Buffeting
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From: Northern Maryland
Buffeting
The short- I tried a kuryakin triple tree air deflector on my 2014 FLHTK and it worked, but man I swear the temps on my legs went up. Anyone else experience this?
The long- on my 2012 FLHTP a few weeks ago. Did 100 for about 15 minutes. Had bad head buffeting before and this was just as bad but this time the ringing has not gone away (and yes I use ear plugs) Seems permanent. Decided to play the game of trying to eliminate head buffeting. Haven't tried anything on my 12 FLHTP as of yet but the kuriyaken seems to have done the trick to eliminate buffeting on my 2014 FLHTK for speeds up to 75. Running an HD half helmet with the little black visor. I have heard of people eliminating the visor to cut back on buffeting and I think I'll give that a shot too.
The long- on my 2012 FLHTP a few weeks ago. Did 100 for about 15 minutes. Had bad head buffeting before and this was just as bad but this time the ringing has not gone away (and yes I use ear plugs) Seems permanent. Decided to play the game of trying to eliminate head buffeting. Haven't tried anything on my 12 FLHTP as of yet but the kuriyaken seems to have done the trick to eliminate buffeting on my 2014 FLHTK for speeds up to 75. Running an HD half helmet with the little black visor. I have heard of people eliminating the visor to cut back on buffeting and I think I'll give that a shot too.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 8,113
Likes: 9,504
From: central NC
I have tried every single thing for buffeting on batwings, shark noses, and bare windshields (Road Kings). All Pre-24 updated fairings.
This all assumes you are running the correct height wind shield.
The dogdish under the triple tree did little.
Fork fangs on batwings and Road Kings are a game changer.
Fairing lowers on shark noses are also a game changer.
YMMV
This all assumes you are running the correct height wind shield.
The dogdish under the triple tree did little.
Fork fangs on batwings and Road Kings are a game changer.
Fairing lowers on shark noses are also a game changer.
YMMV
Supporter
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 563
Likes: 468
From: Sapulpa, OKlahoma
The only things I've ever found to be effective at significantly reducing or eliminating buffeting are fork-mounted deflectors (aka "fangs") or a shorter windshield that puts my head in the clean airflow above the windshield. (although helmet design can play a role as well)
The biggest contributor to buffeting that I've found is the air coming from under the windshield or fairing and up the sides of the tank into the low pressure area behind the windshield and creating turbulence between the rider and the windshield. Fork deflectors interrupt the flow of air under the windshield/faring and significantly reduce the amount coming up the sides of the tank.
How fork deflectors affect engine heat is a different topic and a tradeoff that might be acceptable if the buffeting is bad enough.
The biggest contributor to buffeting that I've found is the air coming from under the windshield or fairing and up the sides of the tank into the low pressure area behind the windshield and creating turbulence between the rider and the windshield. Fork deflectors interrupt the flow of air under the windshield/faring and significantly reduce the amount coming up the sides of the tank.
How fork deflectors affect engine heat is a different topic and a tradeoff that might be acceptable if the buffeting is bad enough.
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 33
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From: Northern Maryland
I did a few tests today; Took the triple tree deflector off and that eliminated the heat problem under my legs. I bought various height windshields from my ole' pal Bezos and tried them without the triple tree deflector, running the HD half helmet. I found the sweet spot with a 7" windshield (this one https://a.co/d/btkxtu3). Like dbarbee wrote, the 7" windshield put the clean air right at my nose and just like, no more bobble head & I could read my gauges and road signs. I did some riding after dark to see if I'm gonna end up eating bugs with that height windscreen; bugs seem to get caught in the airflow and go over or under the fairing/windscreen but I'm sure I'll end up with bug jizz on lips or face if I cross someone big & juicy enough to splatter on me.
The triple tree deflector might be something worth running in the winter, but definitely not on the summer months.
Thanks for the input to those who commented.
The triple tree deflector might be something worth running in the winter, but definitely not on the summer months.
Thanks for the input to those who commented.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 640
From: Saint Charles, Missouri
The reason your legs felt more heat with the dog dish is that it was pushing more air on the engine and you were feeling the heat the engine was getting washed off more (better for the engine less so for your legs).
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,722
Likes: 919
From: Southern Virginia
For me I settled on a tall recurve shield to get the wind stream completely over my head and the DK cooling wings. That still allows a little air to keep me cool but doesn't bounce my glasses around. This winter I may try some fork fangs, they were the best on my 2010, haven't tried them on my Rushmore. I will say for some reason my 2010 Ultra Classic was like a bubble of still air with the LRS recurve and fork fangs. Fangs made it hot in the summer though so I had to ditch them.
I'm going to add an Oil Bud oil cooler to my 23 Ultra so maybe with a slightly cooler engine the fangs won't be so hot. It's a shell game for sure.
I'm going to add an Oil Bud oil cooler to my 23 Ultra so maybe with a slightly cooler engine the fangs won't be so hot. It's a shell game for sure.