Which windshield should I get?

[renegade_xs11g]

I have a 'MemphisShades Hellcat'



I just rode my bike 40 miles without it....
Man, I can't believe the difference, it helps with those stray bugs, a little of the wind,
I've riden it with the Hellcat almost 4 years....trust me I'm gonna put it back on!

[CatatonicBug]

I'm tossing around the difference between the Plexifairing 3 and the Plexistar 2. The 'Star is a little smaller and doesn't have the "lowers" on it, but from the online pictures, I don't see much other difference. Anyone have any other thoughts on the Plexistar? I just found a new one on ebay for $130 (inc. shipping), and the 'fairing for $155. So, if the 'Star will do what I need, saving the $25 would be a good thing

[DiverRay]

The star is what Special Ed has on his '79 Special. It looks good, and works even for me. As I said, after the ride we took yesterday, I'm looking for something to put on my MNS. 55 miles into a 20MPH wind isn't fun after a short time. Ed didn't seem to get blown around as much as I was, and his bike was lighter than mine! I think the "quartering" wind is harder without the shield than with it after about 30 minutes.

[Fddlefoot]

Star 2

I have a Plexistar 2 on mine and fine it be very versatile still get breeze on top of head(am 6' tall) and almost all road debris misses me easily ride 15 miles to work daily 10 highway and worry more about engine heat on legs in summer but upper body cooled quite nicely very easy to remove and install and hand coverings very nice. I have it on my 79 special and highly recommend it.

[Fddlefoot]

Ps

Have also rideden thru Wyoming (the windy state) with it and never found it caused me anymor problems than the riders with fairings were having when it came to steering

[CatatonicBug]

I went ahead and bought the Plexistar. SWMBO kinda got scared when I told her about the buffeting of the wind on the highway, so she figured $130 was reasonable. I'll let you know how it goes once I install and test it out.

[cywelchjr]

Having ridden both faired and naked bikes, given a choice I will not ride a naked bike more than short distances around town. It's just too tiring. My personal experience is that there is a huge difference when windy between a frame mounted fairing and one mounted on the forks/bars. Granted, even the bar mounted ones are a huge improvement, but the frame mounted ones IMHO just don't make you have to work as hard.

[CatatonicBug]

Having ridden both faired and naked bikes, given a choice I will not ride a naked bike more than short distances around town. It's just too tiring. My personal experience is that there is a huge difference when windy between a frame mounted fairing and one mounted on the forks/bars. Granted, even the bar mounted ones are a huge improvement, but the frame mounted ones IMHO just don't make you have to work as hard.

I can definitely see how that would be true. The fairing would be nice, but I don't have access to one for less than $150, and without the hard bags to go with it, it might look funny Besides, it's gonna be a while before I do any major road trips. I need to collect the gear, tools and knowledge first, as well as doing some overall maintenance (like the fuse block upgrade). I really don't like the idea of getting stuck on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere with a broken bike...

[pete_s]

I don't recommend a handlebar mounted fairing unless you can promise to keep your speed below 85mph.

I dropped my XS at about that speed when a occilation started after I hit a expansion joint in new pavement. I could not pull out of it! The fairing was a Plexifairing and is probably to big air pressure wise.

I fixed the bike,bondo and paint, and ride with a Vetter with no problems, fast or slow/// anyone else experince this action with the bar mounts?

[cywelchjr]

I can definitely see how that would be true. The fairing would be nice, but I don't have access to one for less than $150, and without the hard bags to go with it, it might look funny Besides, it's gonna be a while before I do any major road trips. I need to collect the gear, tools and knowledge first, as well as doing some overall maintenance (like the fuse block upgrade). I really don't like the idea of getting stuck on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere with a broken bike...

Actually they look fine with just the fairing. BTW I have an extra that came with my bike when I bought it that I could probably let go pretty cheap. It's missing one turn signal lens, but I think you could put XS signal stems on it. You would of course have to get the pigtail and mount for it, as I don't have either of those extra. Needs a windshield too, (although I do have a cracked one that I can include with it.). I could probably let it go for around $75 plus shipping cost, at least to a fellow XSive.

[CatatonicBug]

Actually they look fine with just the fairing. BTW I have an extra that came with my bike when I bought it that I could probably let go pretty cheap. It's missing one turn signal lens, but I think you could put XS signal stems on it. You would of course have to get the pigtail and mount for it, as I don't have either of those extra. Needs a windshield too, (although I do have a cracked one that I can include with it.). I could probably let it go for around $75 plus shipping cost, at least to a fellow XSive.

Yeah, I saw a picture of one earlier today, and it looks just fine. If only you had made that offer earlier today... I already spent my allotment on the Plexistar (a buy-now on ebay). I probably would've taken you up on it if I had known earlier today. Well, I'm sure it'll make someone very happy.

[John]

I have had mine up to 120 a couple of times with the older cracked Plex III that I had and never had a wobble problem, and 80 is an average crusing speed for me when I am on my way to work at 5:30 am. You will want to be sure the shield is mounted at a proper angle, and is not lopsided when you are finished. That is the hardest tweak, but once it is set, it won't change even if you take the shield off and on.

[Brent]

wind shield

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?

I used the national Cycle plexi 2 in GA for years. It is much like the plexi 3, but without the lower part next to the fork legs. With the use of highway pegs or splaying the knees out to catch the wind, it was plenty cool enough for summers in GA.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Catatonic...

My Xj's got a Vetter 4, and I took it out with some buddy's on a ride this last weekend. 30-40 mph wind gusts all day. (As everyone knows, Vetter's are all frame mounted.) Mid 80's, plenty of cooling breeze, and was surely glad it wasn't mounted any other way.
Heard a true story of how my 6'6", 250 # friend almost didn't make it back from a California trip in a bad windstorm once because his bike had a fork mounted windshield. Just all depends on what you'll be using it for, though. This last weekend, I was glad mine was frame mounted! Only way to "fly" on a long trip!

[Bigfoot]

I have witnessed guys riding at well over 100mph with fork mounted windshields (I won't mention any names to protect the guilty). They did not seem to have any problems at all. My XJ does have a Vetter on it and I love riding with it.

I don't think I will put a full fairing on the midnight special. It is such a good looking bike that I don't want to change the look that much. I will probably put something like the plexfairing on for trips but remove it for around town crusing.

I think you made a good choice and it will make a huge difference in riding.