I have a 11 King with 20000 miles now on her and I love this bike. When ever I'm not on a long run I pop the windshield off and it feels like a completely different bike, love that.
I hear a lot of guys say after you have a faring they cant go back to a shield, I need to know why. Is it just the music and the gauges ? I cant have the music because of physical problems.
So all I want to know is what is the difference from a windshield to a faring? If it's just the music then I'm not interested, if there is a big change in comfort then I would be interested. Is it just looks? to me nether one looks that great.
I can get a pop on faring for around $400. So any advice would be great, but please remember for me, music is not a option.

 

My 2cents the feel of the bike is much better with windshield, the weight of the faring on the front end makes a difference in the way the bike handles, I rode a RG ultra before I got the ultra, but wife would not go for the look.

 

Fairing.

 

A fairing separates you from the essence of riding, it also blocks the view and makes steering heavier. If you like plastic and the superb wind protection a fairing gives you because you ride alot in the cold thats ok. I only use the windshield on multi day interstate rides, otherwise it stays in the garage.

 

Truth? The batwing fairing will take the wind off of your arms. Especially inner elbow. Windshield will not.

It's noticeable after 10 hour days.

Also, night and day difference in the rain. One should set the height of their batwing shield right below eye height, so you don't look THROUGH a shield, like on a RK. Then, when it rains, you will still have a clear view as the shield puts the rain over the top of your helmet, but you are not struggling trying to look through a rain soaked shield.

 

+1 - the fairing doesn't impact the ride at all imho

 

Interesting.

 

I put a cheap Memphis Shades on my Road King last year and love it. Few weeks ago it was a beautiful day so I decided to take it off. Felt like my helmet was gonna tear my head off. I quickly returned home and put the fairing back on. Much nicer than the stock shield but an LRS shield beats stock all day long, especially in the rain. I used to like to take my shield off but getting too old to get beat up by the wind.

 

Having moved up from bikes with no windshield, to a Road King, then to the Electra Glide I can say my experience is once you move up you do not go back. And yes the fairing provides better wind protection at the sacrifice of a heavier steering feel. You have to make the decision if you want it. But if it had not been for wanting the tunes and the gauges I would never have traded my Road King.

 

I'd like the fairing a lot more if I could take it off.