Is a windshield worth it?

[fleurya]

Guys, I've been debating about buying a windshield for my GZ 250. This past weekend I went for a ride and when I hit 50mph the wind was so intense that it felt like I was going at 200mph... I want to know if a windshield would make the ride more quiet and confortable?

If that is the case please let me know where I could get one since I have no dealers in the area.
Thank you again! :tup:

[jonathan180iq]

If I could make my bike feel like it was going to 200mph, I wouldn't change a thing.

I've spent about 1000 miles with each option; windshield / no windshield

I can say that I definately prefer riding long distances with the shield.

There are several good bike stores out there to help you. You want a universal shield that suits your fancy. Just about any style will work with the classic cruiser shield giving the most overall coverage.

www.mawonline.com (http://www.mawonline.com) (try here first. They are usually cheaper)

www.denniskirk.com (http://www.denniskirk.com)

www.bikebandit.com (http://www.bikebandit.com)

www.jcwhitney.com (http://www.jcwhitney.com)

www.ebay.com (http://www.ebay.com) (buy from a person. The ebay "businesses" are getting ridiculous with their shipping)

www.ronayers.com (http://www.ronayers.com)

[Stretch]

I have less than a 1000 miles on the bike, but I have to admit, while riding without the shield initially was great, it did give my arms and chest a workout. Please realize that I am 6'2" and about 260 lbs -- so imagine a beer cooler mounted on a GZ seat and you have the wind profile. I put on a Viper shield about two weeks ago, first following the directions and placing the bottom of the shield on the top of the headlight. That removed about all the air pressure on my chest -- which would have been wonderful, but it put all that pressure on my head and neck instead and ramped the wind noise waaay up. I went back and read the posts about windscreens and looked more closely at the pictures that folks provided. Most had their windscreens laying on the speedo rather than the headlight (raising it about three inches). I tried that, less pressure on the head but now the wind comes up from beneath a bit more. I imagine if you were a bit shorter than I am, any of the aftermarket windscreens would really block the wind nicely which would make a much smoother and quieter ride. From reading earlier posts, I would suggest that you not buy the Suzuki stock windscreen, not only is it about twice the price, folks on here said it didn't last very long.

Just my two cents worth. :)
-Bob

[xt477]

Windshield is definitely worth it, especially if you wear glasses; wind bounces them around like crazy.

You'll see number of posts on here talking about the slipstream06. I ordered one and found it WAY too small to be of any use.

Have since added an old Vetter shield and am now going through the same problems as stretch. Just have to tinker to find the right "sweet spot" for your height.

[Dirt_McGert]

The slipstreamer by spitfire works fine, although it's small. It's cheap and gets the job done, gets the wind off your chest, but wind will still bounce your head around if you're under 5'7".

But yes, for long distances and fast riding, a windshield IS worth it.

[Easy Rider]

but wind will still bounce your head around if you're under 5'7".

But yes, for long distances and fast riding, a windshield IS worth it.

"if you're UNDER 5'7"............color me confused. O_o

I agree about the shield.......except for the fast riding part. I've got a GZ so I wouldn't know about that! :roll:

[Easy Rider]

You'll see number of posts on here talking about the slipstream06. I ordered one and found it WAY too small to be of any use.


I just did some measuring. To get what I want, I need a shield that is 23" tall (top of headlight cutout to top of shield) and about 18-22 inches wide.

Alas, I don't think anybody makes one that tall. SIGH! :cry:

[Stretch]

I just checked the Viper, it was 17.5" from crown of cutout to top of shield and 22" wide. Like you, I wish it were about six to eight inches higher. If anyone has a windshield that is about that height -- please share the stats!
-Bob

[Sarris]

You bet your ass you need a windshield, you just have to get the "right" one for you.

Here is a cool one that fairly cheap on e-bay. It's less money ($92) & alot bigger with more substantial mounts than the stock Suzuki. Thought I'd let y'all know.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Suzuki-G ... dZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Suzuki-GZ250-Marauder-MOTORCYCLE-DAKOTA-3-mm-WINDSHIELD_W0QQitemZ250157864137QQihZ015QQcategory Z35590QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD6VQQcmdZViewItem)

here is his store. He has several cool GZ windshields

http://search.stores.ebay.com/Motorcycl ... 17QQsofpZ0 (http://search.stores.ebay.com/Motorcycle-Shields_gz250_W0QQfciZQ2d1QQfclZ4QQfsnZMotorcycleQ 20ShieldsQQfsooZ1QQfsopZ3QQfsubZ12260202QQsaselZ22 5247417QQsofpZ0)

:rawk:

[Gadzooks Mike]

I'm 5'8" and use a slipstream and it's good. It keeps the wind from getting UNDER my helmet (up the chin) and pushes it up and mostly over my head. I still get wind in my face, but the helmet takes care of that. I think (not proven, just a logical guess) that a windscreen will help top speed and mileage as well, just by smoothing the airflow.

[Badbob]

I have ridden GZ250s pretty close to 20,000 miles with three different windshields and some without one. I like riding with out a windshield. However, without the shield bugs, oil and other assorted junk hits you. This can range from annoying to disgusting to painful. Then there is rain. At highway speed it hurts.

My two cents on the three windshields I have experience with.

Suzuki:
In a nut shell. It sucks. It's to small and mounted far to low. My head was right in the turbulence. Turing the mounts up side down gets it up much higher and makes it work better but its still not good. Quality is poor. One of my mounting bolts broke and eventually the windshield developed radial crcks around the mounting holes and I had to replace it.

SpitFire:
I don't know who makes it. It came on the bike. Much better performance that the Suzuki shield. Better designed. Better quality. Tougher as well this one is pretty beat up from getting hit by things including the pavement. Everything on it stil works fine. It blocks the wind pretty well and way better than the Suzuki shield.

National Cycle Plexistar2:
No contest. This one is the best of the three by such a large margin the other two are not even in the running. Much better quality all round. There are no mounting holes. Another real plus os that you can buy parts and they have technical support. I bought it to keep the wind off my hands in sub freezing weather. It does this very well. A big surprise came back in July when I got to ride it for a log distance in a down pour at highway speeds. The only place the rain hit me was below my knees and my elbows. It keeps the rain off real good. The down side is that its big and some what difficult to mount. It pretty much only mounts in one position. It's going to be to tall for some riders although you can cut it down if need be. I have been so impressed with this windshield that should I buy another one even if its smaller it's going to be a National Cycle Windshield.

Price is not and indicator of how good a windshield is. The most expensive one of these three is the worst of the lot.

Reading you description I have to wonder how much seat time you've had. Sounds like you haven't had much. When you first start riding 35mph seems fast. This is an illusion. You are used to riding in a cage protected form all the wind and noise. In time you will get used to it and will hardy pay any attention.

Is a windshield worth it? Depends. If I was never going to ride out side of town or in freezing temperatures I would probably not have a windshield. In bad weather they can be of great benefit and at higher speeds they provide some additional protection. I would not wan to ride down a highway at night in my area with out one. Huge bugs. Thousands may be millions of small bugs. All hitting you. You are the only one who can really decided this. Where and how are you going to ride? How much protection do you want? How much are you willing to spend?