Your side-by-side is roaring, the sun is on your skin, and the wind in your face—it seems like the perfect afternoon. Then the wind doesn’t stop smacking you in the face, dust and debris is swept into your cab in the turbulence, and you can’t hear your own thoughts, much less your buddies. If this sounds familiar, you probably need to install a windshield on your UTV.
Even if you don’t fully enclose your rig, a windshield can help cut down on noise from the tires, engine, passage of air, and the terrain, plus it can have a huge role in reducing the amount of wind disturbance in your cab. By adding a windshield, not only will you enjoy more rides, you can improve the performance of your rig at the same time.
Riding without a windshield always means facing into the wind, which can be loud on its own. Add in the noises from your engine, tires, and whatever you’re riding over and things get noisy pretty quickly. Installing a windshield puts a barrier between you and those external noises, like your engine, while also redirecting airflow and reducing the constant wind noises that come with riding at higher speeds.
Wind resistance, also known as drag, plays a huge role in how your machine performs. As drag increases, the performance and fuel efficiency of your UTV will decrease. While adding a windshield will increase the surface area at the front of your vehicle, you actually improve your aerodynamics by cutting down on turbulence in your cabin. The windshield design you choose can affect your drag improvement, so keep that in mind if you are still deciding on what style you want.
A full windshield provides excellent protection, while also reducing noise from wind, your engine, and your tires. Despite adding a decent bit of surface area, a full windshield does improve your UTV’s aerodynamics and reduce wind resistance by diverting air around your machine instead of creating turbulence in the cab. If a full windshield seems like the best fit, check out the options SuperATV has on offer.
A half windshield is the perfect solution if you don’t like the look of a full windshield or just can’t give up that feeling of the wind in your face as you ride. Despite not offering the same level of coverage as its full counterparts, a half windshield still lowers noise and reduces airflow coming into the cab. Obviously, you’ll still encounter more noise and more drag than you would with a full windshield, but the improvements over riding with no windshield at all are notable. Find one that matches the look and model of your side-by-side today!
Flip windshields give you optionality and flexibility for every ride. If the weather is perfect, you can take it all in with your windshield open. Bad weather or want a ride that is a bit more peaceful? Close it up and you’re riding with a full windshield again. Additionally, high-quality flip windshields with excellent seals can provide similar noise and drag reduction as a full windshield when closed, although you might face a bit more drag than you would with just a half windshield if you ride with it open. Flip windshields are available in flip-up and flip-down variations, making it easy to find the perfect fit for your UTV.
Control the airflow coming into the cabin while maintaining the performance of a full windshield with a vented windshield. These windshields keep the dust, debris, and weather out of your cab while still giving you the chance to let in some fresh air when the weather is nice—without sacrificing noise reduction and improved wind resistance. Make sure to find an option with easy-to-manipulate vents so you can open and close them quickly and without much effort.
If you want less noise and better wind resistance, any windshield is better than none. The key is finding the right style that fits your rig and, most importantly, picking a high-quality and durable option that can stand up to every ride. If you’re ready to add one to your machine, head over to SuperATV to explore our selection and find the perfect fit. Questions about windshields or anything else for UTV? Drop us a comment below or reach out directly and we’d be happy to help you find an answer!
