Which windshield should I get?

[CatatonicBug]

Ok, as mentioned in another thread, I have determined that I should probably add a windshield to my ride. It gets kinda gusty around here, and if I am even going to think about doing any kind of distance riding, I am going to need something to reduce the wind-drag on my chest. Thing is, there are SO MANY different kinds out there, and I'm a little overwhelmed. Here are my thoughts on the subject:

Needs to be resonably priced - under $200, I'm cheap, so under $100 would be better.
Needs to reduce the amount of wind drag on my body without completely blocking the breeze. My black gear gets kinda hot, so I like ventilation.
Needs to look stylish, but not gaudy. I want it to look like it came as a stock item on the bike.
I don't want the wind hitting the windshield to rip the handlebars out of my hands. I'm not sure if this is ever a problem, but it's just a thought I had.

Anybody have suggestions?

[Ivan]

I had a generic "Street Shield" windshield that my friend let me use. While I appreciated the gesture, I was thoroughly unimpressed.

It only served as a spoiler that drew air up, instead of being hit head on. The wind made it feel like my helmet would have blown off if not for the strap. It ruined any chance of the vents in my helmet doing any good and my visor fogged constantly. As far as the wind making it hard to steer, not so much, but I could tell a difference. It was OK under about 45, but purely annoying at anything greater.

[CatatonicBug]

I'm fine at speeds under 50mph, but at 60 or higher, I feel like a human parachute, tied to the handlebars. My hands get tired after just a few miles because I have to hold on so tight to keep from getting blown off.

[Ivan]

I'm fine at speeds under 50mph, but at 60 or higher, I feel like a human parachute, tied to the handlebars. My hands get tired after just a few miles because I have to hold on so tight to keep from getting blown off.

the one i used did absolutely NOTHING for that.

[trbig]

I think most of the windshields you'll find are going to mount to the forks somehow. Any crosswinds will blow this windshield and also affect steering. Fairings with a windshield mount to the frame, so this isn't an issue, but then you're sure getting away from that stock look... so not much help.


Tod

[DiverRay]

Special Ed has a nice shield on his bike. It DOES cover quite a bit, but makes the riding easy. The wind does NOT seem to bother him much. I'll try and find out what it is in the morning, and let you know later in the afternoon. I am looking for something to put on the Midnight Special, but I don't want it as big as the one Ed uses. I will be looking and trying for a while before I buy, I think.

[Bigfoot]

Here is a selection at bike bandit that will fit your bike. I do think that any of them would be better than nothing.

http://www.bikebandit.com/windshield...12?mg=8568&t=1

[Pat Kelly]

Here are some that we have on bikes around our house.....

Here's my LG with a small handlebar mounted windshield. The tilt is adjustable. It keeps the wind off your chest, sort-of. I had this on my E when I took the bike to 140 MPH (read on the speedo)


This is the current fairing/shield on the LG. Not as tall as the other one but deflects the wind blast to the chest just as well. This one has 4 mounting points whereas the other one has 2. Both are stable in crosswinds.


My E has the large Pacifico fairing with lowers. Obviously it offers lots of wind protection. I still get plenty of cooling air, buffeting is minimal, and in the winter it is a lifesaver. It is frame-mounted and has places to mount a stereo and speakers, also other gauges (I have volt and oil pressure).


This one is on my wife's Virago (bike recently sold). It mounts at 4 points and is easily removed with 4 knobs. It extends down to below the turnsignals so it protects well too.

[Crazcnuk]

I have a Slipstreamer Turbo on my new SG, and it's too small. I had the same windshield on a 750 Virago, and it worked fine.

On my Shadow 1100 I used the Direction 2 A-11 tint. It was great. used that combo for a decade and a half.

The only thing 'stock' looking on an xs11 is either a Vetter or Pacifico full fairing.

Remember, if you don't get enough cooling, you can put those pop up vents into plexi fairings too.

I've never found that a windshield, fork or frame mounted, made any difference as far as crosswinds are concerned, and I had that D2 up to 220kph.

[DJinNH]

Just tossing an option your way. This small shield seems pretty good at keeping the pebbles and bugs from smacking you in the chest or even the face. Yet you still get most of the feel of riding without a windshield. It definitely cuts down on the wind buffeting your chest at 75 mph or whatever.

Not the best of photos to see it but hopefully you can spot the black mounting brackets, they mount to the handle bars and are easy enough to put on and off. Just a clear shield the angles up over the handlebars/guages and rests just above the headlight.



I'm pretty sure I ordered it from Dennis Kirk.

Don

[John]

I recommend the National Cycle Plexifairing III. You can see it in the slideshow in my signature. The Virago in the pics above has one. It can be quite windy here, and I don't have much trouble in the wind. It can be positioned so that the wind does not blow your head around at all. In fact, I can be having a smoke when riding, and the ashes will be sucked forward towards the shield, and then they are drawn upwards and over my head. It also covers your hands. Last summer I had a mishap in Oklahoma, and had to ride 400 miles without a windshield. Never again! I had kept my previous windshield, though it was cracked, and remounted it, and finally got a new one with my tax return. I will say that it will reduce your gas milage by 3-5 mpg, but it's more than a fair trade off.

[soccer4m]

Plexifairing 3

Ditto with John, I have the Plexifairing 3, on my midnite special and it is the best all around handlebar mounted one I have used yet. It is large enough to be comfortable at any speed, especially highway. It takes 15 minutes to mount, available from Denniskirk.com, and is around 150.00 complete. I have a full frame mount fairing with lowers on an xj1100 and it is about 75 percent of that coverage in the wind. There is enough breeze on the legs to cool, very little on the mid to the head but enough to cool on a hot day. I have had smaller ones and always wished for more coverage. It is easier to ride without the windblast, bugs, rocks, road crap..etc whacking me in the body. SO, good luck, Mike in S.Diego

[CatatonicBug]

Ok, so that's a few votes for the Plexifairing III. One thing I'm a little worried about with a shield that large is the lack of ventilation though. Will it block TOO MUCH of the wind, so I will roast even at highway speeds? I wear a black full-face, and a black non-mesh jacket. I keep the vents in the jacket open, and the temperature is comfortable as long as I keep moving. Will such a large shield make it so I don't get a breeze?

[DiverRay]

Special Ed has the Plexifairing II on his bike. It's been dropped once or twice, but still works well and looks good. I don't think it's quite as big as the one John has, but still offers a LOT of protection. I have ridden the bike, and I DO like the windshield.
For a full fairing, the Windjammer is just that, a barn door. The Pacifico from the '78 was the best fairing they ever put on one of these. It looks big, but has plenty of room and protection. It only drops top speed about 5 MPH over bare, and the mileage is down only about 1 MPG over bare.
JMHO

[soccer4m]

try the web site

Catotonic,,,,,try the website, nationalcycle.com. It has all the fairings, dimensions, pics. There is a plexistar, plex.2,,,and others if you are worried about heat. In town there will not be a lot of difference in temp, since its usually stop and go. But, on the highway I found the Plex. 3 to be comfortable and enough flow to keep cooler but not the 90 percent total protection of the frame mount full fairing on my xj. A little air is good, especially in your humid state. With a fairing I find it much more enjoyable to ride with an open face helmet. The full, I feel like my heads in a closed shell. But, obviously there is a protection difference. With the open face and fairing, riding just feels better to the senses. We get the heat here in S.Calif. but not the humidity. If its 100 out with 100 percent humidity, wearing black is painful with fairing or without. Check out the different fairings, the pics and dimensions and see what would work for you.