Motorcycle Windshield Buying Guide
Riding your motorcycle at high speeds for a long period of time can be fatiguing. The wind hitting you straight on can make you feel like you’re being actively pushed, making you fight to stay in the correct riding position. If you want to reduce this strain and improve your comfort while riding, install a motorcycle windshield! Not only will you be more comfortable, but you’ll be safer and less likely to suffer from fatigue while riding in high winds or at high speeds.
To help you figure out whether you should install a motorcycle windshield and what to look for, we have created this guide to motorcycle windshields.
Advantages of a Motorcycle Windshield
Windshields, as their name implies, block out a lot of the wind that will hit you as you’re riding your bike. Not only does this make it less annoying to ride, but it also reduces wind fatigue, which happens because your body has to actively steel itself against the wind as you ride in order to stay upright. You’ll be able to ride for much longer with a windshield installed.
Types of Windshields
You have several options when it comes to what type of motorcycle windshield you invest in. Permanent or fixed-mounted windshields are installed once and never removed from your bike, while removable or quick-release windshields offer you flexibility with removal, but they’ll need to be set up every time you put them on. Some riders prefer the latter style so they can store the windshield more easily, and other riders even have more than one windshield for different riding conditions.
The material the windshield is made from is another option you have. The cheapest and most common material for windshields is acrylic, which doesn’t yellow over time and always retains its shine. However, acrylic is also easily scratched and can shatter. Polycarbonate is sturdier and hard to chip in addition to being flexible enough not to shatter, but it’s more costly and can yellow with time.
Proper Height
When you install your new windshield on your motorcycle, you’ll want to make sure it’s at the correct height for your posture and your sitting height. If the windshield is too tall, then it cuts your field of vision and prevents you from seeing obstacles. Shorter windshields won’t protect you well from wind or rain. To get the height adjusted, align the top of the windshield with your nose and match its width to your bike’s width for sufficient protection.
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