Another Harley Thread

[Houtman_imp]

A smile is worth a thousand words !

[peterbaron]

[michael1954]

I'll never understand why so many people insist on having wind protection...while riding a motorcycle. It's a motorcycle, not a car. The whole idea is to be out there in the elements.

Smooth windflow on a no-windshield bike is easier to get along with and more relaxing than noisy turbulence from the windshield, not to mention having to look through that bug-splattered windshield. Plus, when it's hot, you don't receive the benefit of the cooling wind.

Having owned both types of bikes, and having tried my windshield bikes with and without their windshields, the ride was better every time without the windshield. Some bikes look ridiculous without their windshields (V-Strom, ST1300), but they still work better that way. Other bikes look much better without windshields, so adding one where it doesn't belong not only butchers the aesthetic, it diminishes the ride quality.

Ride a full weekend without the windshield. Get used to it. Quit talking yourself into thinking you have to have one. You don't, not on bikes like the CB1100. If it's a feet-forward cruiser that will turn your upper body into a sail without a windshield, okay, fine, but that only goes to prove, once again, that the basic cruiser design architecture is seriously flawed. The natural riding position on a motorcycle should include having your feet beneath you, with the upper body upright or canted slightly forward. No windshield necessary, at least up to eighty mph.

Allow yourself to get used to it, and you will never go back.

Hi, I sort of agree, having a windshield only on 1 of 3 of my bikes. I like riding without one, always have. Takes me back some 40 years ago when I could not afford a fairing. But, I like the smaller windshield I put on the 2017 CB1100EX. It does remove most of the wind that tires me sometimes. If you have not ridden in South Texas in the Spring, you do not know wind. Almost every day of fighting 30/40 mph wind is a pain. The shield is a plus then. Some 15 years back I was riding home from work, only 25 miles on my 1500 Vulcan Nomad and the wind was high, near 40/50 mph, even with the big bike, shield and all, I rode home on the access road next to the freeway. It was so bad, it was blowing me all over the road.
No shield then might have actually been better, not acting like a sail on a boat!

[VLJ_imp]

Exactly. Increasing the relatively flat surface area of a motorcycle only makes it easier for the wind to catch that surface area and use it as a big sail. You would definitely be better off without the windshield then. At that point, you need to duck down and make yourself as small as possible, while slowing down.

Otherwise, the only thing that will help you is a massive increase in vehicle weight.

Oh, and while south Texas winds may be bad, they have nothing on the Hollister Corridor, or really bad nights up on the Grapevine.

The other thing is, man, just look at your picture there. That giant barn door atop the '17 EX absolutely ruins the aesthetic. It's the visual equivalent of a gorgeous lady using a walker.

[Inhouse Bob]

Exactly. Increasing the relatively flat surface area of a motorcycle only makes it easier for the wind to catch that surface area and use it as a big sail. You would definitely be better off without the windshield then. At that point, you need to duck down and make yourself as small as possible, while slowing down.

Otherwise, the only thing that will help you is a massive increase in vehicle weight.

Oh, and while south Texas winds may be bad, they have nothing on the Hollister Corridor, or really bad nights up on the Grapevine.

The other thing is, man, just look at your picture there. That giant barn door atop the '17 EX absolutely ruins the aesthetic. It's the visual equivalent of a gorgeous lady using a walker.

Sometimes a lovely lady just needs a walker to make her life go better.
We all do what we need to do to ride our ride. If a windscreen makes the CB more ride-able for someone, who are we to bemoan their choice? As a UPS driver once said to me about other's poor driving, "It don't make no nevermind to me." It seems like a good attitude when making one's way through life.
It is interesting, though, how our choice of bike seems to represent our personality. The old saw says that doctors and dentists ride BMWs and mechanics ride KLRs, while lawyers and other criminals ride Harleys. Though I'm not sure all that is true, it's finda funny
The great thing is, there is a bike out there for almost everyone. If we spend less time critiquing other's choices, we will have more time for riding.

[Frulk_imp]

^^^+1 to In-house Bobs comment.

[VLJ_imp]

And yet here we all are on a message board, critiquing things instead of riding.

Methinks the two are not mutually exclusive. There is plenty enough time for both.

[Billie_imp]

I am looking to pickup a cruiser/touring bike to ride from Memphis to Denver than over to Scottsdale and back. I would love to do it on the CB, but I think it would wear me out. That said, I went and test rode some Harley's; a 2015 Dyna Low Rider, 2017 Heritage Soft tail and a 2018 Road King. All had about 4k to 6k miles and priced from $12k to $15k. I had a blast riding each of these bikes. Love the big 103 and 107 engines. However, when I get back on the CB to ride home, I am so glad I own this bike. It is superior in every way. I won't be getting a Harley, but I am interested in what bike would be a good stablemate for the CB, one that is better suited for touring. Any opinions would be appreciated.

Last month I picked up a 2014 CB 1100, and granted it is a nice little bike, but having toured out west for the last 6 years on a 2014 Road King, (previous to that on a 2009 Low Rider) I can say that the CB 1100 would be far from superior to the Harleys in the touring department. After all the Road King was made for long distance.

I've been riding for more than 50 years, and almost entirely (used) Hondas and Kawasakis, mainly because I could never justify spending the big bucks (plus HD dealers' "opportunistic markup" -- we had the opportunity, so we marked 'em up). Then when I turned 60 -- nearly 16 years ago -- I decided "If not now, when?" and bought my first Harley -- 2005 Dyna Wide Glide. I figured I would put up with all the usual Harley problems -- leaking oil, frequent breakdowns, etc. -- just to enjoy the "mystique" of the Harleys. Wow! Turns out I *loved* the bike, and *never* had a problem. Kept it 15 years, even did the SaddleSore 1000 on it. After the SS1000, however, I thought I would prefer a *smoother* engine, and bought my '14 Std CB1100 . Found myself riding the CB 80% of the time and finally decided to sell the Harley.

Then I also bought a Honda Fury -- mainly for the styling, and the CB became the one left sitting in the garage.

Then, during a casual stop at a Harley dealer -- "Just looking, honey!" -- I fell in love with the Harley Sport Glide. Pretty soon both Hondas were traded in for the Harley.

I don't ride in "packs", and I don't call myself a "biker" -- I'm simply a "motorcycle enthusiast". I've enjoyed every bike I've ever owned -- never met a cycle I didn't like -- and every time I'm on the bike -- be it Harley, Honda, Kawasaki -- by the time the ride is finished (most of them are less than 50 miles) there's a smile on my face and a spring in my step that lasts for hours after I'm back home.

Was the Harley (either one) worth the extra dollars I paid for it? Were *any* of the bikes worth the money I paid for them? Just answer this: what's a smile worth?!?

Great post, like you I like all motorcycles. I also ride Harleys, but recently picked up a 2014 CB 1100.
Never understood people trash talking other brands, being on 2 wheels whatever you're riding is what its all about.

[michael1954]

Exactly. Increasing the relatively flat surface area of a motorcycle only makes it easier for the wind to catch that surface area and use it as a big sail. You would definitely be better off without the windshield then. At that point, you need to duck down and make yourself as small as possible, while slowing down.

Otherwise, the only thing that will help you is a massive increase in vehicle weight.

Oh, and while south Texas winds may be bad, they have nothing on the Hollister Corridor, or really bad nights up on the Grapevine.

The other thing is, man, just look at your picture there. That giant barn door atop the '17 EX absolutely ruins the aesthetic. It's the visual equivalent of a gorgeous lady using a walker.

Hi, walker or not, the shield helps with rain too. Got home today on a short 70 mile ride on the Kawasaki, and I actually thought about your post while I was riding this morning. I love the Z900RS without the shield, hauls a** better. But, I got caught in a heavy, cannot see the road, downpour last summer on it, and man that rain hurt my arms. I wear a full-face helmet and riding stuff, but it was about 100F and I had on a short-sleeve shirt. Then, I would have liked a shield, but most of the time, no. I do not think the EX looks that bad with the small shield I installed. You can see right through it!

[VLJ_imp]

Until it gets splattered with bugs. Five minutes into any springtime ride here across the valley, that erstwhile clear shield would be nearly opaque.