Valkyrie Interstate, i feel like i am smothercating

[davidd1972]

Greetings all

i am used to riding a naked sportbike. had a yamaha fz-07, now i ride a yamaha xsr900.
i ride with full face helmet and a mesh padded jacket.

the wife and i got us a 99 valkyrie interstate so she could ride with me. the problem i have is the lack of air movement. i am used to a good amount of breeze when riding. wearing all my gear and no air gets hot and stuffy on the IS.

i do not want to sacrifice safety to be comfortable, so i am looking for suggestions.

what can i do? should i get a different helmet? maybe a 3/4 with the face shield?

do they make a mod that would redirect the air from the center vent of the front fairing to my face and chest?

thanks much

Dave

[oldsmokey]

Try removing the lower wind deflectors on each side of the fairing.
Read up on the brass inserts that will likely spin when you remove right and left speaker pods to separate.

I found a set of baker shields for the radiator pods and removal of the lower shields was necessary do to interference. I notice more wind seems to come up from the front of the tank now.

It's free to try.

[davidd1972]

thanks for the fast reply.
i have clear deflectors on the bottom of the fairing just under the speakers and also deflectors mounted on the forks.
i will try removing those this weekend and see how that goes.

thanks again for the advise. i have always ridden bikes with no windshield and have gotten used to the wind.

now riding a full fairing bike with a windshield, i have no clue about it, if that makes sense.

Dave

[oldsmokey]

There ya go. If you wanna sell the fork mounted ones.....

[MAD6Gun]

 A few guys have cut their windshields down so more air gets through. See if the ones that have will chime in...

[The emperor has no clothes]

Easiest and most effective would be to cut the windshield down. A wood blade in a jigsaw, some tape and you are ready to rock & roll.  

[Dusty]

 My fork mounted deflectors have one bolt that bolts to the bracket on the fork. I just undo that bolt and remove the deflectors for the summertime and reinstall when the weather gets cooler. I don't bother removing the fairing deflectors because the fork ones removed supply plenty of air flow.

Dusty

[davidd1972]

My fork mounted deflectors have one bolt that bolts to the bracket on the fork. I just undo that bolt and remove the deflectors for the summertime and reinstall when the weather gets cooler. I don't bother removing the fairing deflectors because the fork ones removed supply plenty of air flow.

Dusty

10-4 i just looked at them. 1 bolt on each side.
i will do this first and report back.

not going to go anywhere near the bike with a saw for the windshield lol
i excel at mechanical stuff, nuts and bolts etc. i used to build and fly radio control helicopters.
i suck at anything that requires dexterity, thats why i didnt do the glue together radio control planes.

Dave

[Jess Tolbirt]

removing the fork deflectors will give you more air and also creates buffeting. the buffeting is crazy hard on the head, thats why the fork deflectors were added. also the baker air wings will direct air to you..
 

[rocketray]

and if it is really hot..I understand a sweatshirt soaked in ice cold water is great--we cool by transpiration..

[Valkorado]

+1 on the air wings.  On an Interstate, opened up and directed toward you, they really make a huge difference.  Unfortunately they quit producing them for the Interstate, and they are not easy almost impossible to find.

BTW, those Baker wings are great closed up in cold weather, and in rain.  Love 'em.

[davidd1972]

removing the fork deflectors will give you more air and also creates buffeting. the buffeting is crazy hard on the head, thats why the fork deflectors were added.
 

noted, i will go test ride a bit after i take them off.

thanks again

[davidd1972]

and if it is really hot..I understand a sweatshirt soaked in ice cold water is great--we cool by transpiration..

i am in louisiana, just north of new orleans.

it felt like i swam to work this morning, thats how high the humidity was.

its been hot for a few weeks.

[Jess from VA]

Concur on the shorter shield.  But I would keep the one you have (if it's decent) and order a shorter one.  Depending on seats, back-seaters are often in more wind than drivers so having a taller one to swap out isn't bad, and there's also cold weather.  

Clearview is a good company, and they will build you what you want, and they even make interstate windshields with an added vent. (scroll down, but no pics)

https://www.clearviewshields.com/motorcycle-windshield/honda/valkyrie-interstate-shields/

I could not find a pic of vented interstate shield, but here is 1500 wing.


A lot of us plug that stock front vent; at 5'9' on my interstates, it fed lots of bugs to my mouth (half helmets only), in parts or whole with wiggling legs.  An alternative is a tight screen that cuts down on bugs and still lets air through.  Twice, the bugs were stinging ones.

[Oss]

Three screws hold the front piece (the part that you cant turn) on the baker air wings and just take those off and put in a gallon zip lock bag in the trunk or right saddle bag

It takes two minutes to put them back on if you will be riding in the rain as those things really cut down on the moisture hitting you at speed  Of course sitting still its like a screen door on a submarine

I have thought about cutting my shield down also but the rear passenger will get more buffeting if I do that so havent yet

[pago cruiser]

I also did not like the huge IS fairing.  Way too warm in Tucson 10 months out of the year.  The other 2 months I wear electrics anyhow.

This worked out real well:


I look over the smallish windscreen. Geat protection from 85mph freeway blast, but enough air get by in summer to make the evap vest work great.  If you have not tried a good evap vest, I highly recomend it.  Light years better than a wet t-shirt. 

[Moonshot_1]

Greetings all

i am used to riding a naked sportbike. had a yamaha fz-07, now i ride a yamaha xsr900.
i ride with full face helmet and a mesh padded jacket.

the wife and i got us a 99 valkyrie interstate so she could ride with me. the problem i have is the lack of air movement. i am used to a good amount of breeze when riding. wearing all my gear and no air gets hot and stuffy on the IS.

i do not want to sacrifice safety to be comfortable, so i am looking for suggestions.

what can i do? should i get a different helmet? maybe a 3/4 with the face shield?

do they make a mod that would redirect the air from the center vent of the front fairing to my face and chest?

thanks much

Dave

Is your wife comfortable with the ride as it is now? Is she wanting more ventilation too? Need to consider how any modifications will affect your passenger's comfort. If she is comfortable and enjoys the ride I'd get used to the way it is now and not change a thing. Easiest way.

[Valkorado]

I also did not like the huge IS fairing.  Way too warm in Tucson 10 months out of the year.  The other 2 months I wear electrics anyhow.

This worked out real well:


I look over the smallish windscreen. Geat protection from 85mph freeway blast, but enough air get by in summer to make the evap vest work great.  If you have not tried a good evap vest, I highly recomend it.  Light years better than a wet t-shirt. 

Nice work on that bike, sleek looking with the cut down fairing, lack-o-pods, short fender and rack.  Lines flow well!   

[the bull]

I installed a clearview windshield with a vent in it and the baker wings.  They increase the air flow tremendously.

[Alberta Patriot]

Wearing Ventilated Mesh Armored Riding Gear is maybe the way to go as well.

[Tx Bohemian]

I think the obvious thing would be to trade off the "Interstate" and get a "Standard" Valkyrie.

That way you could add (or not) whatever you need to be acceptable for you/y'all.

But that's just MHO.

I have a Standard with a Memphis Shade windscreen and "homemade" lowers to keep the air off.
Also "bohemian" rigged deflectors on the back side of the radiator to keep the hot air from the radiator blowing at me.

[davidd1972]

i'll try and reply to everyone

we got the IS version because of the back seat. that's what the wife wanted. its her bike, i just drive it for her

she is comfortable as far as air flow, its only me, so i dont want to do anything to make buffeting for her.

i am 6'1" but i have not hit any bugs yet so i dont know how i will get pelted.

as of now i am wearing a joe rocket phoenix 5 ventilated mesh padded jacket and a shoei air-gt helmet.

most likely i will be looking into a 3/4 helmet with the face shield. a sportbike helmet doesnt do well on the IS. lot of buffeting noise because i am sitting more upright, the vents let the air bypass instead of directing air into the helmet. this is likely part of the heat issue.

i only ride the bike either once a week to keep it running (if she works all week) or to take her for a ride. i have my own bike to run around on any other time.

i think my easiest options would be a 3/4 helmet and i can get my friend to make me an air deflector/bug screen for the center vent. i can direct half to me and half to the shield.

i dont want to change too much and ruin her ride.

thanks again

pic for attention

[Moonshot_1]

Got the same I/S color scheme! Got some saddlebag rails and front fender rail otherwise pretty much same bike.

Good to see you are thinking of passenger comfort. I wouldn't do any mods that were not undoable.
If the wife is happy you have accomplished your mission.

One suggestion, goes to your bug comment somewhat, put a piece of loofta shower sponge, you don't need the whole thing, in the vent under the windshield. It catches all the bugs and stops the annoying whistle that the vent makes going down the highway. Lets the air flow freely through it as well.

[3fan4life]

This guy can make you any windshield that you want:

https://bikescreen.com/products/honda-gl-1500-1997-2003

He can also install the old Vetter Style "POP" vents that would let you get air without creating buffeting for your co-rider:

https://bikescreen.com/collections/accessories/products/pop-vents


I've used him in the past and plan to have him make me a couple of custom windshields soon.

[trout dude]

David i sent you a pm
Dennis

[The emperor has no clothes]

Greetings all

i am used to riding a naked sportbike. had a yamaha fz-07, now i ride a yamaha xsr900.
i ride with full face helmet and a mesh padded jacket.

the wife and i got us a 99 valkyrie interstate so she could ride with me. the problem i have is the lack of air movement. i am used to a good amount of breeze when riding. wearing all my gear and no air gets hot and stuffy on the IS.

i do not want to sacrifice safety to be comfortable, so i am looking for suggestions.

what can i do? should i get a different helmet? maybe a 3/4 with the face shield?

do they make a mod that would redirect the air from the center vent of the front fairing to my face and chest?

thanks much

Dave

I was thinking about your desire for more air. It got me thinking if I would be cooler with more air ? I'm not sure. Here in the desert there is certainly a blast furnace season. I think there might be 6 months in the spring and fall when it would, I think there would be 3 months in the winter I'd have to switch from mesh, I think 3 months in the summer with one might be better off with less 128* at 85 mph. I'm sure you can find a cheap screen to cut down. 

[Rams]

I also did not like the huge IS fairing.  Way too warm in Tucson 10 months out of the year.  The other 2 months I wear electrics anyhow.

This worked out real well:


I look over the smallish windscreen. Geat protection from 85mph freeway blast, but enough air get by in summer to make the evap vest work great.  If you have not tried a good evap vest, I highly recomend it.  Light years better than a wet t-shirt. 

I'm not a real fan of the Interstate, mostly due to that massive fairing.  I like what you did there.   Makes it much more appealing IMHO.  Looks good!   

Rams

[davidd1972]

lots of good info, 

i was experimenting this morning. the helmet issue is figured out.
i just need to get me a pair of riding glasses.

with the visor fully opened on my current helmet i get a good amount of breeze on my face.
i have a drop down sun shade, but it is not rated for eye safety. glasses will solve that.

as for bugs. i only really have an issue if i ride at dusk. my other bike is naked, so i deal with bugs all the time, with a closed visor though. i will have to see how much extra protein i get from an open visor.

another pic for attn.

thanks again for all the input.

Dave

[Willow]

I have an eight inch shield on my Interstate.  A variable speed jigsaw on low speed and blue masking tape will take care of that for you.  Cut down an OEM Interstate shield and order a pare if you think she may need one.

I don't run screens on my Standards but I felt the fairing needed a shield, even a short one.

Pago, that shield is easily as large as an OEM Interstate screen.

[Gavin_Sons]

I also did not like the huge IS fairing.  Way too warm in Tucson 10 months out of the year.  The other 2 months I wear electrics anyhow.

This worked out real well:


I look over the smallish windscreen. Geat protection from 85mph freeway blast, but enough air get by in summer to make the evap vest work great.  If you have not tried a good evap vest, I highly recomend it.  Light years better than a wet t-shirt. 

Smallish windscreen? Looks like stock height to me. I have an 8 Iinch shield I run in the summer months. My wife hates it she prefers the 2 inches shorter with the baker air wings opened up