More on Helmet Buffeting

[PaulO]

Bought my Valk with a big national cycle windshield.  Love the bike but the helmet buffeting was so bad I couldn't see straight at speed.  Tried different heights and mounting angles to no avail.  Decided to go the FLH fairing route.  I mounted it and first rode it with a reallt small 3" screen.  Buffeting was still there.  Bought a Klock Werks 8.5" screen and it is improved but very little.  I have experimented with blocking and feeling for uneven air with my hands and arms as some here have suggested and althoug I can feel some rough air working its way up my legs and onto my torso, it doesn't seem like much and blocking it with my arm makes no difference.  When I reach up and feel the air at the top of my helmet it is strong but smooth.  I can't figure it out.  Don't know wether to go with a taller screen or to try something like Baker air wings next.  I want to see over the top of the sceen as I do now and I could probably go another inch or two taller and still do that sitting up straight.  Just don't know.  Even consider different handle bars to bting me closer to the screen.  Any ideas?  Any things anyone else with this problem have tried with either success or failure.
Thanks to anyone with any level of help.
Paul

[keepinon]

I've found that the shape of some visors on helmets will cause rough buffeting. I changed to one 1/4" narrower, fixed my problem.

Now, if you have no visor...... 

[dreamaker]

I don't understand what is buffeting?

[MP]

Do you have fork deflectors?  They stop a lot of air coming up in front of the tank.  that might solve your problem.

MP

[John U.]

+1 on fork deflectors. They made the biggest difference for me.
Baker Air Wings will help some also. I found the Bakers are worth having for air flow in summer as well as heat retention in winter. The buffeting reduction is a bonus.

[flatsixlover]

I struggled with the same helmet buffeting at speed issue, could hardly read the highway signs it got so bad.  I switched to a bigger windshield, tried different mounting angles, etc.  I had marginal improvement with the windshield standing straight up, but I was looking through the windshield, which I don't like to do.

I then got a set of Baker Air wings and problem solved!  I actually think the upper is doing all the work because the lowers are turned to allow air to flow across the engine.

My vote is to try the Bakers, couldn't believe how good they work.

[Quicksilver]

+1 Baker wings make all the difference

[Hawkeye]

The buffeting is not caused by air hitting your helmet from behind, not in front.  The windshield creates a large low pressure area behind it.  Air behind you rushes in to fill the low pressure area and bangs your helmet around in the process.  Tie a scarf around your neck and take a ride; the scarf will not stream behind you like the Red Barron, but will fly forward and continually slap you in the face.  See the large opening below the Interstate windshield and the one in the Goldwing windshield - those openings are to allow air to flow into the area behind the windshield and reduce the low pressure and consequently the buffeting.  Some aftermarket windshields have an opening cutout of the shield for the same purpose.  Reduce the low pressure and reduce the buffeting.

The upper portion of the Baker Air Wings are channeling air into the low pressure area; that's why they work.

[Dougs2000IS]

Its all personal preference. I bought my IS almost 3 years ago. It had baker air wings on it. I did not like them. Did not like the air flow nor did I like the looks of them. I do have the tall shield which my rider loves. I wish it was shorter, but have keep the other half happy. Oh Also found that the Baker air wing mount to an an IS crack the air boxes on the upper mount. Not sure if PO mounted incorrectly.

[valkyriemc]

I have an 2000 I/S that had the standard OEM windscreen on it when I bought it in 2002. But it was buffet city. So I purchased a Tulsa extended screen and it works great. But I do prefer to look through it and having some frontal protection, due to objects hitting me in the past (late '60's). G/L.

[Phil57]

Hawkeye good explanation on the buffeting issue. I tried a half helmet and the buffeting was bad.
I went back to my EXO 700 fullface and almost gone. The venting is better on a fullface also. Not sure how this works with Hawkeye's explanation but it worked for me on a Tourer. I'll see with a IS and a new helmet soon.

[BF]

PaulO.....

You've got options.  As others have said, fork delectors and Bakers.  Big Bike Parts and Memphis Shades has fork delectors for our Valks.  

And since you've got a fairing now, you can consider adding a set of Freedom Wings.  

http://www.fastaire.com/Freedom-Wings.html

Also consider one of the Aero shields from Fastaire.  They're a recurve shield.  

http://www.fastaire.com/Aero.html

It's what Glenn recommends from Woodys Fairings.  They cost less than half what you probably paid for that Klockwerks screen and work better IMHO.  

[Chiefy]

I have two half helmets and one full face.  One of the half's and the FF never buffeted.  The Scorpion half shook like a paint mixer.  Bakers fixed that.  If you want Bakers anyway, they might fix your problem.  If not, then borrow someone else's different make helmet and see what happens.

[MP]

Its all personal preference. I bought my IS almost 3 years ago. It had baker air wings on it. I did not like them. Did not like the air flow nor did I like the looks of them. I do have the tall shield which my rider loves. I wish it was shorter, but have keep the other half happy. Oh Also found that the Baker air wing mount to an an IS crack the air boxes on the upper mount. Not sure if PO mounted incorrectly.

I have both an IS and a std.  I like the Bakers on the std MUCH better.  Not so crazy about the ones on the IS.  In summer, I take the top triangle piece off, to get better air flow on the IS.  MUCH better.

The ones on the std do a better job.

MP

[CASABROKER]

Gotta have them wings for sure.

[ShiftHappens]

Does anyone have a recommendation on the fork deflectors?

I have buffeting trouble with my Interstate over 65mph. I have been keeping the visor up on my full face and it helps greatly.

[John U.]

Check out Big Bike Things deflectors, They are well made, attach to the lower trippletree cross piece. No drilling or clamping to the forks. Barry is a good guy to deal with. No affiliation etc.
http://www.bigbikethings.com/winddeflectors.html

[doubletee]

I had horrendous buffeting when I picked up my Std with a National Cycle shield. Fashioning brackets to allow me to "rake" it and adding Bakers have helped immeasurably. I still get a lot of air from around the tank, and I believe fork deflectors would solve that, but I don't like the look of fork deflectors. (I really don't like the look of Bakers either, but they do such a good job it's worth the tradeoff for me.)

[PaulO]

I'm really getting near the end on this helmet buffeting thing.  Not in the good way meaning I am close to a fix.  The other way where I don't even want to ride it anymore.  Here's what I've tried:

Big National Cycle windshield.
Tilted the National cycle screen backwards
Installed FLH fairing with short screen
Installed 8.5" KlockWerks Screen
Installed 10.5 National cycle Vstream screen
Tried full face helmet

Nothing makes much difference.  My helmet shakes so much I can't read street signs.

I know some people have found relief with delfectors and wings but, I have little faith in that because I am quite sure the buffeting wind is coming over the top of the shield.

I have blocked wind flow and felt all around with my hands and although the front of my shirt will move around quite a bit, when I block upward flow with my arms and hands it makes no difference and can't even feel it at the helmet/head level.

I even tried riding without a helmet as a test.  I can feel the rough wind on the top of my head although without the helmet, the buffeting is considerably reduced.

The current shield is as high as I can go without looking through it.

I am considering taking the fairing/shield off and riding without anything.  I prefer to have some protection from the bugs down here in South FLorida but this way, I don't even want to ride.

Paul

[Michvalk]

The next time you ride, put your hand to the front of the tank. You will feel the wind flowing over the top of the tank. That's where your buffeting is coming from. Fork deflectors will stop most, if not all of your problem, even if they are turned into the center some. I have an Interstate with fork deflectors and Bakers, and when I smoke going down the road, the Ashes drop in my lap. YMMV

[fudgie]

You need fairing deflectors. They mount under the 'wings'. Forks didnt work for me. Added the wings on the fairing and all is gone.

[BF]

Installed 8.5" KlockWerks Screen

You've got some great advice that you've chosen to ignore.  Fork deflectors, freedom wings on your fairing, Baker air wings are a few.  I've already told you about the Fast Aire recurve windshields.  It's like adding a couple inches to your windshield without increase the shield's height.  It WILL reduce your buffetting.  

Sell your Klockwerks windshield on ebay and buy yourself a Fastaire recure shield.  Do a search on the Klockwerks shield......there are plenty of posts in the Harley forums about them and how people hate them.  

From Fastaire.....

$87.99 - Any Size or Tint

Dark Gray Comes In - 6", 7", 8", 9" & 10"
Light Gray Comes In - 7", 8", 9" & 10"

http://www.fastaire.com/Aero.html

A Fastaire on your fairing and a set of fairing (freedom wings) deflectors or a set fork deflectors WILL cure your problem.  

[jmann]

+1 on the baker air wings. I ride a '98 Tourer and the buffeting prior to the air wings was terrible. It's the small upper wing that GREATLY reduces the buffeting. For the cost I wasn't sure it would be worth it but after installation I was a believer. Winter riding is improved also due to being able to keep some of the engine heat near you when you close the lower wings. I have the smoked flame cut panels so they even look nice. Might be worth a shot.

[steve 3054]

The Klockworks shield is not worth the plastic it is made of...everything they said it would do...it does NOT...

[MrStankie]

I have an IS with OEM windshield and fork deflectors.  A -WIDER- windshield stopped my helmet buffeting.

Good luck.

[O-B-1]

Is it buffeting when you have your feet on teh pegs? Or on teh hughway pegs?

I found that using highway pegs made my legs deflect the air flow right up my front and caused the buffeting. Had to reposition the pegs.

I am guessing leg position (i.e., highway pegs) may explain why the Memphis Shades Lowers and Baker Air Wings, etc work for some.

But if it happens when the feet are on the pegs/floorboards then teh vortex over the windshield may be the problem.

[F7daved]

Got a nice set of used baker wings with the smoke flames for sale. Less than 2 mos old, will sell you. That will fix your problem.

[PaulO]

F7Dave, Yes I would be interested.  Buffeting the same with any foot position.  Spent 2 hours in the shop tonight fabricating some lowers.  I built deflectors which begin at the bottom edge of batwing on each side and  continue down the fork tube.  Made them extra big figuring I could always trim them to look better if they worked.  They do not work.  They change the airflow with much more on my lower legs and almost none on my upper legs.  Seems to have stopped the turbulence on the front of my shirt but alas, no effect on the helmet buffeting.  Still can't read the street signs at speed and my neck hurts.  Damn I love this bike and it looks so cool.  Gotta solve this or I'm going to a GoldWing.  Thanks again to everyone who has tried to help thus far!

[Brian]

Lot of good stuff here. I ride a 97 standard with N/C windshield adjusted so that I do see over it a little. It's about the same height as my nose. I experienced the helmet buffeting a lot when I wear my Bell half helmet with the sun visor attached. I never tried the helmet without it, but will now just to see. However for cold weather riding I wear a full Nolan with the nice long shield that comes down to below my chin, this helmet also came with the movable sun shield as well that when not down it acts as a visor. No buffeting with this helmet regardless of what position the sun shield is in. The Bell helmet is 6 years old and fitting loose so I went to a new HJC half helmet with the sun shield that slides up inside and diss-appears. This HJC has a very short sun visor. I have been up to 75 miles per hour on the back roads here and no buffeting at all where the Bell would rattle my brains at 55mph. It sure is nice to get rid of the buffeting since I have a bad neck.

Sorry this turned out to be a helmet test report, but someone my find it beneficial. By the way I have no other wind defectors on this bike. The man is right about the scarf flying forward. I notice my work shirts balloon out towards the windshield. I have had business cards get sucked out of my shirt pockets on the way home.

I may try some other shields to help be warmer in the winter.

[BF]

Gotta solve this or I'm going to a GoldWing. 

FASTAIRE!!!

An $87.99 Fast Aire on your fairing will be a heck of alot cheaper than a  $25,000.00 Goldwing.   

[Quicksilver]

I had the same annoying buffeting when i got mine. The windshield was after market and didn't follow the shape like the OEm tourer shield, it was more vertical. I added  6 inch wings to each side, raised it , lowered it, changed the angle , nothing worked, still felt like my eyeballs were vibrating, couldn't see properly. My solution was a Memphis shades Batwing with the air deflectors at the bottom and Baker air wings . I modified the quick disconnect mount of the Memphis shades to have the windshield sit as high as possible, and have the 12" windshield. I see over it about 6 inches. Today I can wear any type helmet and no eyeball shake. I find it almost as calm as a Gold wing.

[Brian]

Took the bike to work today wearing the Bell helmet without the visor. 90 mph no buffeting. The heigth of the rider may have something to do with this. I stand 6'3".

[BIG LEE]

I went through this on my VTX1300 before I got my Valk.  I finally wound up with the extra large Clearview windshield which solved the problem.  I am 6'2" but my height is from my butt up. The Clearview screen is now so tall that I look through it which some riders to not like, but I don't mind since the buffeting is gone. I recently rode a 2,700 mile round trip at 75 mph +.  No buffeting issues other than the usual stuff behind tractor trailers etc.  Lee

[Ricky-D]

I find Turtle Wax works great on mine!

***

[Kymbo]

Tried a screen on my standard, hated the buffering.Removed the screen and put my little fly screen back on .Prefer the constant pressure of the wind to getting my head shaken off

[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

[Blackduck]

Have seen something like this before, Google search may pull up more
http://www.proaccessories.com.au/products/mra/varioext.htm
Cheers

[Mallett]

I use the Rifle fork mounted wind deflectors... they work for me...

[kodiakfisher]

I use the Rifle fork mounted wind deflectors... they work for me...

Great picture!!

[Harryc]

Awesome picture. What was this thread about?