I have a Goldwing and we want to get my wife the F6B. Is the low standard windshield a problem with wind. The marketing material says the rider is protected from wind. Is this true ? If not, is the wind manageable / tolerable at highway speeds ?
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I have a Goldwing and we want to get my wife the F6B. Is the low standard windshield a problem with wind. The marketing material says the rider is protected from wind. Is this true ? If not, is the wind manageable / tolerable at highway speeds ?
The first thing 98% of the people here do is change the windshield. You should test ride before you buy.
Depends on her height, I am 6'-6" and need a tall windshield.
She will need to test drive one to be sure.
It is horrible...you are not going to like it. The only thing good about it is the looks. I have tried 4 different windshields and ended buying the Madstad which was the one I wanted to buy from the start, but didn't because I didn't want to spend that much. In the end it cost me a lot more. The Madstad shield works.
I'm only 5'8" and before I even took possession of the bike I had them throw in a taller Honda screen. Negotiate, the price of a new screen is not that much. I'd be more concerned with her inseam length and her ability to reach the ground and hold up a relatively heavy bike.
The OEM windshield does one thing well. It provides an uninterrupted; non-buffeted flow of air to your head.
Some folks like that. But at highway speeds; hearing the tunes from the OEM speakers will be a problem.
I am 5' 9" and test rode the F6B with the stock shield and was not happy...First thing I did was go to the Baggershield adjustable windshield and it works great for me...Very happy with the low wind noise and no turbulence on the road....
When I first got my bike, I was actually ok with the stock shield, coming from a bike that had nothing. Even the Klockwerks I have isn't great, but it looks a lot better.
stock windshield is ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. I had to wear a FF and i hated every minute of it. So much noise. Terrible.
It looks really cool, though.
Not an issue if you wear a full face helmet and keep the visor closed.
I found the stock one too low for winter riding, so bought a tall that I use in winter, then bought a short, but taller than stock for summer. It works for me. We can ride year round since winter is mostly rainy or cloudy.
So, as you read the posts, most of us change out the windshield right away. Several types and styles, colors, some vented, etc. It's your choice. You ride in cold or cool weather? Then get ready to change it. Some Gold wing shields will also fit.
11 INCH THAT CONVERTS TO 19 INCH. On hot days its nice to take it down to 11 inches and you can do this in a heartbeat the top piece just flips over and you reinstall it with the same fasteners, and on colder days the full 19 inch is the best. running in heavy rain also the 19 inch came thru nicely. Even thought there is a big contingent that like the madstad I prefer the versatility of the bagger shield. They are right about being able to hear the radio better with the big shield.
One thing I want to caution you on though. If you decide to change out your seat for something else, do that FIRST before you get a different windshield.
Many of the aftermarket seats will change your riding height. Thus you may buy a Windshield TWICE or maybe even ThREE times before you are satisfied with it.
Yeah or four!! How many you got Will?
It's part of the image of the bagger that is made for the street. The street they are referring to, is riding stoplight to stoplight and putting on five miles saying that was a good ride.
First item of business is to find a replacement windshield you like, they are always taller and just figure out your personal preference to keep the looks that you like.
I bought a 2015 Deluxe model a couple of months back and changed the windscreen right away. I went with the Cee Baileys screen. They make windows for private jets etc, among other things. I am 5' 11" and I got the 13" screen and I love it. blocks all the wind almost and I can hear radio at any speed. Her is link
http://www.ceebaileys.com/honda/F6Bws.html
I put on the Madstad 11 inch. It is great. Here in Florida you want some air over the top when the heat is on. In the cool weather or rain I raise it and it gives total protection.
The stock windshield is fine with a full face helmet.... if you're wearing earplugs! Wind noise is pretty harsh. :no: I bought a Madstad last winter but haven't installed it yet. Going to try to find time & install it tonight.
Please update us on how well the madstad works. i believe i have a oem 17" and I still get buffeting and a vacuum (seems like I'm being shoved from behind).I tryed opening /closing the vent and everything in between to no avail.
Really surprised Honda hasn't made a shield that actually works so people don't have to spend all kinds of money experimenting!!!! I will probably purchase that madstad and hope for a clean pocket of air for any long rides i do. Short rides and when i want more air ill use my fatboy minus windsheild.
The stock windshield did a great job of keeping the wind off of my belly-button.
I then bought a vented tall windshield which had quite a bit of buffeting under various conditions and then went to a Madstad.
The marketing of the F6B often shows it in urban environments with bridges and buildings, sometimes on back roads, never loaded with luggage running down the 4 lane.
Maybe they were hoping it would sell to city folks who kept to low speeds just cruising around town.
For low speeds the stock is fine because that type of riding is fun with low or no windshield, but that's just not reality for most of us.
As Jayrock said, you'll need a FF helmet at highway speeds with earplugs, you won't be able to hear much from the radio as it's like sticking your head out of a car window.
My first ~360 miles were at highway speed riding it home from the dealer, helmet was coated with bug guts by the time I got home, ordered new helmet shield and windshield pronto. Got one that is 12" taller than stock.
The previous bike was an ST1300 which has a luxurious electronically adjustable windshield, really miss that.
May experiment with different shields as time goes on.
Search for "windshield" in the search bar, sit back and enjoy the read, the folks here have tried 'em all and posted the results. Not as bad as seat$, but it can add up quick if you get something you don't like.
Replacing the shield isn't difficult. If I had it to do again I'd probably get one of those adjustable ones. Maybe next year.
I'll be the odd duck here...the stock windshield doesn't bother me. Whether on my short putt to work or on a longer run it's been fine. Definitely noisier than not having one on my VTX but it doesn't buffet my head the way others have. Can't hear the radio...haven't turned it on since I figured out how to turn it off :icon_wink:
When I got mine,I had already read the comments on the shorty shield. I rode my bike on longer trips around my beautiful state and loved it. The look and the wind in my FF helmet. On hot days with a pair of shades I just opened the helmet visor and enjoyed the wind. I took a run up to Wisconsin and still no issue other than not really hearing the stereo.
Then I went south through Tennessee and Alabama. The bugs were such an annoyance that I decided to pick up a Klockwerks while I was there. Bug problem solved,and when it's cool the taller windshield makes for a much better run.
Still I miss the shorty and am thinking to just replace it for around home then for long trips or when fall/winter comes put the Klockwerks back on. Kind of a hassle and I havent done that,but my short answer would be how and when you are going to ride,whether you like the wind in your face (I do) and those things.
I guess I really would like to have two F6Bs,that would solve my problem :-)
My biggest issue was having a weather radio, iPod player, Am/FM radio and all of it be useless over 40 mph. Not a windshield guy and the fairing kept most of the wind off----but I wanted the tunes. So after 2 seats, I am on my 3 windshield. Take my advice and save time experimenting--Just buy the Madstad and be done with it all.
Ya... but.... what height Madstad? :poke:
11" ( or) 13" ( or) 15" ???
I know what they recommend... albeit following manufacturers recommendation for windshield size... and subsequently at times discovering that it is not adequate...
:icon_wink:
I do like my Goldwing Vstream windshield that replaced my Clearview medium recurve that replaced my stock OEM shorty.... however I think I may be assimilating into the Madstad crowd when I get my Ultimate King seat.
I am 6'1" and they recommend the 13" so that is what I got. I also have the Ultimate King Rider seat. Then I sent it back for an 11" and it gives me the adjustability to keep me in wind or block as much as I choose. I also need to add that the Baker hand wings get a lot of credit here, too. The 13 was just too big and ugly and ---to me at least--some wind is a part of riding a bike in the first place. Otherwise why not get a Civic?
Go with the Bagger Shield . I put one on my new F6B and like it alot. The short stock one is cool looking but not much wind protection . But thats just my two cents .I think you will be happy with the convertable style.
That's the same reason I switched out my 17" oem. Now I have the 13" madstad set all the way low and it works great. So many adjustments can be made to achieve the airflow you want. My wife rides with me sometimes and she even noticed how now she has no wind in her face and no bugs landing on her lap. Happy wife = happy Life :icon_lol:
With the 13 in the low setting I am just looking over the top of the windshield and I get now turbulence and great rain protection as well.
I have had cataract operations and could not ride with the OEM shield and FF helmet. I went to the F4 customs plus 4 and can be ordered with vent. They are sponsors of this forum.
I ride with a Windbender from Firecreek. It has a lot of adjustment but I have found the low position work great because of the lamineer lip at the top of the shield. It is a bit pricey but this the second bike I have had one on and I am very satisfied with them
So Friday after work I went for a short 140 mile ride with the stock windshield & full face helmet & earplugs in. :banghead: Friday night I installed my 11" Madstad windshield. Rode for about 5 hours on Saturday and what a difference. NO wind noise! :icon_biggrin:
I'm 5' 6", ride open face and long haul. I love the stock size shield and have no desire to replace it. But I also have 64000 miles on my VTX without a shield. For me the stock shield offers ample protection. I can hear the stereo just fine. More than happy with it.
How many ride by looking over the screen instead of thru it? I hate looking thru the screen, it causes me problems when the temperature changes and the screen fogs up. I am 5’10” and always like it when the screen is short enough to see over, but tall enough to provide adequate wind protection.
Put the oem shield in the box for the replacement shield and forget it.