Brian Klock, the Mitchell, South Dakota builder of the World’s Fastest Bagger which, piloted by his wife Laura, set land speed records at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats said, “The FLARE Windshield was developed at Klock Werks out of a desire/need for greater stability at highway speeds and for racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Extensive wind tunnel testing showed that the “hips” at the outer edge of the shield re-route the air flow to add down force to the front of the bike, which aids stability compared with using a stock screen.
The “flip” at the top of the FLARE is designed to kick the air up and then allow it to flow back as “clean” air for the rider”.
The FLARE is custom-moulded from premium quality, hard-coated polycarbonate for durability and comes in Black, Tint or Dark Smoke and in three heights, 3.5 inches, 6.5 inches and 10.5 inches. Awarded the V-Twin Accessory of the Year at Cincinnati, the screen was comprehensively wind tunnel tested during its development and has sold like hot cakes for two very good reasons; firstly it looks great and secondly and more importantly, it works!
Klock Werks FLARE Windshields are available for FLH Batwing style fairings and for Road Glides also and I have had the opportunity to test both styles of windshield over considerable distances in various weather conditions. The screens are available in the US directly through www.kustombaggers.com and are available in Australia through Mackay Motorcycles at www.mackaymotorcycles.com.au.
My first installation was on my last bagger, a 2004 FLHTCSE and I found that it lived up to its promise in terms of both wind protection and in increasing high speed stability. This bike came with a 103 cubic inch motor to which I added S&S gear drive cams, Hemi heads, Hi-comp pistons, a Klock Werks Double Back exhaust and S&S mufflers along with a Barnett Scorpion clutch and a JIMS 6-speed gear box. As you can imagine, with these mods high speed stability became a real issue and I found the FLARE to add noticeably to this stability.
My second installation was on my current bagger, a 2009 Street Glide, which I purchased from Mackay Motorcycles, a dealership situated some 2000 miles from where I live. After having the bike fitted with the FLARE windshield along with a Power Commander V, Vance & Hines monster oval mufflers and header pipes and a high flow air cleaner element, the bike was dyno’d and I set off.
It should be noted that my ride home began in a north Queensland in a sub-tropical region of the country at sea level and took me over mountains and across deserts and plains in weather that varied from fine and sunny, to bleak, very windy, cold and wet.
However, at all times the FLARE performed its job well, providing reasonable protection for its size but in particular aiding stability at speeds which … well, I’d rather not go there in print for the sake of keeping my licence a bit longer.
There are of course, areas of Australia (which is roughly the size of the 48 lower states) where the chance of encountering a police officer is way less than that of encountering a kangaroo, though come to think of it an officer of the law would be preferable to one with a hoppy, particularly one when the throttle is against the stop.
Well, I arrived home a very happy biker, happy with the power and handling of the 2009 Street Glide and more than happy with the performance of the FLARE windshield.
Now my next opportunity to experience the FLARE came on the ride back to Los Angeles from Sturgis recently aboard an ’09 Road Glide, a bike with a different fairing and windshield setup entirely.
Over the years I’ve ridden a number of Road Glides and frankly, I have never found the stock windshield worked well for me; firstly, due to its being right in my sight lines and secondly, producing considerable buffeting to the point where keeping my sunglasses on was difficult. Therefore, when Brian Klock kindly offered to provide me with a FLARE windshield for the ride back to California you can bet I jumped at the chance and was lucky enough to have it fitted by the speed queen herself, WFB pilot Laura Klock.
Riding to and from Sturgis I always avoid the interstates and take the secondary roads which have the benefit of being virtually traffic free and allowing serious speeds to be maintained. As we cruised down through Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada, on the way to LA, I had a chance to evaluate the FLARE in differing weather conditions varying from fine and mild to severe gusty winds. I found that not only did the FLARE windshield acquit itself in excellent fashion but I found also that it worked just as well on the Road Glide as it had on FLH models with the bat wing fairings.
Not only does the FLARE work exceptionally well in terms of stability and wind protection, but in my opinion it adds style and class as well.
Full marks to Brian Klock for inventing this innovative and very practical windshield which I highly recommend.
