Remove windshield?

chet8625 · 07-27-2011, 03:41 PM

I was thinking of removing the windshield on my Yamaha 650 for the summer. I typically drive 50 miles/day, mostly on the highway.

Have any of you done this and did you like the results?

JasonSK · 07-27-2011, 04:23 PM

50 miles a day.. lucky!

You'll have more wind, but if you get caught in rain or whatever you'll deal with that too. I've not done it, I ride in all kinds of weather and it would be too big of a hassle to take on and off all the time.

HKshooter · 07-27-2011, 07:19 PM

I took mine off. Much smoother air and much cooler ride. Looks better too.

hogcowboy · 07-28-2011, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKshooter

I took mine off. Much smoother air and much cooler ride. Looks better too.

Have you had it off long enough to tell how it affects your gas mileage? Reason I ask is I've added one and saw a definite improvement. Just wondering if you saw a drop in mileage.

HKshooter · 07-28-2011, 10:32 AM

I havent checked it since I took it off but I did track it after I installed it and it got worse by a point or two. Before the windscreen averaged 34, after averaged 32.

Flattop67 · 07-28-2011, 03:57 PM

I used to ride 40m each way on I95, tried it without the shield and got sandblasted way too many times. I keep it on all the time now.

Dennis in NH · 07-28-2011, 10:59 PM

Yamaha 650 as in Vstar 650 right? i.e., you'll be riding upright.

I did shieldless on my Vstar 1300 when I had it. The wind will push you back and so you need to hold on. Please wear a full face helmet to avoid getting smacked by a stray bug or debris. Ensure your jacket fits well and doesn't catch wind. With my cruiser jacket (not tight fitting) the wind would pull it so that the collar would choke me a little. With my sport bike jacket it wasn't as big an issue. You will surely be more fatigued fighting the wind.

I only ride shieldless when it was warm and the air was thin. I also had a backrest on the bike to help keep me from being blown off.

My vstar 650 at the time came with a Slipstream shield which is sort of triangular and gets wind off my chest -- big help but you still get a lot of wind.

I still have it in my basement.

Dennis

Eye_m_no_angel · 07-28-2011, 11:11 PM

About a year ago I bought a Roadking, so I could keep up with my Woman, and on her advice I installed a windshield. This is the first bike in over 30 years of riding that I have ever owned that had a windshield, and man-oh-man! What a difference! I had no idea what I was missing!

I can cruise the Interstates at 70+ and feel comfortable, and if it rains, I can duck down a little bit and not feel like my face is being sandblasted. Bugs and flapping garments are not quite so much of an issue, and it's great. At least on long trips at highway speeds.

Most of the time though, I prefer to ride and feel the wind, and the bugs, and the grit, and the rain, and everything else that makes biking so darn addictive.

So yeah, pop off your shield, get your face in the wind, and enjoy the ride.

MS_Steve · 07-29-2011, 09:27 AM

Your gas mileage will go up a couple miles per gallon... the bike will be a tad quicker, not having to push all that air out of the way.
You'll miss it (depending how tall it is) the 1st time it rains... you'll experience higher wind noise in your helmet, and wind buffeting (which can be tiring after 50 miles - maybe)

HKshooter · 07-29-2011, 10:13 AM

I think the noise is relative. I've noticed that if I pay attention, yes, there is more noise without the windshield. BUT, it's a much smoother noise, kinda like a white noise in the back ground instead of the whip and bang, on and off beating noise of the buffeting I had with the windshield.

Dennis in NH · 07-29-2011, 10:45 AM

I'm with HKshooter. Without the shield the wind is loud but smoother.

Also if it's cold, your helmet shield fogs far less because there's air coming in.

Dennis

RiditAgain · 07-29-2011, 11:25 AM

I bought my bike with a Nationalcycle plexifairing 3 on it. Keep it on until it warmed up, rode with none until recently. At highway speeds it was brutal for me. I had a shield that wasn't quite as full as the NC3 and put it on, much better. I cut 2 1/2 inches off the top, may take a little more off. Much more comfortable at highway speeds and don't notice the sail effect.

07-27-2011, 03:41 PM	#1
chet8625 Master At Arms Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 158	Remove windshield? I was thinking of removing the windshield on my Yamaha 650 for the summer. I typically drive 50 miles/day, mostly on the highway. Have any of you done this and did you like the results?

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07-27-2011, 04:23 PM	#2
JasonSK Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: East of Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 392	50 miles a day.. lucky! You'll have more wind, but if you get caught in rain or whatever you'll deal with that too. I've not done it, I ride in all kinds of weather and it would be too big of a hassle to take on and off all the time.

07-27-2011, 07:19 PM	#3
HKshooter Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Posts: 675	I took mine off. Much smoother air and much cooler ride. Looks better too.

07-28-2011, 10:32 AM	#5
HKshooter Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Posts: 675	I havent checked it since I took it off but I did track it after I installed it and it got worse by a point or two. Before the windscreen averaged 34, after averaged 32.

07-28-2011, 03:57 PM	#6
Flattop67 Verified Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Way to the Right Posts: 99	I used to ride 40m each way on I95, tried it without the shield and got sandblasted way too many times. I keep it on all the time now.

07-28-2011, 10:59 PM	#7
Dennis in NH Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southern NH Posts: 1,011	Yamaha 650 as in Vstar 650 right? i.e., you'll be riding upright. I did shieldless on my Vstar 1300 when I had it. The wind will push you back and so you need to hold on. Please wear a full face helmet to avoid getting smacked by a stray bug or debris. Ensure your jacket fits well and doesn't catch wind. With my cruiser jacket (not tight fitting) the wind would pull it so that the collar would choke me a little. With my sport bike jacket it wasn't as big an issue. You will surely be more fatigued fighting the wind. I only ride shieldless when it was warm and the air was thin. I also had a backrest on the bike to help keep me from being blown off. My vstar 650 at the time came with a Slipstream shield which is sort of triangular and gets wind off my chest -- big help but you still get a lot of wind. I still have it in my basement. Dennis

07-28-2011, 11:11 PM	#8
Eye_m_no_angel Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Daytona Beach, FL Posts: 4,260	About a year ago I bought a Roadking, so I could keep up with my Woman, and on her advice I installed a windshield. This is the first bike in over 30 years of riding that I have ever owned that had a windshield, and man-oh-man! What a difference! I had no idea what I was missing! I can cruise the Interstates at 70+ and feel comfortable, and if it rains, I can duck down a little bit and not feel like my face is being sandblasted. Bugs and flapping garments are not quite so much of an issue, and it's great. At least on long trips at highway speeds. Most of the time though, I prefer to ride and feel the wind, and the bugs, and the grit, and the rain, and everything else that makes biking so darn addictive. So yeah, pop off your shield, get your face in the wind, and enjoy the ride.

07-29-2011, 09:27 AM	#9
MS_Steve Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mid-Mississippi Posts: 460	Your gas mileage will go up a couple miles per gallon... the bike will be a tad quicker, not having to push all that air out of the way. You'll miss it (depending how tall it is) the 1st time it rains... you'll experience higher wind noise in your helmet, and wind buffeting (which can be tiring after 50 miles - maybe)

07-29-2011, 10:13 AM	#10
HKshooter Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Posts: 675	I think the noise is relative. I've noticed that if I pay attention, yes, there is more noise without the windshield. BUT, it's a much smoother noise, kinda like a white noise in the back ground instead of the whip and bang, on and off beating noise of the buffeting I had with the windshield.

07-29-2011, 10:45 AM	#11
Dennis in NH Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southern NH Posts: 1,011	I'm with HKshooter. Without the shield the wind is loud but smoother. Also if it's cold, your helmet shield fogs far less because there's air coming in. Dennis

07-29-2011, 11:25 AM	#12
RiditAgain Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,315	I bought my bike with a Nationalcycle plexifairing 3 on it. Keep it on until it warmed up, rode with none until recently. At highway speeds it was brutal for me. I had a shield that wasn't quite as full as the NC3 and put it on, much better. I cut 2 1/2 inches off the top, may take a little more off. Much more comfortable at highway speeds and don't notice the sail effect.