2 Questions

[bikemech]

I got my first bike yesterday. It is a 2003 Honda Shadow VLX. I rode it home from Georgia with the guy I bought it from he was on is Harley. Rode a total of 113 miles yesterday in all kinds of conditions. (open highway, city, up and down mountains and even in a little rain). Rode it about 75 miles today including the last 35 in the dark. My wife was following me in the car. It made us both feel better. But two things I noticed:

1) The windshield is about chin level on me and it seems very windy on it. I am catching the wind deflecting off the windshield? How high should the windshield be.

2) My lower back right at my tail bone seems to want to go numb or to sleep. Is this something I will get used to or do I need to check for a different firmness seat.

I never new it could be this much fun. You see so much more riding on a motorcycle than you could ever see in a car. I am hooked.

Thanks

[nyrblue35]

1) The windshield is about chin level on me and it seems very windy on it. I am catching the wind deflecting off the windshield? How high should the windshield be.

2) My lower back right at my tail bone seems to want to go numb or to sleep. Is this something I will get used to or do I need to check for a different firmness seat.

I never new it could be this much fun. You see so much more riding on a motorcycle than you could ever see in a car. I am hooked.

Thanks

the windshield should be at about the bridge of your nose for decent effectiveness but its all preference. as far as the seat goes, its funny how we all spend alot of money on a bike yet the stock seat seems to hurt your a$$ after a 25 minute ride. i switched mine out for a mustang and havent looked back. sure aftermarket seats are very expensive depending on what you get but its worth it IMO. they make alot of accessories for your bike. maybe you can look into a driver backrest or i believe mustang(if you go that route) makes a seat with a removable driver and/or passenger backrest built into the seat which is nice.

ride safe and congrats on the new ride.

[sapaul]

If this is your first bike, double congrats for riding so far home. Your helmet choice is as important as your windsheild height, Most guys prefer either the airflow to just go over the top of the helmet or to hit the body so it lifts you a little. If you are wearing full face with air vents you should not really have a problem, if you are wearing a "pee pot" open face I can understand how uncomfortable you must be. Check to see if, 1 you can adjust the screen height, 2 can you adjust the screen angle using spacers, 3 some guys sell a bead that clips on to the screen and gives it that bit extra. As for the " lower problem" before you go and spend thousands check out the threads on this forum for long distance riding ther are some first class tips from the guys.

[Analog]

I just bought the same exact bike/same year 2 weeks ago. It is my first time riding, so I really can't say to compare, but I wear a full face helmet and I definitly notice alot of wind noise and it seems like my windshield doesn't help either... but maybe this is normal at 65 mph+....

As far as the seat goes, I have not noticed any problems yet at all... once, after a long ride, my back felt a little stiff, but that's it...

Happy Riding....