Zero cost buffeting solution

[kodiakfisher]

Well I will add my 2 cents in on this topic after reading the HD forums, and this forum about buffeting for two days now.

I read one post on the HD forum about a guy that put a tool bag on his forks and that solved the problem. So today I went out testing...

First I stuffed a towel in the center windshield vent and closed off pod vents = lots of buffeting

Then I took the towel out of the center windshield and was amazed at the difference = minimal buffeting with a bit of breeze under my chin.

Then I opened the pod vents with no towel in center vent = minimal buffeting with minimal breeze under my chin.

Lastly I rolled up a towel 14.5 inches wide tied it onto the forks under the fairing and absolutely the cleanest smoothest wind around the bike = No buffeting, zero none. What did change was the amount of air that would come out of the vents. I was thinking there now seems to be a lot of air on my legs. Reached down and closed the vents and hardly any air. Open them up and wow what a difference. I did pick up a bit of air under my chin with the vents open.

It costs you nothing to give it a try. I am going to order a custom made tool bag for that space AFTER I run tape thread across the forks and hard stop a few times to figure out how much room I have.

Doug E

[saddlesore]

Did you test it long enough to make sure you weren't blocking air flow to the radiator ?  I did something similar years ago and felt things were getting too hot.  I didn't have a temp. gauge so I didn't have conclusive proof but didn't want to take a chance.

[kodiakfisher]

I had considered that but on another thread I had read were an owner with an oil temp gauge was having to cover the radiator up just to get up to temp in the winter/colder months.

I made more than enough fast hard runs to get the bike up to temp/hot. If it was getting hot I would have thought (as has happened on hot days) the fan would kick on in the driveway for a minute or two when I stop. The fan cycling more than usual would be the first indicator of more heat than usual.

I think the low pressure behind the towel combined with the high pressure of air moving over the front fender is pulling more of the air down instead of letting it go up over the tank. These bikes are designed to handle the heat as evidenced in stop and go traffic and the fan cycling on and off. They are capable of maintaining temp even when not moving. Now in 100+ deg heat stop and go traffic maybe a different story but then a towel across the forks is not the issue. Temp and stop and go is the issue.

[John Schmidt]

Be very careful how far the tool bag hangs down. More than one fender has been dented by such a bag hanging in that area.

[kodiakfisher]

Be very careful how far the tool bag hangs down. More than one fender has been dented by such a bag hanging in that area.

Good point i figured about three inches. To test i am going to tape thread across the forks and do some hard braking tests then add 1/2 inch the remainder will be my avail gap I can fill with a bag

[PharmBoy]

A good pair of fork wind deflectors is the best thing that I have found to stop buffeting...Jim

[Bighead]

I had a tool bag on my Bee for the first 80k of her life and haven't for the past30 and I can tell zero difference. I ride a MOTORCYCLE I EXPECT wind.

[98valk]

Be very careful how far the tool bag hangs down. More than one fender has been dented by such a bag hanging in that area.

Good point i figured about three inches. To test i am going to tape thread across the forks and do some hard braking tests then add 1/2 inch the remainder will be my avail gap I can fill with a bag

see mounting lights for clearance
http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/foglites.html

[kodiakfisher]

Did anyone add a light bar with the interstate fairing. I have an interstate and not sure I would have room for a light bar...


Thoughts,

Doug E

[Jack B]

Did anyone add a light bar with the interstate fairing. I have an interstate and not sure I would have room for a light bar...



Thoughts,

Doug EP

My old I.S. on the right had a light bar from Barry at Big Bikes Things from Australia.

[davit]

Light bar with fork deflectors mounted in place of lights, Big Bike Things out of Australia. 

[Houdini]

A good pair of fork wind deflectors is the best thing that I have found to stop buffeting...Jim

I'll +2 this recommendation, I have fork wings on both my Valk's and hate riding one without due to the buffeting.