Posted by Frank Moss on February 12, 2002 at 19:57:24:
Hello Forum; For those who still enjoy motorcycling even in cold weather, a windshield is very helpful. I never liked windshields much, they often make the bike feel "heavy" at the front end, and I always liked the wind in my face (in the summer), but now as I grow older, I am beginning to appreciate the advantages of a shield. For example, last fall I started out on a ride with my daughter and her husband, she has a Savage, he has a Suzuki four cylinder. As we left the driveway and only a few hundred yards later, I got hit on the right cheek by some kind of malicious little bee that really stung, but we kept on going. About a half hour later, and probably 15 or 18 miles, I got hit again, this time right between the eyes above the rim of my glasses by another bee. Do they have radar or something? What do you think the odds are of getting hit twice by two different bees a half hour and miles apart? For about three days I looked like some kind of deformed bug eyed frogman. My daughter had this nice little windshield from National Cycle that seemed to be light but sturdy, so I got one. It measures about 14 inches from the center of the headlight curve to the top, and is about 15 inches wide. It has adjustments at the handlebar clamps and adjustments right on the shield itself. It can be slanted and raised or lowered. I have it set so I can look over the shield but the wind is deflected above my head. I have had the bike out several times this winter (I live in Pennsylvania 30 miles north of Pittsburgh) when the temperature was around 40F. With a good warm leather jacket and gloves I could go about 20 miles or so, just enough to keep the bike running during the winter without all that winterizing stuff. I don't know if it's my imagination or what, but the bike seems to run just a bit faster now with the shield on, so I'm going to leave it on in the summer as well. I do know that it takes a lot of the wind pressure off me, so I do not tire out as fast, as I learned last fall from some longer rides. All in all, for the money (about $42) it's not a bad little shield, and I expect it to be a good defense against those kamikazi bees. If anyone is looking for a decent little shield without too much cash outlay, try National Cycle. Frank M.