Question on windshield height

[PaulO]

My new to me 99 Valk Standard came with a National Cycle windshield.  I can't see enough to read the street signs over 50 mph because of helmet buffeting.  My challenge is that I can just barely see over the top of it so going higher is not gonna work as I do not want to look through the shield.  I am thinking maybe getting something shorter but that seems counterintuitive or perhaps, the tourer windshield which seems to have a backward bend.  Amy one have any thoughts on this?
Thanks,
PaulO

[giff]

You're supposed to look over the windshield, not through it. It should end just under your nose.

[gordonv]

I don't believe you should get buffeting while hidding behind the windshield.

I know this same subject was discussed, maybe in the spring, and there was some solutions posted then as to how to fix this condition. Can't remember what it was, so maybe a search under buffet will find it. I think the fix was to add additional deflectors or a vent in the windshield to all a different air flow behind the shield.

[Thespian]

 Seems to me that most of the air shoving my head around comes from under the windshield. Next time your riding put your hand up just below your chin and out about five inches and see if that cuts down the buffeting.

 My 99 standard came with a Memphis Shade faring and it is an improvident over the windshield i had on my shadow, but I'm still planning to add the plexiglass extensions. 

      http://www.memphisshades.com/metric-shades/batwing-fairing

[Ricky-D]

Seems to me that a difference regarding the buffeting was affected by slight changes to the angle of the windshield.

***

[Patrick]

I'm not familiar with that windshield or how it is mounted.. But, you may be able to figure something out for moving the bottom of the shield out/forward which will lower the shield and the added angle may help with the wind effect..

[Pete]

I agree with the post that discussed buffeting coming from under the windshield.

A set of Baker wind wings or something similar that you make and attached resolved a lot of the buffeting for me.

There was a thread several months ago about the wings and home made wings.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,15837.0.html

[Bone]

Ricky-D and Patrick each year I tilt my shield pulling the bottom out almost 1 inch. It's like driving a cage with no doors. Air circulation behind the shield increases a bunch. I can easily see over the shield at this setting. I don't remember if the buffeting gets worse getting the extra air just feels good.
98 Tourer

[Patrick]

 I still have the original shield.. I've pulled the bottom out quite a bit and opened it up around the head-lite.. That lowered the shield quite a bit and I like the extra lower air flow also. I'm not bothered by any butteting, there may be some, but, I don't notice it..

[paps350]

I have a 97 standard with a National Cycle shield. When I purchased the previous owner cut two inchs from a National Cycle shield which made it too short for me. I also had alot of wind buffeting that bounced my glasses up and down so I ordered a new shield hoping it would help but it did not. I found out that the wind was coming under the shield so I installed a set of Baker Air Wings and it solved the problem. Hope this helps.

[PaulO]

Thank you all for your replies.  I have some more info that I can research namely the baker air wings.  I'll keep you posted.
PaulO

[Gear Jammer]

Fork mounted deflectors may offer some relief as well as the Bakers.   I've got both on mine. 

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I bought my valk from a much taller guy. I cut the windshield down to the height that allows me to look through it most of the time but I can look over it by just sitting up a little taller.

I experimented with the angle and height above the headlight to cut down on buffeting. What works for me is to have an 1"-1.5" gap between the headlight and windshield. This allows enough air through to prevent the vacuum behind the windshield which was causing most of my buffeting.

[Chiefy]

My WS (OEM) was slightly higher then I liked, the top of the WS bugged me like the line in my old bifocals did.  I only got bad buffeting on a windy day.  When I put my hand over the top of the helmet, I had a quiet zone a couple of inches taller then the helmet.  I also had heavy turbulence coming over the tank.  Easy to tell by putting your arm sideways across your chest.  I had the money for either Bakers, or a new WS.  So I cut the WS some trying very hard to guesstimate how tall the "quiet zone" over my helmet was.  I'm pretty much at the "critical" point right now.  Wish I had left 1/4 inch more on the shield.  I get light buffeting more often now, but not the heavy duty stuff unless it's windy.  Ended up ordering the Bakers, they haven't arrived yet.  Don't 'spect they're going to help the new light buffeting, but I think I can Rube Goldberg the WS back up 1/4 inch if I have to.

[PaulO]

Experimented a litte.  Tilted the windshield back quite a bit.  Opened up the gap between the shield and the headlight.  Results - a lot worse!  Buffeting at a much lower speed now and more of it.  Used my free hand to "feel around" for turbulence as suggested.  Although there is a good amount of air coming in and up under the shield and around the tank, it does not make it to my head.  Holding my arm across my chest to block it does nothing.  It seems that all or at least most of the buffeting is coming from over the shield and hitting the top of my helmet.  Tilting the shield back only lowered the point that it hits my head.  There is clearly a nice envelope of calm air behind the shield but it begins to close in around the edges as you move back away from the shield.  I am too far away from the shield to take advantage of the larger envelope.  By the time the wind gets to me, the envelope is considerably smaller.  I have now moved the shield up about 2 inches to see what that does but it forces me to look through the shield.  Maybe I'll just get a short shield to keep the wind off my torso and wear a full face helmet althoug I would much rather solve this.