Removing 1998 Tourer windshield

[Shasta]

Hi again

It my neck of the woods summers reach over 100 degrees consistently and I would like to go screen less sometimes.  Can i just leave the hardware attached to the tree or would you recommend removing it as well.

Its not pretty chrome but seems pretty hidden.

Thoughts?

Thanks, Matt

[Gavin_Sons]

You sure can 

[Bighead]

No matter how hot it gets if you ride more than say 50-60 miles you want the screen IMHO.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think Willow rides many miles over that with no shield. As long as you wear eyewear you are good. 

[Bighead]

I think Willow rides many miles over that with no shield. As long as you wear eyewear you are good.  

Have to disagree I rode 700 miles one day on my VALK with no shield and felt like I was hit with a ball bat. Doing a constant crunch isn't fun. With a shield 700 isn't near as bad.
Not disagreeing on Willow just the goggles vs shield

[Steve K (IA)]

I agree on keeping the shield.  Without it you are constantly straining to stay seated upright.  Big strain on the back.  With a shield, it allows you to relax.

[John Schmidt]

Get some Baker Air Wings, you can adjust them to direct air at you in summer or block it in winter. Not cheap but very effective.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I agree on keeping the shield.  Without it you are constantly straining to stay seated upright.  Big strain on the back.  With a shield, it allows you to relax.

I love my shield and my fairing. But I have ridden 1100 miles in a day without either. Granted I was 21 years old at the time. I think Shasta is just looking to beat the heat a little this summer.  

[Willow]

I think Willow rides many miles over that with no shield. As long as you wear eyewear you are good.  

Have to disagree I rode 700 miles one day on my VALK with no shield and felt like I was hit with a ball bat. Doing a constant crunch isn't fun. With a shield 700 isn't near as bad.
Not disagreeing on Willow just the goggles vs shield

Truthfully to ride distance without a screen one does need to do it a few times to build up the necessary muscles before it starts to feel comfortable.  I'm not disagreeing with anyone who thinks he must have a windscreen to ride distance.  I'm just going to let you know that your experience is not universal.

Without a screen one will be much more in tune with the world through which he travels and will certainly get to experience some bug strikes.  The bugs won't kill you but the occasional bird can hurt for a while.

Take that shield off, Shasta.  You'll get to be a genuine motorcycle rider for awhile.  Leave the mounting hardware in place.  It won't hurt a thing.

[Crackerborn]

 While I have riden many miles with no windscreen,  I have found that as I get older the windscreen is very nice for extended rides. What I have done now with my tourer is add a vent  for those very hot days. I do not know if  vents are available without buying a new windshield but since I needed to lower mine anyway, I just bought a new windshield from Clearview.

[G-Man]

Yes, you can leave the hardware in place on the forks if you don't mind seeing it. 

[98valk]

summer time I use a Memphis shades hellcat shield. angled and positioned to take the wind blast off the chest and face but still allow cooling airflow.

[bentwrench]

I love riding the back roads w/o the shield it's good up to 65 mph or so,but when it's time to ride the  highways the shield goes back on.Baker wings really help with cooling and buffeting.

[Raider]

FWIW, I'd just leave the hardware on for ease and not worry about the looks. 

For that matter, significant heat makes the wind feel like a blow dryer.  In Iraq in 2003, we were anal about wearing our uniforms properly (for good reason- Iraqis would target patrols that looked less disciplined).  The Marines on the up guns started wrapping t-shirts around their face.  I and the platoon sergeant would see it and make them take the shirts off their face.  Eventually, one of them told me that the wind at 60 MPH ws burning them up.  I took one turn on the gun without the shirt and immediately demanded that they all wrap their faces!  It would literally blister you!