favorite things of the entire bike, lol. A couple of days ago I went and test rode a 2011 Street Glide with the 103" and man did I LOVE that ride, was missing the tunes and the fairing on the way home from the dealer. If I would have known I was never going to take the windshield off I would have bought one of the batwing bikes instead of the RK. Makes a big difference even when comparing a bike with the windshield to the batwing.
Just my
Just my
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 829
Likes: 12
From: Central Texas
The windshield that comes on the RK works great. I used mine most of the time (when I had a RK), my son is only 20 and he is just still wrapped up in the looks of the shield-off mode.
My dad is 73 and I think his only comes off to wash the bike.
A full face helmet or a 3/4 with full shield goes a long way to making the no-shield more enjoyable.
My dad is 73 and I think his only comes off to wash the bike.
A full face helmet or a 3/4 with full shield goes a long way to making the no-shield more enjoyable.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,542
Likes: 6,190
From: In your head rent free
Mine is off unless I am doing a multi day tour. Then it comes off at the destination, until I'm moving on.
Apes don't like to hide behind a shield, but sometimes it's function over form.
Apes don't like to hide behind a shield, but sometimes it's function over form.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
