I'm new to cycling and already convinced I want to try a windshield.  I'm 5' 9" on a good day, so I'm sure that matters.  A lot of the posts on this site are by people a bit taller than I am, so I'm not sure what works for them will work for me.  Would an OEM windshield work well, or is something else preferable?  I see they come in many heights, commonly 15-18".  Which is best for someone who will be taking mostly short trips under 65mph?  Comments on widths?  Anything I've missed?  Thanks!

I say any windshield that has handlebars behind it instead of a steering wheel is a darn good windshield to be looking thru. Smarty aleck answers aside, I havent put one on the savage yet, but had one on a Guzzi & liked the small shield fine. It knocked the pressure off the chest, so I wasnt holding on at 80 to keep from being blown off. If its a cold climate, I would want a bigger shield, to hide behind better. In hot climes, I would want the smallest windshield I could get that would be big ebnough to knock the wind off the chest & chin, allowing the wind to hit in the visor area.

If those short trips are in cold weather, it doesn't matter how fast(slow) you're going - every 10mph you will subtract about 5f degrees in  wind chill.  50f degree day at 40mph? yep, it will feel like 30f degrees.  

A larger, wider shield will keep you warm and dry in the fall, and will add about 30 days to your riding season.

I have 2 shields - the stock suzuki, and a large plexifaring. I use the stock shield from may-September, and switch over to the plexifairing just in time for Oktoberfest.

When selecting a shield, make sure you can see over it. I can't see over the larger shield, and I have trouble making things out at night as the oncoming headlights glare up the shield.

Windshields  offer a great comfort:
- No more wind buffeting.
- Reduced wind noise.
- Bug and pebble protection for the face.
- Warmer rides.
- Dryer rides. If it's drizzling, the shield will knock the rain away - it's an amazing effect.

The only downside is that they MUST be cleaned - if your shield is dirty, everybody will notice, especially you.

  I've always had big windshields, To me more relaxing and you don't have to hold on so tight.

   5 6 windshield 1 inch below eyes

up4fishin wrote on 09/03/08 at 17:57:47:
I'm 5'9" on bad days.  On good days a bit shorter as I'm sitting on the Savage.

I have two windscreens, neither mounted at this time.

The first is the National Cycle Flyscreen:  http://shop.nationalcycle.com/perl/cycle/N2530?


(My bike's on the left)


9" high, 9.75" wide, looks to be mere decoration.  It blocks a remarkable amount of air, mostly from mid chest down, reducing the pressure of the wind trying to shove you backward off the seat, yet leaves that wind in the face freedom.  Goggles highly recomended.   The flyscreen is my screen of choice for cool weather.  However, on my first Mojave Moonlight Madness I ran into 30 mph headwinds returning on I-10 which made anything above 60 approach painfull unless I crouched cafe style behind the flyscreen, which made 75 comfy as to wind, but painful as to position.

My second screen is the National Cycle Street Shield:  http://shop.nationalcycle.com/perl/cycle/N2560?



A mid sized screen, 17" tall, 16.5" wide, mine mounts with the top of the screen around mustache level.  Airflow hits me just about at the hairline.  On the second Mojave Moonlight Madness I met the same headwind on the return, but this time I could maintain 75 while sitting normally.  This screen was worn on my 2700 mile tour.  It blocks enough wind that you can ride without any other eye protection.  This one gets mounted in COLD weather.  It blocks those icy fingers that slip in around the neckline and down the chest.

Well, height is such a fussy thing... My doc told me I was 5' 7" but measuring myself (and against my 6' brother) tell me I'm more like 5' 9" or 10"... Go figure!

I don't have one of the huge shields though. I still get wind to the face and it's nice. I just don't get the wind knocked out of me going fast.  

I have a National cycle Dakota windshield.  At 17.5" high, I can still see over it, but it really cuts the wind. I am 5'8" tall.  I wanted to install the suzuki factory screen, but they were back ordered and I got tired of waiting for it.  

I wear a full face helmet, and the air over the top of the screen hits the face shield of the helmet, which enhances the airflow through the  vents.  I no longer feel like I am about to be blown off the bike over 50 mph. Installation was quick and easy. Height can be adjusted about 1" up or down. The angle is not adjustable, but it seems to be fine as is.


http://shop.nationalcycle.com/perl/cycle/NC125A?mv_session_id=229mtRAn&search...