I have been contemplating getting a detachable fairing for my 01 FLHR. First I would like to ask does a fairing do a better job of keeping the rain from coming over the back side of the shield and on your goggles/glasses? What height shield on a fairing would offer best overall protection and I would presume the higher the better but if that is the case why such a variance between 5" up to 12" shield options I have seen?

I guess as I get older I am becoming more concerned about safety and the folly of riding a bike when you can barely see. As it is with my detachable windshield once it starts to rain I HAVE to take off any eye protection or I can't see at all. Hoping for some help here....

 

There's really no difference, other than a little better protection for your hands. In a detachable batwing, the distance from your face to the windshield is about the same as it is from a clip on windshield.

Almost everyone who puts a detachable fairing on their RK winds up taking it off only rarely. If you're going to do it, do it right and get a decent one, it'll be one of your favorite things on your bike.

If you're just wanting to stay a little drier, you could try a windshield with a recurve top edge.

 

+1 on the little better hand protection in the batwing, and getting something good from the start.
Another plus is that you can use a radio with a USB port in the front and put all your tunes in a USB drive, this makes CD players or CD changers obsolete, IMHO.
And if you use a Bluetooth radio like this one http://www.crutchfield.com/p_158BT38...ony+car+stereo you can stream music to your helmet speakers, if you don't have helmet speakers it still sounds great on the fairing speakers without needing an amplifier.
Also, on the batwing, Freedom Wings make a big difference in protection. You can adjust them to block air to your body or channel air to your body. Go here: http://www.fastaire.com/Freedom-Wings.html Freedom Wings really work.

On windshield height, I am 5'8" and I have a 9" winshield that I can crouch and see through it for protection or I can look over it when I want to. If you really want protection from the cold and rain, go here:
http://www.customflhtwindshields.net...windshield.htm

I also tried a windshield with a lip on it, it doesn't do it for me.
The windshield is not always the higher the better. Ideally, it should be about nose height, so you can look over it, but at the same time rain water goes over your head, or look through it, like in bug season.


My Dead Center fairing





If you look at the width, it does have better protection for your hands. The USB drive is normally in the radio, with a cord tying it to the handlebar.




Polk Audio MM651, 6 1/2 marine speakers with a Sony MEX BT 3800u stereo, sounds really good without an amplifier.





I made wall brackets out of a 2X6 piece of wood so I could keep my fairing or winshield out of the way and protected






I think it is a very good addition to a Road King, and its removable when its too hot. I enjoy mine.


Regards,

 

I have a Windvest on my 01. I like it!

 

You might want to go with the windshield...........

It might be hard for a painter to match that PURPLE!

 

Fairing went on mine, I haven't looked back, I will take it off on the rare occasion I ride it just locally but the shield stays in the garage.

Dead Center here, and I love both the way it looks and the fact it does reduce the rain on me on the road. I did also add lowers, final big touch as to skins.

 

+1 for fairings, I almost never ride without it.

 

As far as windshield height, I like to look just over the top. I run a 9" on my FLHTC batwing.

 

Fairing offers hand protection as others have pointed out! I haven't had a bee sting to the hands with a fairing! I also get less buffeting when riding behind tractor-trailers on the interstate. I guess it's the bat-wing shape that makes the difference?? Having a radio ain't too bad either.

 

If radio isn't important you might want to check out the Memphis shades detachable batwing. Much cheaper option than most others. I bought one and had it painted to match and LOVE IT. I take it off once in while to ride without a shield locally on hot days, but my stock shield hasn't been on since I bought this. Nothing but complements from all who see it. You can see pics of mine in this thread

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...s-batwing.html