National Cycle

National Cycle: Over 85 Years of Windshield Innovation

Few names in the powersports world carry as much weight as National Cycle. Founded in 1937 as Nation's Cycle Center in Maywood, Illinois by Gordon Willey — an avid pilot and motorcycle enthusiast — the company was built on a single conviction: that American riders deserved the best-crafted accessories available. Nearly nine decades later, that same family-driven mission still guides the brand from its headquarters just outside Chicago.

What began as a small accessories operation grew into the world's foremost manufacturer of motorcycle windshields. Today, National Cycle holds more patents for windshield design and production than any other company in the industry, and it serves as an OEM supplier to some of the most respected names in motorcycling, including Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Triumph, BMW, and Polaris. If you've ever ridden a stock bike from one of these manufacturers, there's a good chance a National Cycle product was already protecting you from the wind.

Engineering That Sets the Standard

National Cycle's reputation rests not just on heritage, but on genuine technical leadership. The brand pioneered the use of Quantum hardcoated polycarbonate in motorcycle windshields — a material that is dramatically more scratch-resistant than standard acrylic screens and tough enough to withstand wiper abrasion. This innovation made National Cycle the first windshield manufacturer capable of pairing a plastic windshield with a wiper system, a breakthrough particularly valuable for UTV applications.

Their flagship VStream® windscreen line represents another leap forward: each VStream is aeroacoustically engineered to redirect the airflow vortex away from the rider and passenger, reducing buffeting and noise at highway speeds. The VStream design famously inverts the traditional windshield profile, placing the widest section at the top for superior wind management. Whether you ride a sport-tourer, a cruiser, or an adventure bike, National Cycle's motorcycle windshield glass lineup spans an enormous range of fitments — from American V-twin tourers to metric sport bikes across virtually every major manufacturer.

A Full System for Wind Protection

National Cycle understands that wind protection is more than just a single pane of polycarbonate. Riders who want to expand an existing fairing's coverage can turn to the brand's add-on windshields, which layer additional wind protection onto existing screens or fairings. For those seeking targeted airflow management around the handlebars and cockpit, National Cycle's wind deflectors provide a lower-profile solution that cuts turbulence without adding the visual bulk of a full windshield.

The brand's reach also extends well beyond street motorcycles. National Cycle is recognized as a pioneer in hardcoated polycarbonate windshields for ATVs and UTVs, bringing the same material science and engineering discipline that defined their motorcycle products to the off-road segment. And because even the best windshield is only as solid as its installation, National Cycle offers a comprehensive range of windshield mounting hardware — including model-specific kits for their SwitchBlade, Beaded, and Touring windshield lines — so riders can count on a secure, rattle-free fit.

Proudly Made in the USA

Every National Cycle product is designed, engineered, and manufactured at the company's facility in Maywood, Illinois. In an era when domestic manufacturing is increasingly rare, National Cycle's commitment to American-made quality remains a defining part of its identity — and a key reason why both OEM motorcycle brands and individual riders have trusted the name for generations.