HD Open Road

Like many of us who ride baggers, I find myself at a crossroads between my desire to be comfortable on the road (especially roadtrips), and wanting my bike to keep that lean look that comes from a low, smoked windshield. I always ran a 6″ smoke windshield. And while it gave me the look that I wanted, there were some consequences to that decision.

How many times have you seen the little bobble head in a car where the bobble head looked like it was going to come off? That is what riding at 70-75 mph, especially into a headwind, is like. It seems that a vortex is formed right on the bridge of my nose. My glasses bob on my face, and every bug in my path inevitably smacks me like a BB on my forehead! Time for a change!

A friend of my bought the Klockwerks windshield. This is a revolutionary design, but a little too futuristic for my taste. Also, when asked my friend never could quite give me his full endorsement. The search went on for a viable alternative.

Then my research lad me to Clearview Shields, from Bailey, Colorado. Clearview Shields makes windshields for all types of bikes with windshields, but my only concern was my Harley.

I took a look at the different types and sizes of windshields available. They have a wide variety of windshields for every need and taste, and include on their website a tutorial on choosing the right size windshield.

I chose the 8″ smoke recurve windshield. This windshield has the same smoke coloring as the 6″ windshield I had been running. The extra 2″ height is barely noticeable, but the difference is amazing. The curve of the windshield is also very slight, but works amazingly well.

As soon as I put the windshield on, it was road test time. I was fortunate (if you could think of it that way) that there was a stiff breeze blowing that day. Perfect for my test.

I first started down the Temescal Canyon. I can usually get my speed up to about 80 in several stretches of this canyon. The feel was amazing. It was as if I had the big stock windshield back on. I did not have any movement of my glasses, no “vortex”, and no bugs hitting me in the mug. But it was also curious that my bike seems to crouch slightly at speed in front. The wind seems to be putting downward force on my front end. Anyone who has ridden for a while knows this is a very good thing, and if you have raced, you know it is indispensable.

Out of the other end of the canyon, no time to try the freeway. This is where I get to test it into a headwind. Again the downward force seemed apparent. All the while I did not have the noticeable “bobble head” effect that I would normally be experiencing. I did notice that I was getting a lot more of a rush of wind just outside of my shoulders than I normally experienced. Either more wind is being channeled to the side, or I just notice it more since the wind isn’t smacking me in the face. Either way, it’s good by me. I don’t ride out there anyway!

I am sold on the Clearview Recurve Windshield by Clearview Shields. I was able to maintain the sleek look I wanted for my Ultra, and at the same time get rid of the wind vortex on the bridge of my nose making my road trips far more enjoyable. Check it out. I think you will like them too.

You can find them at http://www.clearviewshields.com. Or call them at 1-800-798-6089. I think you will be glad you did!

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