Wind buffeting solved!
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Wind buffeting solved! (summer windvest)
I've been trying to solve the wind buffeting problem on my wide glide since getting it last year. I like to do a lot of longer rides (a short ride for me is a minuimum of 100 miles). ANyway, I started out with the HD quick detach windscreen (no luck), swapped the screen out for a 21" one (still didn't solve it), then I went with a Windvest. The Windvest did a pretty good job, but once I get to highway speeds, I'd get some buffeting. Nothing severe, just a consant tap on the helmet that would drive me nuts after a while. Then, one day while riding my Ducati, I realized that I wasn't getting any buffeting at all... (It's a 748/853 race replica. What I came to realize is that I wasn't getting any buffeting from the Duc because it only directed air over my shoulders and still provided normal airflow to my helmet. So, I think the problem is that by trying to get a windscreen to direct the airflow over my head was leading to the buffeting. So, the answer (for me) was to get a SHORTER windscreen that provided full airflow at helmet level while blocking air to my chest. I found that Cee Bailey's produces a summer windscreen replacement shield for the windvest that's only 9" tall, and after installing it, I think I've found the magic bullet! It directs all the air off my chest, while still providing full airflow to my helmet. I can ride long distances without the fatigue of constant air blast on my chest, get great airflow to my helmet, and no buffeting up to 80mph! I'd encourage anyone that runs a windvest to consider this shield! Here's a link:
http://www.ceebaileys.com/windvest/summer_windvest.html
http://www.ceebaileys.com/windvest/summer_windvest.html
Last edited by doublenaughtspy; Apr 11, 2009 at 05:36 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 808
Likes: 1
From: Southern Cal
I've been trying to solve the wind buffeting problem on my wide glide since getting it last year. I like to do a lot of longer rides (a short ride for me is a minuimum of 100 miles). ANyway, I started out with the HD quick detach windscreen (no luck), swapped the screen out for a 21" one (still didn't solve it), then I went with a Windvest. The Windvest did a pretty good job, but once I get to highway speeds, I'd get some buffeting. Nothing severe, just a consant tap on the helmet that would drive me nuts after a while. Then, one day while riding my Ducati, I realized that I wasn't getting any buffeting at all... (It's a 748/853 race replica. What I came to realize is that I wasn't getting any buffeting from the Duc because it only directed air over my shoulders and still provided normal airflow to my helmet. So, I think the problem is that by trying to get a windscreen to direct the airflow over my head was leading to the buffeting. So, the answer (for me) was to get a SHORTER windscreen that provided full airflow at helmet level while blocking air to my chest. I found that Cee Bailey's produces a summer windscreen replacement shield for the windvest that's only 9" tall, and after installing it, I think I've found the magic bullet! It directs all the air off my chest, while still providing full airflow to my helmet. I can ride long distances without the fatigue of constant air blast on my chest, get great airflow to my helmet, and no buffeting up to 80mph! I'd encourage anyone that runs a windvest to consider this shield! Here's a link:
http://www.ceebaileys.com/windvest/summer_windvest.html
http://www.ceebaileys.com/windvest/summer_windvest.html
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Oklahoma
"Buffeting"... that is the term that describes what I don't like when I've tried my detachable windshield on my Deuce. It buffets so intensensely that even my riding glasses vibrate! I also don't like the feeling of being "behind" the windshield (even though the top of the screen is about eye level) as well as the distortion when glancing downward. I figured that given my 38 years of dirt biking and no windshields, I just wasn't cut out for it.
BUT... just today I saw some nice looking "hot rod" type HD's at the big doin's they had a Old Fort Harley today. Said hot rods had a small "sport" looking windshields. Perhaps this would help keep bugs off me as well as some of the chest wind... but not have the buffeting and vision infringement I don't like about the current windshield??
BUT... just today I saw some nice looking "hot rod" type HD's at the big doin's they had a Old Fort Harley today. Said hot rods had a small "sport" looking windshields. Perhaps this would help keep bugs off me as well as some of the chest wind... but not have the buffeting and vision infringement I don't like about the current windshield??
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
That's what I like about the Cee Bailey summer windvest shield. It keeps the wind/bugs off my chest and is so small you don't see it. One of the biggest problems I had with the HD quick detach one was I felt a little claustrophobic behind it. I also hate looking thru a windscreen. All I wanted was to keep the wind off my chest so that I could more comfortably ride longer distances, and this is the ticket!
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 1
From: South Bay, CA
That's what I like about the Cee Bailey summer windvest shield. It keeps the wind/bugs off my chest and is so small you don't see it. One of the biggest problems I had with the HD quick detach one was I felt a little claustrophobic behind it. I also hate looking thru a windscreen. All I wanted was to keep the wind off my chest so that I could more comfortably ride longer distances, and this is the ticket!
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 29,598
Likes: 19
From: Oregon
I have a windvest for my Deuce. They are infinitely adjustable fore and aft at the top due to the handlebar clamp mount. I had to play with mine and finally wound up with it tipped a bit farther forward at the top than I would have thought.
I also had to stop wind from leaking underneath with a handlebar mounted leather pouch.
Works great now - no buffeting at all.
I also had to stop wind from leaking underneath with a handlebar mounted leather pouch.
Works great now - no buffeting at all.
Last edited by JBaker421; Apr 11, 2009 at 06:31 PM.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 163
From: Northern VA
I've been trying to solve the wind buffeting problem on my wide glide since getting it last year. I like to do a lot of longer rides (a short ride for me is a minuimum of 100 miles). ANyway, I started out with the HD quick detach windscreen (no luck), swapped the screen out for a 21" one (still didn't solve it), then I went with a Windvest. The Windvest did a pretty good job, but once I get to highway speeds, I'd get some buffeting. Nothing severe, just a consant tap on the helmet that would drive me nuts after a while. Then, one day while riding my Ducati, I realized that I wasn't getting any buffeting at all... (It's a 748/853 race replica. What I came to realize is that I wasn't getting any buffeting from the Duc because it only directed air over my shoulders and still provided normal airflow to my helmet. So, I think the problem is that by trying to get a windscreen to direct the airflow over my head was leading to the buffeting. So, the answer (for me) was to get a SHORTER windscreen that provided full airflow at helmet level while blocking air to my chest. I found that Cee Bailey's produces a summer windscreen replacement shield for the windvest that's only 9" tall, and after installing it, I think I've found the magic bullet! It directs all the air off my chest, while still providing full airflow to my helmet. I can ride long distances without the fatigue of constant air blast on my chest, get great airflow to my helmet, and no buffeting up to 80mph! I'd encourage anyone that runs a windvest to consider this shield! Here's a link:
http://www.ceebaileys.com/windvest/summer_windvest.html
http://www.ceebaileys.com/windvest/summer_windvest.html
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 455
Likes: 2
The biggest problem with Harley's windshields is all the air that comes under them. You would think after 106 years they could have figured that out by now. I leave mine off in the summer but I do like it in cold weather since I have to leave for work at 5:30 in the morning. I tried the lower leg "fangs" and they work but they are ugly and are not quick release. IMO Harley needs to seriously redesign all their windshields.