It's been quite hot around Seattle the past two weeks (high 80's to low 90's). Riding has been fine, but creeping along in our traffic with the sun beating down is bad. I decided to take the windshield off. What a difference. No only am I cooler but the bike seems to fly. It's like swimming naked - you don't realize what you've been putting up with until the swimsuit comes off. It's like someone lit a fire under the bike. Some of that is probably an illusion created by the all wind now hitting me, and the added noise, but there has to be less wind resistance too. I think I gained about 3 mpg in gas mileage (from 35 to 38, roughly 10%).
Come Fall, I'll want a windshield back, and I'm looking for an alternative to the one I took off, which is a replacement made by Gustafson. It's very sturdy and nice to sit behind with the helmet shield up, but I'm not looking forward to pushing that barn door again. I'm open to suggestions for compromise, if there are any. An R80(100)RS has a much shorter wind screen. What's that like? Clear Shield makes one with a vent in it that seems clever. How are those? Has anyone tried cutting the corners off a standard windshield? Would that help at all? Thank you for any and all shared wisdom.
Peter
Come Fall, I'll want a windshield back, and I'm looking for an alternative to the one I took off, which is a replacement made by Gustafson. It's very sturdy and nice to sit behind with the helmet shield up, but I'm not looking forward to pushing that barn door again. I'm open to suggestions for compromise, if there are any. An R80(100)RS has a much shorter wind screen. What's that like? Clear Shield makes one with a vent in it that seems clever. How are those? Has anyone tried cutting the corners off a standard windshield? Would that help at all? Thank you for any and all shared wisdom.
Peter