H-D Detachable Windshield

WHY? Comfort.  Although I believe that the bike looks better without it, a windshield is a must for me.  Riding is simply less of a chore when you've got that barrier between you and the wind.  I would normally have chosen an aftermarket shield such as Rifle or Memphis Fats, but part of the bargaining process for the purchase of the Softail was for the dealer to include a windshield so I chose the quick-detach king-size shield that is designed to work with the chrome headlight nacelle that came with the bike.  H-D part number for this item is 58652-97A and the list price is $359.95, although it can be found for less at various sources online.  My dealer didn't have this shield in stock and had to order it. 

SERVICE. The windshield arrived in two days, which shows how quickly the MoCo can deliver when properly motivated.  Rather than wait for the shop to install it I opted to save some time and do the job myself.  The shield was well-packed and damage-free; illustrated installation instructions and all hardware were included in the box

INSTALLATION. Not too difficult, and could probably be managed by the average home mechanic; the entire process took me about 30 minutes.   The instructions were somewhat helpful, but I ended up having to improvise and use a few nuts that were different from those called for in the directions.  All parts fit reasonably well.

RESULTS.  Only fair.  The shield looks nice and does the job of keeping me out of the wind blast, but the "quick-detach" feature is a bit cumbersome and I'm disappointed that it is not height-adjustable.

Worth the money? Nope.  Like many other H-D accessories, this windshield is over-priced and under-engineered.  For the same price, aftermarket manufacturers will sell you a windshield that is equal or better quality and offers much more adjustment.  Unless you just love the MoCo bar and shield on all your accessories, stay away from this one.