I've just bought a GV250, well deposit and remainder when it arrives and I can ride it in <2 weeks and the dealer will install any accessories for free up until I take possession.

So what I am wondering from the experienced riders here, is it better to have a windshield? I've heard some in the office mention it increases drag but is useful unless you have a full face helmet. I'll be riding with a Modular/Flip up helmet.

:old: I have not had any adverse effects with one. If I ever go with another bike I will surely get one for it.

Actually the type of windshield may or may not increase drag..

A full up traditional ''tombstone'' HD stand straight up windshield may (will) increase drag...

but a well designed windshield can/will decrease drag.

Think about it... high speed vehicles have steamlined front ends, this is what the right windshield will do for you. Slide the bike through the wind vs. pushing against the wind.

But you won't see HD riders with these type as they are not what the 'pack' has.

pops and I both have the Memphis Shade Blade Runner with a adjustable top screen for different conditions.

Not sure about the drag, I find it helps when crusing at 100 km/h.

Great choice with buying a GV250 :moto:

I have a flip front helmet and I also now have windshields on both my bikes, although I want a BIGGER one on the GV650 - currently stock.

Once the speed gets up above 80kph/50mph windshields become essential kit IMHO and I can certainly attest to the reduction in drag from a sport-style screen - I fitted one to my GT250 naked and the economy improved noticably. Its pretty obvious that the human torso is a pretty bad aerodynamic shape - more like a sail - so a shield that smoothes the airflow over the top of the rider rather than slapping into them will reduce drag. A windshield of the tombstone variety that simply moves the sail forward and batters its way thru the air clearly wont although it may not increase it either.

I agree with Icedog.. I fought the wind for a whole summer and anything above 60 mph the sheer force on your chest is incredible. I hit speeds up to 80mph in the wind and didn't know how I was going to hang on. I bought a Memphis shade and what a difference. First time on the Freeway I was following my Brother In-Law and I looked down at the speedo and we were going 80mph and I didn't even know it. I have not taken it off yet. Other advantages is the protection to you from debris. I am constantly cleaning all the bugs off of it after each ride but not to mention all the small rocks kicked up from cars. I rode with Achie yesterday and I know he wants one bad. :woohoo:

No aerodynamic widshield =

:hahaha: :hahaha: :hahaha: :hahaha: :floorlaugh: :floorlaugh: :floorlaugh: :floorlaugh:

CLOSEUP....

NEW ZEALAND WIND-SCREEN

I don't know about that kiwi windshield :shock: I got the standard Hyo windshield that Richard Jordan sells and I find it great. Top of the shield is just below my eye line.

I wear a full face helmet and I can ride comfortably with the visor up at speeds upto 90km/h.

I know there are bigger shields but I find this size good for me. ( I'm only a shorty at 5'6") :moto:

hmmm never actually seen a "kiwi" looks more like a ocker one :hahaha: :hahaha:

Anyway after having a wind shield I would never ride without one again

hey... that pic was posted a loooooooooooong time ago and patsparks ID'd it as a KIWI shield.... :okthumb:

much as I hate to admit it, the red soil and lack of vertical pasture is a bit of a give-away.

Anyway its not a windshield its a heater-unit :rolleyes:

:old: Oh do I have some personal experience for you, proxyissues! :blah:

I've a full face Arai Profile helmet which is very aerodynamic & doesn't buffet my head when I turn to look to the side and is fairly quiet. I've only ridden w/full face helmets w/full face shield. Ok, helmet factor out of the way.

I have a GV250. Rode it w/o a windshield for several months. It was ok on back roads & in town but at speeds above 60-70kph there was wind buffeting both my body & head and on open areas & bridges cross winds pushed me to the side. (I'm abt 130 lbs)

WITH a windshield, 'dramatic' improvement in comfort & handling. *IF & ONLY IF* the windshield is properly adjusted for the rider. I've ridden on interstates at 120kph and don't have any buffeting. Just like the semis that have the curved arc on their cabs, the windshield guides the wind over me. *** AS WAS ALREADY POSTED, the top of the windshield is just below my eyes. EVEN BETTER, my bike holds the road at speed since the windshield acts as a 'spoiler' pushing the front wheel into the road.

The negative 'drag effect' is last century's advise and/or poor windshield choice for the bike. Back in the day I had a windshield on my '81 Suzuki for about a month before Gary took it off b/c of the negative handling effect. That windshield was also 5X as heavy as today's windshields & designs were more about looks.

I've also had 2 different windshields on my GV250. The stock direct from Hyosung lasted about 5 miles before I turned around, went back to my dealer and said 'take it off & find me something that doesn't vibrate so much'. Ummm, I did most of those miles at 140kph since I was 'testing' :rolleyes: The Hyo shield only had 2 points of contact.

Bill found me a NATIONAL CYCLE STREET SHIELD which is perfect. No matter what my speed. It's got 4 contacts. (And popped off nicely when I crashed. :cool: ) PM montingeau for specifics.

Athough I've never been bothered about riding without a windsheild, I have considered adding one just to enhance the look of the bike.
Then I rode my mates V-star 650 the other week with its new windsheild. I couldn't believe what a difference it made, riding at high speed and not having to hold on for dear life.
I'm in two minds as to whether I'll update to a bigger bike at the moment, but if I end up keeping the Piglet, I think I'll definately be looking at adding a Daystar windsheild from Richard Jordan.

What are you looking at in a bigger bike ?

Maybe I'm just getting :old: but a CRIUSER is not a ''CRIUSER'' with out a screen...

''cruising = lay-ed back comfortable 'cruising' riding at all speeds..''

I always said I would go to a HD Sportster or similar but to be honest, out of all the mid size cruisers that I've researched, the Suzuki Boulevard C50 would be the ride of choice at the moment. There was a local one on ebay recently that was a dealer demo but dropped on a test ride. Only damage that I could see was some very minor tank and pipe scratches. It had about 70 kms on the clock and the asking price was about AU$3000 under new price. A colleague at work has one fully dressed and says that with a decent exhaust and air filter, they are right up there with the best.

I've been looking at and sitting on various bikes in the last 2 weeks when we were thinking of getting me a bigger bike for highway riding. While the Sportster line is among HDs lightest, it also has the highest center of gravity of all the HD lines. Friend has a HD shop and that is the main thing he cautioned. Said the Dyna line was actually easier to ride. And they've a low version. With less horsepower that the GV650 I think. So we stopped looking for a bigger bike for me - I'm gonna share Gary's GV650 when I'm mostly on the highway, he'll put on a 'real' (larger) windshield this winter. The C50 is one of the larger bikes we are considering for him, since reports I've gotten are that it's also good for 2-up.

:old: i Might be more aerodynamic now with all of the steriods I have been taking this winter I am more rounded off. Tall when I lay down. But I am sure I can slip thru the wind now.

I think thats what amish got for just that reason (??)

Yes, Sandy likes the 'back seat' and he's fine w/riding it around alone too. We borrowed a friend's Honda VTX1300, ok but not great and too 'clunky' for Gary's taste. He also rode a demo HD Street Glide which surprised him w/the handling ease - I'm ok w/the couch in back. I mean pillion. :smalltounge It about vibrated his teeth out at stoplights though. And requires obscene $$$$ even used! Still looking . . .

I was going to point that out but...........

Apart from the fact it looks more like a aussie sheep :hahaha: :hahaha:

ah well, I guess it takes a mutton connoisseur to tell the difference. :hahaha: :hahaha: :hahaha:

To me they all look alike, dumb smelly things that can only be relied upon to bolt in the opposite direction in front of your car to the one you think they are going to go. :furious: :pull:

Gee, I have white tail deer who can be relied upon to either stand still in front of a car or move in front of it. Though a couple of years ago when Gary was driving my truck a herd decided to cross the street - on ice- and generally surrounded the truck. . .