Hello fellow riders. I would like to know a little about the batwing that I've noticed some of you have installed.

Is the BW more of a styling piece? Does it provide any better or worse wind protection than that of the OEM Windshield. I assume from what I've seen with those that have BW's and lowers that there's still a fair amount of buffeting without the lowers.

Thanks guys!
B.

Without the lowers you still get some buffeting but you get alot more wind protection than just a windsheild. For me it was also a place for gauges and a stereo to be installed. I do have to admit that I have always been a fan of the styling of the HD ultra. But I never really wanted an HD. So when I seen Jays Ultrastar I decided to make my own.

davej wrote:
Without the lowers you still get some buffeting but you get alot more wind protection than just a windsheild. For me it was also a place for gauges and a stereo to be installed. I do have to admit that I have always been a fan of the styling of the HD ultra. But I never really wanted an HD. So when I seen Jays Ultrastar I decided to make my own.

Thanks Dave. Yeah i'm beginning to question how so many people ride bikes with windshields with the amount of head buffeting is so bad that it blurs vision. I've put the lowers on there and it certainly calms down the buffeting but then the heat around my legs is unbearable. I just thought the batwing looks pretty cool and was curious if it was better than the windshields.

Thanks for your input.

B

Its hard to describe the effect you get from the Batwing. Yes it can be more protection than the stock shield but not necessarily. The batwings offer the ability to run different height shields for different conditions. I personally run a 14" made by Clearview because MS doesnt offer a 14. I also run with the lowers for the batwing so when my knees are againt the tank the air at my chest in nearly still. With my feet on the highway bar pegs I can direct enough air to stay completely cool and dry in 100 degree temps at highway speed. Another side effect is the way it stabalizes the front of the bike. I prefer the Batwing for my bike that does alot of miles on the highway. For around town I ride the bike with no shield at all. My Batwing is quick detach but because I have multiple bikes it stays on all the time. My advise would be take a test ride behind a Batwing and see for youself the difference they make. And they look cool too.

I started with a stock windshield and the buffeting drove me crazy. So I added HD lowers(night and day difference). I then went to an HD fairing and remove the lowers during warm months...I do not get the airhose blowing up my face effect with the fairing,with or with out lowers.
Like Davej,I wanted the fairing for electronics as well as better protection and also love the look.
I recently had my fairing off to be painted and reinstalled the windsheild only...and yes a big difference in wind protection and definately minimizes the buffeting,

Southwest

I know one thing, if you mount it leaning to far forward at the top you wont be able to hold on to it at hwy speeds. Its like pushing a big sail down the road. I had to tip mine back at the top twice to get it right. Now it runs down the road perfect.

I my Batwing Fairing

davej wrote:
I know one thing, if you mount it leaning to far forward at the top you wont be able to hold on to it at hwy speeds. Its like pushing a big sail down the road. I had to tip mine back at the top twice to get it right. Now it runs down the road perfect.
I wish i would have gotten one along time ago, I will admit that i commute to and from work on mine and mostly Interstate at speeds of 70 to 75 MPH and there is some buffeting going on and its more pronounced when following heavy trucks. I am looking into getting a set of lowers in the hopes that will eliminate the issue. Other than that I love mine, one down side though, i may need to install an AMP for the stereo as my pipes are quite loud at highway speeds. But then again my pies are my music

I mostley enjoy the sound of the bike also. I rarely use the stereo.

I installed a plug for a headset on my fairing. I do a lot of long distance riding and the sound of the pipes gets to to be a little to much after a few hours of highway speeds. So I plug in my noise cancelling earbuds, really cuts down on the noise of the pipes and the wind, and the fatigue.. Also have the XM and a MP3 player. Life is Good. Butch