Interstate fairing vent

[Hook#3287]

The middle vent of the fairing has no OEM shut off.  I assume it's to keep the inside of the screen from clouding up.

Has anyone blocked it up and what was the outcome?

I look over my screen, so some moisture buildup would effect me much.

Just wondering.

[SCain]

I've always blocked off mine, just use a piece of foam. It always seemed to whistle a little bit if it was open, been doing this for over 10 years.

[NewValker]

Hey Bill, mine came blocked, & when I removed the black duct tape that someone had put in there, the helmet buffeting stopped.  Someone at IZ16 told me to put in black dish scrubbie from dollar store to stop bugs but let air thru.
Craig

[Forge]

The vent is there to reduce windhield turbulence by allowing pressure on both sides of the windshield. Less buffeting is a good thing.

[davit]

I fold a couple of dryer sheets and stuff them in there, stops the bug gut whistling and smells great.

I've realized no benefit to the vent being open.

[Jess from VA]

I've stuffed a block of black foam up them as my default position for many years.  My half helmets have always provided enough air and cooling except for the hottest days, where I have pulled the foam out from time to time.  

It was the half helmet (with half visor only, used sometimes) leading to edible bugs with fuzzy legs (whole or strained) being propelled through the vent and down my throat that led to my foam.  On the way to Morgantown Inzane, I rode through a whole cloud of migrating yellow jackets at speed, and was mighty glad for the foam (but still got off the next exit and danced around like a crazy person swatting and slapping my self all over, to make sure none had hitched a ride on my clothing).    

Also, riding at higher speeds in hard rain, the water comes through the vent pretty well and actually travels up the inside of the shield adding to already decreased visibility in rain that also supports use of the foam.

The idea of a more porous foam or a chunk of rolled up screen cloth or some such would not be a bad idea for more air flow (but controlled bug flow) in warmer weather.  

It's definitely nicer blocked in the cold.  

Riding on trips with a half cover on the bike in motels, with AM fog on both sides of the shield, yanking the foam helps blow the fog off soon(er) after the ride commences.

[Hook#3287]

Cool, thanks for the replies guys, think I'll look for some black ridge vent to put in there.

Probable got about 50 L.F. by 12" of that stuff hanging about.

[cookiedough]

I use dense black foam tape sticky on one side but leave a little bit open on each side but 80% blocked in the middle.

I hated the whistling noise was bad at hwy. speeds and ONLY drawback is when it gets colder out and fog buildup at night mainly driving,  the foam sucks since prevents the inside windshield to help clear to see.  But, the benefits near daily of NO BUG juice hitting me in the face and no noise outweighs the 1-2 times per year fog buildup riding at night.  If riding in the rain it also helps from no spray coming thru as well another benefit as long as no fog buildup.

[Paladin528]

I use one of that scrub puffs that you use in the shower.  It is just like netting.  allows the air flow but not the bug flow and also keeps the water off the inside of the windshield when riding in the rain.