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I just got a roadwarrior fairing and a 9" vented windshield put on my FXLRS, and instantly noticed heavy wind buffeting at 50+ mph. Its so bad, its near unrideable on the hwy.
Lined up, the windshield comes up to my chest, so it is a bit low, and wind hits me at about nose/eye level. Would a taller windshield, say chin/nose level help, or make the buffeting worse?
I've suffered buffeting vibration in the past. It's miserable, even fatiguing and dangerous. I've read a lot of advice. My take on it is it's caused by many different rider size, posture and aerodynamic variables. There is no single solution which suits everyone.
Some never experience it and think those that do are pussies. Some sort it with a higher shield, some with lower. Some change the angle of the shield (rake it back, so it cuts through the air with less turbulence), others modify it with aftermarket curved / recurved windshields or add-on secondary aerofoils clamped to the top of the shield. Some like vents, to reduce the difference in pressure behind the screen. Then for some, the source is wind coming under and round the shield, solved by adding fangs to your forks, or getting wider screens, or soft covers on crash bars... I've probably missed out some causes and solutions.
What causes it and what solves it will need money and experimentation, patience and time. I never fixed it on my last softail. I tried the tallest shield, then the lowest and ended up cutting that down further. The buffeting stopped, but the wind noise was bad, so I took it off and in the end was just relieved to enjoy the bike with nothing in front of me! With a fairing, I guess it's not possible to ride it without.
I've only ever suffered it on a Harley. I think it may be the seating position puts you much further from the shield or fairing than other bikes. The extra distance is enough to result in the air being disrupted and turbulent by the time it meets the rider. Start searching this forum for the hundreds of previous posts on the subject and work your way through solving it! You might be lucky and hit on a quick fix. 👍
That is very good info. I can 100% say the problem is wind coming up from the tank in an upward motion. So i'm thinking maybe fork deflectors might be the first place to start.
I also had horrible buffetting when I put the Road Warrior on my FXBB, it was so bad that I almost went with a different fairing. I tried every position possible with the clamp settings and after much trial and error - what finally worked for me was:
Getting the fairing as close to the bars as possible, I removed the extension headlight block and used the stock headlight setup. Then I reversed the clamps on the trees so they were pointing backwards and also adjusted the sliders as far back as possible. This did not stop the buffetting 100% but I'd say its 75% better, still have to tuck the front of my shirt in my jeans when going 60mph+ but it's worth it to me. I usually wear a helmet but when its 110+ degrees out I sometimes ride with a backwards hat and it doesn't fly off - it did before I reversed the clamps.
I tested with an 11", 13", and a 15" tall windshield and I feel there was less buffetting with the shorter shields. I run an 11" but sometimes use my 15" for longer trips and I definitely get more buffetting with the 15".
I also did a tank lift and that seemed to reduce it a little more.
hey everyone. I did my first highway ride to work this morning on a heritage classic I picked up last week. it's the first time (speed) that I've noticed annoying buffeting. the bike wants to go straight but the handlebars are jiggling a little. I can imagine it's enough to be fatiguing over extended periods.
I think it's the windscreen which is a stock H-D one that is about level with my eye line (I don't mind it there at all) and not the least bit aeodynamic. the bike itself upon reflection, is stable. I feel 'it' my hands & arms so in this case.. it's the windshield causing the problem. I will try riding without it.
I have been riding Harleys long distance since 1978, owned 20 of them , in my opinion , there is no solution for buffetting on HD's , tried everything , it can be minimized. The Rushmore Project was created because people were actually getting brain damage from intense buffeting on certain models. After 30 years and 600,000 miles I gave up HD's due to severe painful hearing damage even though I always wore earplugs. On a 10 day tour of Spain and Portugal in 07' on a rented BMW R1200RT, I found the electric adjustable windshield superb, when adusting the handlebar mounted rocker switch , you find a sweet spot, a dead quiet pocket of air. My wife and I could hold conversations at 95 MPH one handed, standard cruising speed on smooth as glass Spanish highways . Upon returning , I bought one and can travel long distance again. I now have the FLHCS 114, the best handling HD ever, better than my FXRS-SP, but must ride without windshield.
I was wondering about buffering on the aftermarket windshields, I don't currently have one but was looking more so for aesthetics as I think they look a lot better than the stock, but I don't experience any buffering with stock screen from my experience the higher you go the more you will experience.
with the stock screen my helmet controls the buffetting so I would imagine when I start doing longer rides I will feel it on my neck.
I was wondering about buffering on the aftermarket windshields, I don't currently have one but was looking more so for aesthetics as I think they look a lot better than the stock, but I don't experience any buffering with stock screen from my experience the higher you go the more you will experience.
with the stock screen my helmet controls the buffetting so I would imagine when I start doing longer rides I will feel it on my neck.
My experience with windshield’s has mixed reviews . Different settings, helmets, no helmet and so on. A lot has to do with one’s height. I have a friend who is short that has a windshield on an 85 fxr that can literally ride with no glasses no nothing. Wind goes right over his head. Me at 6ft different story. Kawasaki - stock windshield. No buffering with or with out helmet. My fxr. Never could get it to be comfortable. My wide glide with the shield cut down to nose level and tool bag almost zero buffering with or without helmet. Windshield tipped forward. The Harley helmet sucks with or without windshield. The shoei is worth every penny!! Kawasaki aftermarket windshield. No helmet a lot of buffering. With my shoei helmet was very comfortable. Best with windshield tipped back.
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2020 FXLRS wind buffetting
