Windshields

[nashville_bill]

I just completed a 450 mile trip through rural middle and east Tennessee and had a great trouble free trip. The bike ran like a new one on the hundreds of miles of twisty roads. BUT, I had a head wind for a lot of the trip and felt like I had been beaten by the time I returned home. The small windshield keeps the wind off of my chest but deflects it to my helmet. My question is, what size windshield would get my head out of the turbulents. I'm 6'3" and sit pretty tall in the saddle. I guess I would really like to be able to remove the shield to ride around town but I think it would make long trips much more enjoyable.

[schpiff]

I just put a plexistar 2 on my 81 special and have the same prob. I am 6-4 and am having a devil of a time finding the "right" angle/height for me too.. The shield is fairly tall but I still get buffeted about the head. So far the best location is having the shield high and tilted back about as far as it can be...altho this means an opening above the gauges that lets a fair amount of air thru that hits me in the mid section...aka..gut.
Maybe someone else knows a better mounting..but so far this has been best for me.

[nashville_bill]

Wisconsin

SCHPIFF,

I'll be traveling through your area in June to take my son to his grandparents house in Spooner, WI. I'll look for your XS11.

[MartyA]

Try a Laminarlip?
http://www.laminarlip.com/

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Bill,

On long rides, I have/setup a backrest and cruise pegs, and this allows me to lay down/recline a bit putting my 6'6" high head below the buffet zone. When I get into town/city traffic, I do sit up but then the speeds are much less and it doesn't bother me then. I still need to get a set of set backs for my handlebars so I can reach them more easily in my reclined position. I just put a newer and slightly taller shield on my bike as well, but after a short test, it still seems like I'll need to lean/lay back to get below the turbulence. Good luck!

T.C.

[Pat Kelly]

(tongue in cheek)
When I want to avoid the wind I take the car .

I intermittently ride with my Pacifico fairing off or on. Last summer while it was off I felt I was getting beat-up by the wind. 20 years ago this didn't bother me.
This summer I have a very small windscreen from Nat Cycle. It deflects the wind from my chest. My arms, shoulders and head are still in the bug zone which doesn't bother me.....yet.

I have 2 windscreens for the Pacifico. One is tall, I have to look through it so I'm well protected. I also have some 2" side shield thingies that I got from JC Whit. Adds more winter protection. The fairing has lowers that channel the warm air from the engine over my legs and my feet are behind the case.
The other fairing shield is 2" lower, I look just over the top of it without stretching. This one also has 2 vents in it. They help a little on the 100 deg. days here.

Guess I'm lucky to be 5'8"...though I should be 6'5" according to my weight .

[NOMAD]

Hey Top Cat,

Where did you get your bar setbacks? I've been looking for some since I started riding an XS again. I had a pair on my original 79 that I bought new. But I haven't been able to find another set except Merriam Cycle and they have to order them and want an arm and leg for them.

Thanks, NOMAD

[Robert Haller]

I would like to get a windshield to keep the air off my body and hopefully head, but prefer to look over the shield rather than through it. Is this possible? If so can someone recommend a shield height (I'm 6'1")?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey NOMAD, and Rob,

Sorry, but if you read my post a little better(NO SLAM INTENDED HERE) you'd see that I said that I "needed" to get a set of setbacks, haven't gotten any yet, TKAT I thought used to make them, not sure if he still does, will have to contact him and ask if they will be on the production line anytime this year!?!?

Rob, most/many of the shields that are around 15-17" high from top of headlight, but the can be angled and adjusted considerably, to allow you to be able to put them at the angle that would allow you to look over the top vs having it cut right thru your center view. Best take a piece of cardboard, tape it to your bike's handlebars, sit on it and see how high it needs to be to be able to see over it....allow for a tilt of 30-45 degrees from vertical. HTH !?

T.C.

[MartyA]

Don't have any experience with a windshield, I have a Vetter with the Lexan, it's about 22" and I can just see over the top if I sit up straight. Friend of mine has the same on his G'wing, he cut 2" off the top so he can look over the top. Just tape it, mark it and cut it. Sand the edge to remove the burrs and you are good to go. Can you do that with a windshield if you can't angle it to where you want?

[Robert Haller]

Originally posted by TopCatGr58
Hey NOMAD, and Rob,
Sorry, but if you read my post a little better(NO SLAM INTENDED HERE) you'd see that I said that I "needed" to get a set of setbacks,T.C.

T.C.

I thought that you being 5" taller than me might make a difference for what would work for me.

The cardboard mockup is a good idea. Thanks for the input.