Annie B. That’s what I named the black-trimmed Whiskey Fire 2024 Street Glide I purchased last April from the fine folks at Barb’s Harley-Davidson in southern New Jersey. She’s been beautiful to behold, a joy to ride and I’ve yet to gaze upon her without smiling just a little.
Even so, nothing in life is perfect and over the past year and 4,000+ miles Annie B. has revealed a wart or two, the largest and gnarliest of which being the abysmal wind protection afforded in her stock form. Based on what I’ve seen online, I’m not the only one who has found this to be a bit problematic.
I’ve employed a number of solutions that have at long last remedied the situation, solutions that I’d like to share with those who might be interested. This is gonna be a long one, folks, so either move along to another thread now or grab yourself a beverage of choice or two and prepare for the ride.
First, the stock windshield (or WINO… Windshield in Name Only), which was only slightly better than no windshield at all, even for someone of my modest 5’6” stature. My first solution was the addition of Harley’s 8” Wind Splitter, which was actually very effective but came at the expense of more than a little distortion at the recurve. It looked great and worked well but while Annie. B. was fine with it, over time the distortion was more than my OCD could bear.
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I lived with it for about a year before swapping it out for a 10” Freedom Shield.
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I’ve been a longtime Freedom Shields fan and have found their products to be top-notch across several bike makes and models with customer service to match, thanks to John and the rest of the Freedom Shields team. Although a bit lower and narrower than the Wind Splitter, for me it’s been perfect: effective wind management with no recurve distortion. Windshield problem solved.
Next, taming the hurricane that comes up from under and around the gas tank. My first effort was to swap out the stock adjustable air deflector wings on the lower lateral edges of the fairing for the larger ones that now come standard on the 2025 Street Glide Ultra (part #s 57001886 & 57001887). They went on easily and improved matters but only modestly.
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What finally got the job done and delivered Annie B. and me to the Wind Mitigation Goldilocks Zone was the addition of HD’s newly released fairing lowers that, like the aforementioned larger air deflector wings, come standard with the 2025 Ultra.
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Were they pricey? Did they require the purchase of yet another expensive part in order to facilitate installation (i.e., a different engine guard that replaces the stock chopped engine guard)? Head-scratching installation instructions reminiscent of mind-bending Escher prints? A couple of swear-inducing bolt holes that don’t quite line up, in keeping with The Motor Company’s casual relationship with quality control?
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Guilty as charged on all counts but for me they’ve been a game changer and have proven to be worth it.
At long last, I’ve found that sweet spot between nearly being blown off the bike by a swirling vortex of gale force winds and so much wind protection that I might as well driving a Buick with the windows up. Not only has the time and expense made the ride more enjoyable, I foresee it extending my riding season into the colder months.
Should such measures be necessary for a bike that costs almost a third of what I paid way back when for my first home? I think we both know that answer to that. But let’s get real: most of us who’ve chosen Harley-Davidson as our preferred touring bike of choice have done so in spite of fiscal prudency rather than because of it. When it comes to riding, emotion and feelings often end up turning the tide in the ongoing battle between heart and head. But that’s just me; I’ve never been the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Even so, nothing in life is perfect and over the past year and 4,000+ miles Annie B. has revealed a wart or two, the largest and gnarliest of which being the abysmal wind protection afforded in her stock form. Based on what I’ve seen online, I’m not the only one who has found this to be a bit problematic.
I’ve employed a number of solutions that have at long last remedied the situation, solutions that I’d like to share with those who might be interested. This is gonna be a long one, folks, so either move along to another thread now or grab yourself a beverage of choice or two and prepare for the ride.
First, the stock windshield (or WINO… Windshield in Name Only), which was only slightly better than no windshield at all, even for someone of my modest 5’6” stature. My first solution was the addition of Harley’s 8” Wind Splitter, which was actually very effective but came at the expense of more than a little distortion at the recurve. It looked great and worked well but while Annie. B. was fine with it, over time the distortion was more than my OCD could bear.
I lived with it for about a year before swapping it out for a 10” Freedom Shield.
I’ve been a longtime Freedom Shields fan and have found their products to be top-notch across several bike makes and models with customer service to match, thanks to John and the rest of the Freedom Shields team. Although a bit lower and narrower than the Wind Splitter, for me it’s been perfect: effective wind management with no recurve distortion. Windshield problem solved.
Next, taming the hurricane that comes up from under and around the gas tank. My first effort was to swap out the stock adjustable air deflector wings on the lower lateral edges of the fairing for the larger ones that now come standard on the 2025 Street Glide Ultra (part #s 57001886 & 57001887). They went on easily and improved matters but only modestly.
What finally got the job done and delivered Annie B. and me to the Wind Mitigation Goldilocks Zone was the addition of HD’s newly released fairing lowers that, like the aforementioned larger air deflector wings, come standard with the 2025 Ultra.
Were they pricey? Did they require the purchase of yet another expensive part in order to facilitate installation (i.e., a different engine guard that replaces the stock chopped engine guard)? Head-scratching installation instructions reminiscent of mind-bending Escher prints? A couple of swear-inducing bolt holes that don’t quite line up, in keeping with The Motor Company’s casual relationship with quality control?
Guilty as charged on all counts but for me they’ve been a game changer and have proven to be worth it.
At long last, I’ve found that sweet spot between nearly being blown off the bike by a swirling vortex of gale force winds and so much wind protection that I might as well driving a Buick with the windows up. Not only has the time and expense made the ride more enjoyable, I foresee it extending my riding season into the colder months.
Should such measures be necessary for a bike that costs almost a third of what I paid way back when for my first home? I think we both know that answer to that. But let’s get real: most of us who’ve chosen Harley-Davidson as our preferred touring bike of choice have done so in spite of fiscal prudency rather than because of it. When it comes to riding, emotion and feelings often end up turning the tide in the ongoing battle between heart and head. But that’s just me; I’ve never been the sharpest knife in the drawer.
