Windshield Opinions

[ezrydr]

Yes, that does explain some of these entries.  Also may explain why I complain about the lack of protection but don't get the buffetting you talk about.

I just wear a regular open-face helmet with a snap-on shield; I used to wear goggles instead of a shield but with only one working eye I can't afford to sacrifice any peripheral vision.  It's fine except with strong quartering crosswinds, which sometimes get under the face shield and up my nose and play hell with my sinuses, so I'm riding along with my head tilted over to one side like a dying chicken. 

I don't have anything against full-face helmets; I'd like to have one myself, for cold or wet weather.  But even leaving aside the expense, I've never been able to find one I could wear comfortably - even when they claim to be my size (7 5/8, 7 3/4) they all mash my head in like it's in a vice.

(Which reminds me of the one about the Aggie and the woodpecker - no, wait, sorry, forget that.)

Not that it's just full-faces that do that to me; even with the average standard open-face, like the one I've got now, I wind up having to remove a bit of padding and lining here and there.  I've just got this great big lumpy head, way bigger than can be justified by its minuscule contents.

The one exception was the old Kiwi, which was very comfortable indeed.  And in fact I've still got mine, but it's so old now I wouldn't trust it to give much protection, and anyway I can't get shields for it any more.  That was a nice helmet, at a very reasonable price; I wish they still made them.

[dgc67]

Sorry to renew this post but thought this to be interesting.  I removed my windshield a couple weeks back due to the hot weather here in Houston and my mpg went up 6 MPG!  I knew the windshield addes some drag and all but could not believe this improvement.  It was a full size Slipstream by the way.  If anybody out there has a used "mini" screen for sale I am interested.  It sure is not as hot without but you get hit with so much more "grit" despite my mesh jacket.

[marty9]

In my opinion, the Magna is one of the best looking cruiser's ever made. Low slung, sleek, and full of motor. I wanted a Magna because of the performance and the cool looks. I think they look their best without a wind shield, but if I ride over about 65 mph for an extended amount of time I get tired of holding my self against the wind. Before my son and I rode to Panama City last month I bought a Slitstream Spitfire Shield. This shield is very small but still serves its purpose which is to move the air from the chest up to the top of the helmet. I really like this shield because although it does not eliminate all wind and buffeting; it does take the strain off my body and most importantly it does not kill the looks of the bike. If I wanted to get rid off all air and buffeting, I would have bought a Goldwing.

[Justin]

I have a bikini windshield on my bike and i removed it solely on the basis of style. I did notice however though that my handling improved after removing the windshield, I think that is due to the windshield being attached to the front forks instead of the frame though. My mpg improved as well but i don't keep good enough records to accurately track it.

[dgc67]

Marty, I agree with the looks.  The bike looks 100% better without the windshield for sure.  Sadly though, as you pointed out, it gets tiresome just holding on when riding over 65 mph (and I don't plan on slowing down  ).  The big Slipstream is PERFECT in the winter though.  I stayed very comfortable.

Handling problems with a screen on are usually due to it not being adjusted properly.  It may not seem like much, but if you do not get it mounted almost perfectl symmetrical then the wind coming across it affects the handling quite a bit.  Most, if not all, aftermarket screens attach to the forks/handlebars.

[L J VFR]

I am still not pleased with amount of buffeting I am getting from my windshield.  I'm seriously considering removing the dang thing all together until the winter.  Went on a 90 mile ride yesterday and when I got up to speeds of 65 or greater, I had that crazy paint shaker syndrome.   Grrrrrrrrr....   

[Herman]

I got a National Cycle Dakota 3.0 (# NC125A) H: 17.5 in. (44.5cm) W: 18.3 in. (46.7cm).  I'm 5'10" and had very little buffeting (I also wear a half helmet).  It did a great job.  The only thing I didn't like was there was an updraft at my chest and the warm engine air was always coming up my face (a good thing in the winter, not so great in the 115 degree AZ heat.

I recently trimmed it up.  It now runs at 14 inches tall (from the top of the headlight) and 15.5 inches wide.  I love it now.  It's just enough to keep the wind in my face and the wind pressure off my chest.  No buffeting and only naturally hot air in my face.