The devil, they say, is in the details, and there are plenty of details to consider when purchasing a windshield for your motorcycle.
Top of that list of details should be deciding what material your windshield is to be made of.
Generally speaking, modern motorcycle windshields are made either of acrylic or polycarbonate.
Acrylic windshields tend to be cheaper, so if cost is an issue, this is a big plus. But the trade offs include susceptibility to fading, scratching and breaking.
Polycarbonate windshields tend to be more expensive, but they are also way stronger, more durable and far more resistant to scratching and fading. To give you some perspective, all helmet face shields must be polycarbonate to get DOT approval. And if you want to take that up a notch or two further, the military uses polycarbonate for aircraft windshields.
Once you have decided from what material your windshield is to be made of, you can begin searching for a manufacturer/supplier.
Staying With Your Brand
Depending on the machine you own, the manufacturer may offer OEM windshields that have been designed specifically for your bike. Chances are there will be fewer options for sportier machines and more for cruisers, nakeds and adventure/tourers.
The obvious advantage of staying within the brand for your windshield is that it’s just about guaranteed to fit. The downside is that you’ll probably have to pay considerably more than you’d like to. Furthermore, your choice of products is likely to be limited, as manufacturers can sometimes be fairly stingy when it comes to producing loads of optional extras for their rides.
Looking Around
There are loads of windshield manufacturers out there, producing all kinds of wonderful shapes, sizes and designs from protection oriented to pure badass style above all else. Competition is fierce, so prices tend to be more reasonable than you’ll pay for OEM pieces.
Another big plus in favour of looking outside of your motorcycle’s brand is that many custom windshields are designed to be universal, thereby increasing the chances that you’ll be able to find one that’s perfect for you and your bike.
Some motorcycle dealerships will carry windshields for you to look at, or you may be lucky enough to live near a custom manufacturer with a store attached.
Most likely, however, your search for the perfect windshield will take place at your computer and at a site such as ours.
Now that you’re here, why not check out our windshield options to see what we mean about choice and competitive pricing. See our vehicle specific windshields .
And our universal windshield applications .
Once you have decided from where you are going to purchase your windshield, it’s time to think about what you want your windshield to do…look good, protect or maybe a little of both.