Helps me...it routes the wind around you so the ride is so much more comfortable than if I didn't have it.....but you need to play with the type and height of the windshield to get it right. So yes its functional and for looks.

 

They can be all things to all men! I've ridden behind fairings of many types as well as windshields for almost 50 years. In cold weather a small fairing can freeze those bits of you that stick out and soak the same parts when it rains, both of which can be darned unpleasant. In my youth, when I rode year round regardless of the weather, I actually took fairings etc off, to reduce the misery during winter months! I've also discovered that many of the promises that a bra cup sized fairing/windshield can leave you in a sublime pocket of calm and still air are utter nonsense! They can increase discomfort, not reduce it.

All three of my bikes have a fairing or windshield. My SuperLow has a H-D qd tall windshield, which is great. It's comfortable and works fine up to around 90mph, which is as fast as I've taken it. My Glide originally had a Road King style windshield, which introduced handling problems especially in cross-winds, so that now has a batwing, plus my own uniquely profiled shield.

My Buell Firebolt has a tall aftermarket windshield, plus extension. The original shield directed the wind straight onto my chest, unless I adopted a racing stance. I'm too old to copy Rossi! The taller shield directed the wind straight onto my throat and on longer rides nothing would reduce the discomfort that can cause, hence the extension. All three bikes get used on long trips.

If you ride year round and in widely varied weather, then larger protection is desirable, but if you're somewhere that is routinely hot something smaller may well be fine, indeed a large shield could create discomfort in the heat.

 

you can have fairings or windshields that have quick-release mounts so you can remove whenever you want. Unlike grbrown, we have riding weather year around.

 

This one is great from about 65 mph and faster, but there's a lot of helmet buffeting at speeds slower than that. Great for the highway, not great for around town or scenic back roads.

 

Do you currently wear a full face helmet? Do you have forward controls?

At what speed is the wind resistance a factor?

 

I know that isn't true throughout the USA!

 

some people will put them on for looks, some for the reason of not being battered.
With my Batwing I am comfortable to be riding for 400 miles and get off refreshed.
I jump on the girlfriends naked 883 and you can feel the difference after an hour

 

I like mine. Keeps the wind off the chest.