Motorcycle windshields, style versus function. Looking for something tinted to set your bike apart? Or are you looking for protection from dear old Mother Nature and a wide variety of winged bugs?
If you’re riding a sports bike, you’re probably looking for less drag, maybe clearer vision and possibly a nice tint to set off the color of your fairing. If you’re riding anything else, chances are you’re looking for a windshield that’s going to give you more protection from the elements and maybe less bugs than you'r getting right now.
The grass always appears greener on the other side, right? If you have no windshield at all on your street bike, there’s going to come a time when you’re bombing down the highway and the wind is hitting your chest with hammer like ferocity that you’re gonna wish for that measure of peace and serenity afforded by a windshield.
On the other hand, if you’re cruising around behind acres of plastic glass, completely protected from the elements and local winged wildlife, you’re going to occasionally hanker to feel the wind in your hair…if you have some…hair that is.
Obviously it’s impossible to list here all the windshields that will fit every class and model of motorcycle. Furthermore, some universal-fitting windshields will do exactly that—fit everything from an SV650 to a Harley Sportster.
But we can give you a sense of what’s out there and how windshield purchasing often plays out. Let’s use size as a guide (not that it matters, right?).
Small
National Cycles Flyscreen Windshield typically rises just nine inches above the top of the headlight cut out. You have to make sure you place it at the right angle to get the best benefit, which means getting most of the wind to blast up over your chest and towards the top of your lid.
No, this is not total protection by any means, but is does take the pressure off if you are doing a lot of highway work on a naked/street triple. The other great benefit of this small windshield is that you can play with the tint (there are a few available), coz you don’t need to look through it.
And you’ll see them on larger, naked cruisers, too, just enough to deflect some of that tiring wind resistance.
Meanwhile, the Zero Gravity SR series windshield is popular among the sport crowd. Excellent optics and with a couple of tint options, the manufacturer says these windshields dominate road racing.
Medium
The Puig Touring windshield is a step up in the protection stakes. Taller and with more width, these windshields are perfect for the adventure/touring/dual sport crowd, where long day rides and week/weekend trips are common.
Slipstreamer’s S-09 cobra sport shield stands a shade under 17-inches high. The windshield has been designed to fit both round and square headlights and both the height and angle of the windshield can be adjusted.
If a larger, touring windshield is what you're after, think carefully about the type of riding you will do. For mostly road riding, go as big as you like. But if you’re gonna hit the trails, be careful that your windshield doesn’t get in the way when the trees and bushes encroach.
Large
For the cruiser market, Memphis Shades both design and build stunning custom windshields and windshield/fairing combos such as the ever-popular batwing for both domestic and imported machines.
National Cycle’s Plexifairing 3 windshield is another big boy worth looking at. It stands over 20 inches tall and includes hand and leg protection for maximum weather deflection and comfort on those long haul rides.
Large windshields can look fine on the big bikes, but can look pretty stupid on small machines. Few windshields are likely to improve the looks of your bike, but small is definitely less obtrusive on smaller bikes.