Windshield Height
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Yuba County, CA
Windshield Height
My current windshield on my 02 Road King works great at low speeds but at higher speeds my helmet starts to vibrate (for lack of better description). I was told that I needed a taller windshield to prevent this. My question is how do I know what size to get? Do I want it to come above eye level? Currently I can see over my windshield. Any help would be appreciated.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 17
From: eastern oklahoma
yes steve, it's a good thing to look over the top of your windshield by a couple of inches rather than looking through it. if you are riding you can take your left hand and feel where the windstream is going. if it's at the top of your helmet or a little above, it's just right. the reasons are this; the bugs will mostly be in the windstream meaning that you'll not experience much of that stuff, if your windshield is dirty, you're looking over it rather than through it, you know how pesky those bugs can be to look through on a windshield, and the other reason is that if you get stuck in rain, you can duck down behind it to stay somewhat dry. to figure out what height windshield you need, take some masking tape and mark it off in inches and stick that to the inside of your windshield. while riding you can determine the desired height you'll need to where you're looking over it a bit. just right. use that information from the measurements on the masking tape to give you a good idea as to what height will work.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,247
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
The old rule of thumb used to be that the top should be around nose high. Emwolb describes things well, that you can 'slump' to get a little extra protection in rain (or cold), but also sit bolt upright to improve your view, yet sitting normally and see over the top.
I trimmed my shield to give improved ride comfort, by buying a bigger one and shortening it. I reasoned that BMW know a thing or two about aerodynamics, so copied their custom model windshield shape. It works well!
I trimmed my shield to give improved ride comfort, by buying a bigger one and shortening it. I reasoned that BMW know a thing or two about aerodynamics, so copied their custom model windshield shape. It works well!
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
I have the HD windshield on my 02 RK that measures 16" from the headlight cut out to the top. I can see over the top easily, I do start to get some buffeting over 70. Just ordered a clearview shield that measures 17" from the cut out to the top plus the top is curved forward and it is and 1" wider. Clearview told me with the curve I would get the same wind protection of a 19" shield. Hope to have it next week.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 8,039
Likes: 1,305
From: Jayhawk Country
More times than not the buffeting is coming from the air coming from under the windshield instead of the air over the top of the windshield. This can usually be solved by putting on a set of lowers that attach to the forks. The tip of your nose should be in line with the top of the windshield so you can look over it.
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 207
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta, GA
You need to determine where the air is comming from. On your next ride start moving your hand around in front of your helmet to see if you can determine if the problem is from air over the top of the shield, hight/recurve can help with this, or from below, lowers can assist with this.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 261
Likes: 3
From: Marquette MI.
The wind buffeting your feeling in the helmet
Is from wind either coming over the top or the bottom of the windshield. If the height of the windshield is so you can just see over the top of it there will be some wind buffeting off the top of the helmet. Different helmets react differently to this type of wind. Some helmets won't shake at all and others will shake like crazy. I learned this the hard way. I will never buy another helmet without trying it out first. if the buffeting is coming from the wind from the bottom of the windshield you can install a set of fork wind deflectors.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,498
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From: East Alton, IL
I guess I'm different than most as I like looking through the windshield. Mine is the right height to see through when sitting in my natural slump but if I need to see over it (rain, etc) I just sit up straight. No issues with helmet buffeting, and I have all three types of helmets.