Windshield

What Is a Motorcycle Windshield and Why Does It Matter?

A motorcycle windshield is one of the most impactful upgrades a rider can make to their bike. More than a cosmetic addition, a well-chosen windshield fundamentally changes the riding experience — especially on long hauls or in harsh weather. One of the main reasons for buying a windshield is to protect the rider from the wind at high speeds. Windshields help reduce wind fatigue, making for a more comfortable ride, and can also provide added safety benefits by deflecting debris such as rocks or bugs away from the rider's face and body.

They block you from being hit full-force with cold, harsh air, kicked-up debris, bugs, and wind, so you're less tired at the end of your ride — and they reduce wind fatigue, which lets you ride longer and safer. For touring riders especially, that reduction in fatigue over hundreds of miles can make the difference between an enjoyable journey and an exhausting one.

Types of Motorcycle Windshields

The style of bike you have and the style of riding that you do will greatly dictate what type of windshield is best for you. From compact sport deflectors to full touring shields, there's a windshield suited to every machine and rider preference.

• Touring Windshields: Larger touring windshields keep the wind off riders during inter-city or continent-crushing long trips.
• Sport Windshields: Sport-oriented windshields act as wind-shapers rather than wind blockers — some riders prefer a lower-profile sport deflector they can tuck down behind to maximize aerodynamics.
• Fork-Mounted Windshields: A fork-mounted windshield is ideal for the "set it and forget it" type of rider. They tend to be far more stable and have greater overall coverage compared to handlebar-mounted options.
• Fairing-Integrated Windscreens: Most motorcycles with fairings will have a windscreen attached directly to the fairing.

Choosing the Right Material

Most motorcycle windshields are made of either acrylic or polycarbonate. Each has its strengths. Acrylic is the most common option, largely because it's the most affordable and won't yellow over time — but it does scratch and shatter more easily. Polycarbonate windshields are more durable, made from the same material used in helmet face shields and race car windows — approximately twenty times more impact-resistant than acrylic options.

Tint is another key consideration. Tinted motorcycle windshields help fight back against sun glare during the day and headlight glare at night — just make sure the tint isn't so dark that it compromises visibility in low-light settings.

Key Sizing Considerations

The first consideration in choosing a windshield is size, but the shield must not be positioned so high as to interfere with the rider's vision. An accumulation of dirt, bugs, fogging, or rain will quickly render a windshield opaque. The height of the windshield depends on the height of the rider. It should be selected "just right" — not too high, which risks obscuring visibility when dirty, and not too low, which directs a blast of air and debris straight at the helmet.

Top Brands in Motorcycle Windshields

When it comes to trusted names in the windshield category, Memphis Shades stands in a league of their own. Memphis Shades is a major player in the wind management category — they've been keeping riders protected from buffeting since 1974, when Allen Mueller began the company out of his family barn. The brand specializes in high-quality motorcycle windshields and bolt-on fairing systems built to enhance rider comfort, stability, and visibility. All Memphis Shades windshields are made with Lucite for superior clarity and weather resistance. Beyond fairings and shields, Memphis Shades provides a complete range of windshield hardware, Trigger-Lock mounting kits, fork clamps, brackets, and replacement plastics — and adjustable mounting systems allow riders to tailor height and angle preferences, making their systems adaptable to different riding styles.