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Wind shield and Driver Backrest Questions

5K views 16 replies 12 participants last post by  BBob 
#1 ·
Almost ready to buy 2011 XC but the wind buffiting is a concern,
I'm 6" 3" and when I test drove it on highway I though my head had marbles rattling inside from the wind. Will the tall Vcitory wind shield help me out? Will the lowers really help, I get mixed opinions if they help with the wind issue.
Does the driver back rest help? does the backrest pull up and out, (can you remove it?) so when you do those quick rides you don't have to pick you leg up and over, I'm just getting old I guess..
 
#3 · (Edited)
I'm only 5'10", so my situation is different than yours.I went to a 13" high windshield, from 7jurock.com. Less expensive. Another after market shield maker is Cee Baileys. Plus others are out there. I put on the Victory lowers,yes pricey, but I liked the look best. I believe they make a difference, seems like I have less buffeting from below. As for the backrest, I have it. I've ridden my last two bikes with backrests and wouldn't be without one. However I felt the Victory didn't allow for enough adjustment to the rear. Did a modification by mounting the tab on the mount to the back of the bracket and drilled/ground/filed the bracket out to allow the backrest flat bar to slide further down. Also reversed the angle bracket on the flat bar so the curve angles back. Yes it is removable, and it has an a thumb screw that allows you to adjust the backrest forward and to the rear. It also swings down to swing your leg over. Similiar to a Mustang. Hope this helps.
 
#5 ·
Vulcan, I'm 6'3 also". I bought the tall windshield and it makes a lot of difference with wind (and hearing the radio/MP3). I do wish I had tried the flip windshield first. From what I understand it is a bit broader and diverts the wind around the sides a bit better. I have the Pure lowers also and find I get some wind on my chest/neck from around the edges of the tall windshield at 45 MPH or so. I'm gonna try moving the lowers up as far as I can and see if that makes a difference. Also ordered a set of closeouts but they are on back order 'til Jan 8.
 
#6 ·
At 5'10" I now have the 13" 7Jurock windshield. I could have even gone with the 14" but the 13" is fine for most the riding I do. I wouldn't mind getting a 16" and looking through it on cross country rides. (pun intended) One thing I do like about the 7Jurock shields is they are wider at the top than the Cee Bailey's. I too would be interested in trying one of the Flip shields on this bike to experience the difference. I didn't find there to be a huge difference on my old Electra Glide but the fairings are very different; especially the vent which allows for some balance of air pressure behind the shield and probably to prevent fogging.

I honestly don't know why they put such a short shield on the XC's. I would think an 11" would be the bare minimum unless the rider is a dwarf. Stock is currently 9". I actually found the ride to be unpleasant with the short shield and didn't even get the bike broke in with its first 500 miles until I got the taller shield.

I went with the Utopia back rest but won't get it for a little while yet. I did like the adjustability of it over the Victory model.
 
#7 ·
I have three windshield for my XC, all from Cee Bailey. A 9", a custom one at 12.5, and a tall one. I also have the factory lowers with dark tine Cee Bailey plexiglass.

The tall shield eliminates ALL the buffeting, at least for me.

I ordered a back rest from Utopia, cheaper than Victory and completely adjustable.
 
#9 ·
Rifle Windshield

Gentlemen, I ordered from Rifle Windshields a 21" and had it 2" wider also. I measured the width and it will not scrape the Fairing on the inside. When it gets here I will let you all know how it works out. I am 5' 11". I am one that likes looking through the shield because I figure that much more protection. I currently have the Cee Bailey 19". I will keep you posted. I did not put a rush on the shield, so it will be here I would say by the end of January 2011.
 
#10 ·
Gentlemen, I ordered from Rifle Windshields a 21" and had it 2" wider also. I measured the width and it will not scrape the Fairing on the inside. When it gets here I will let you all know how it works out. I am 5' 11". I am one that likes looking through the shield because I figure that much more protection. I currently have the Cee Bailey 19". I will keep you posted. I did not put a rush on the shield, so it will be here I would say by the end of January 2011.
Thats the highest windshield I've seen ordered for the Xbike. I will definitely want to know how that works out for you. I have a 16 inch and I feel like I get a little more air from down under when I switched to it vs the 13 inch I was using.
 
#11 ·
Just throwing in my $.02. I bought the lowers and the flip windshield that Victory offers. I put the lowers on first and noticed a nice difference with the stock (low) windshield. Then I changed out the windshield. WOW, what a difference. I'm 6' tall, so the top of the windshield comes to about my chin/mouth in height. I don't feel any wind at all around town and had to get up over 75 or so before I started noticing anything on the highway. Cost for both was approx $450.00, well worth it. The windshield was made for the bike and looks like it belongs on there. Blends in nicely with the fairing.
 
#15 ·
I did both, and I think the results were very noticeable. Money well spent, as far as I'm concerned. I think the most noticeable effect was, I could really hear the stereo so much better and didn't have the wind pounding on my ears and face. One of the things my riding buddies said, "looks like the windshield belongs on the bike". Good luck.
 
#16 ·
Re: Flip windshield.
My dealer (after much negotiation) threw in accessories, but not in stock, went back a week later to install the backrest/luggage rack(excellent), guard dawg(piece of crap-comes off next wednesday) & the flip windshield(don't like)
I'm 5' 10" and I found the hieght perfect, better sound also BUT the optical illusion created by the dual curves found me constantly adjusting view, very annoying, why not a screen with one simple tangent, just don't get it, I've removed and discarded it to the office floor, there it will stay till I find one I like.
 
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