For many riders, installing a motorcycle windshield is a worthwhile project. How much area, shape, and color are used are closely related to the usual riding style, speed, and even car models, and they are all worthy of careful consideration.

    This article interprets the function of the lower windshield and the skill of selection in a simple way.

    Motorcycle universal windshield, mostly refers to the plexiglass used to guide the airflow and resist foreign objects in front of the motorcycle. Its name is “polymethyl methacrylate”, which is similar to the material of spectacle lenses nowadays, and actually belongs to two different materials like our common glass.

    Polymethyl methacrylate is characterized by being transparent, light, and not easy to break.

    From small scooters for daily transportation, to sports cars, to rally cars and cruising cars, most motorcycles will be equipped with windshields, but for different models, the role of windshields will be slightly different.

    For sports cars, because the rider drives the vehicle in a tumble riding manner, the role of the windshield is mainly to guide the direction of high-speed airflow and obtain the best aerodynamic effect, thereby reducing the wind resistance of the vehicle and increasing the stability of high-speed driving.

    Therefore, the windshield of a sports car is generally not too big, and it is integrated with the front deflector.

    For cruising cars, the orientation of the windshield is not so extreme. On the one hand, it must take into account the rider’s comfortable sitting posture and block the oncoming high-speed airflow; on the other hand, it must also take into account the guidance of high-speed airflow to increase the high-speed stability of the vehicle; and even consider fuel consumption.

    Therefore, we can see windshields of various orientations on cruise cars, such as large transparent shields that Harley owners like, adjustable angle windshields like Honda ST1300, and even Yamaha TMAX windshields.

    The advantage of a large windshield is obvious. Even if the rider wears a helmet, the windshield can reduce the impact of high-speed airflow on the body, and can prevent splashing small rocks from directly hitting the human body. The disadvantages of the large windshield are also obvious, increasing fuel consumption, increasing driving resistance, and even affecting the stability of the vehicle.

    In the current domestic-made Guangyang racing boat 300I, we can see that the ABS version of the windshield has also been adjusted, the shape of the wind guide has been increased, and the size has been reduced. Perhaps in the view of the manufacturer, the rider has full helmet protection, and the big windshield is actually not very useful, but it will significantly increase fuel consumption.

    For street cars, most of them choose not to add a windshield. Because street cars are not traveling fast, there is no need to consider too much wind resistance.

    Moreover, in the street, after installing a windshield (especially with a color), it will affect the driver’s vision, and it is easy to ignore the sudden situation on the road. In addition, after installing a large windshield, it will affect the flexibility of the vehicle, which has a greater impact on street cars.

    In recent years, the domestic motorcycle culture has become popular, and many users have installed windshields on street cars and converted them into station wagons.

    However, users who are more familiar with motorcycles know that in terms of sitting posture, there is still a big difference between a street car, a cruiser, and a station wagon.

    SUV

    For off-road vehicles, most of them are not allowed to add windshield. In off-road bike riding, most riders use standing riding. Once the bike falls forward, the windshield can easily become a murder weapon.

    Moreover, the off-road vehicle is not riding fast, and the riding conditions are very bad. If the transparent windshield is covered with mud and dust all at once, it will seriously affect the vision.

    Expedition car

    For expedition models, the orientation of the windshield is somewhat similar to that of cruisers. For example, in the high-speed riding in the desert section, the effect of the windshield is more obvious, but if you are fighting in the mud, the windshield is not very necessary.

    At present, many high-end adventure models are equipped with adjustable windshields. Such as BMW’s R1200GS, Ducati’s Lantu 1200, KTM’s 1290 SUPER ADV and so on.

    From this Red Bull KTM car at the Dakar stadium, we can also see that this towering and moderate windshield can solve the wind resistance problem of the rider when riding in a seated position, and avoid the instrument panel from being attacked by small stones. Will not block the rider’s vision when standing and riding.

If you want to ask me, what kind of windshield is good for the small pedals for urban mobility? This is of course a personal hobby, because for the small pedals for urban mobility, the windshield is more of a decoration, which makes the small pedals create a different Styling and style.