I have an HD QD Compact shield and it creates a lot of turbulence behind the shield. I actually prefer to ride with a good 3/4 helmet with a pull down face shield and no windshield.

 

Never ridden with a shield...just don't like the way they look. I wear a half helmet with a leather neck shield and that protects my ears just fine. i don't wear ear plugs as I like to hear whats going on around me and for me it's a safety issue. I typically do 70 on the highway and the wind doesn't bother my ears at all. Too much Heavy Metal over the years I guess. I get bugs bouncing off my face once in a while but I love the whole experience of being out in the open. If I was going to do the shield/full face thing I might as well drive the car.

 

I hate windshields. Much prefer the smooth flow of the air hitting me clean over the buffeting you get from a windshield. Hate the look of a windshield too. I have a quick detach shield for my Rocker but 95% of the time it's off. The only time I put it on is if I'm going for a long highway run or it's really cold out. Did I mention I hate windshields?

 

You will get use to it. I remember when 40mph felt like it was pushing me off the bike, since then I've riden 90mph and not thought much about it. I bought a detachable windsheild for those long rides, really cuts down on the fatigue factor. Comes on and off in about 20 seconds so I got the best of both worlds.

 

I love riding w/o a w/s but I have had to do it w/o a helmet as well. The wind doesn't bother me so much when I'm "naked", but sometimes the sand, bugs, and other debris, makes my miss my windshield on my 02 phatty.

I'm definitely getting a small windshield for touring.

 

I rode with a 1/2 helmet for awhile but didnt care for the wind and bugs for long rides. I recently bought an Arai FF helmet and love it, it's what I wear pretty much everyday now.

 

I don't. Haven't started, don't think I will. That's 400 bucks I can spend on other parts. I ride with a 3/4 helmet. I break out the FF when the weather drops below 50.

 

Today i rode for first time with earplugs and shield off.

I must say, its almost a completely different riding experience! I LOVED it!!

wind on my face, on my chest, pebbles hitting me, whatever! It is hard for me to describe why i loved it, but i guess on this forum i really dont have to lol.

Did about 90mi with shield off, and loved every second of it. Did a lot of highway also and it was awesome!

Now the question is, where to store my shield hehe

Thanks all, great feedback. 1/2 helm + plugs + glasses = WIN!

EDIT, i didnt mean 90mph ... i mean i logged about 90 miles lol. I am perfectly comfy going about 60 and letting people pass me hehe

 

I went from a sportbike to a Dyna. Neither one has a w/s, but the difference in rider position has given my forearms a lot more strength. I had to learn not to let the wind force me into a reclined (more or less) position. Even with a FF helmet I wear headphones to combat wind noise.