Milwaukee Eight (M8) 2017 and up M8 Air and Liquid Cooled discussion
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Brandon's 2017 FLHX

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 13, 2017 | 08:16 PM
  #11  
Prot's Avatar
Prot
Club Member
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,839
Likes: 17,865
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Riders Club Member
Default

Kind of strange that you mention wind buffeting. I test rode a 2017 street Glide and I felt like I was in a car, the wind was so calm.

Helmet choice is a big factor. I wear a half helmet. I am 5'9" and my pants have a 29" inseam.

Maybe you just need a different windshield such as a recurve?
 
Old Mar 13, 2017 | 08:54 PM
  #12  
BrandonSmith's Avatar
BrandonSmith
Thread Starter
|
HDF Community Team
5 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 7,821
Likes: 4,381
From: Texas
Community Team
Default

I'm 5'10" with a 30" inseam. I test rode multiple Street Glides and they all felt the same with respect to the wind. I wore my full face on a couple, my half helmet, and even a 3/4 on the demo at the HD dealer. The wind was all the same.

I tried every size shield that HD had to offer (up to 10") in both the windsplitter and klockwerks variety and the wind was no different - zero difference over stock with the wind hitting me right in the forehead and at my ears from the side. The turbulence is so bad, my eyes are rattling and I can't read road signs at a distance (I'm not exaggerating), I don't even hear the exhaust and my ears are ringing for days - nothing I've ever experienced on a motorcycle before.

Here in rural East Texas, I'm riding in 20+ mph winds and rarely at speeds slower than 65 mph. When I hit about 50-55 mph, that's when the wind starts to become a nusance.
 
Old Mar 13, 2017 | 09:07 PM
  #13  
goose222's Avatar
goose222
Road Master
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 962
Likes: 141
From: Idaho
Default

If you have the windshield that come on your bike from the factory still on it throw it in the garbage. Only there for looks and I am not to sure about its looks. Get you a recurve from either long ride shields or freedom shields and your buffeting will fade into the blue yonder.
 
Old Mar 13, 2017 | 10:31 PM
  #14  
BrandonSmith's Avatar
BrandonSmith
Thread Starter
|
HDF Community Team
5 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 7,821
Likes: 4,381
From: Texas
Community Team
Default

As previously mentioned, I've tried several different shields and have noticed zero difference in buffeting.
 
Old Mar 14, 2017 | 08:14 AM
  #15  
Prot's Avatar
Prot
Club Member
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,839
Likes: 17,865
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Riders Club Member
Default

Originally Posted by BrandonSmith
As previously mentioned, I've tried several different shields and have noticed zero difference in buffeting.
Did you specifically try the recurve from long ride shields?
 
Old Mar 14, 2017 | 12:05 PM
  #16  
BrandonSmith's Avatar
BrandonSmith
Thread Starter
|
HDF Community Team
5 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 7,821
Likes: 4,381
From: Texas
Community Team
Default

I did not try the recurve from LRS. What is the difference between that and the Windsplitter? Or the Klockwerks? Is there a way to trial it without it costing me money?
 
Old Mar 14, 2017 | 12:44 PM
  #17  
davey019's Avatar
davey019
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,828
Likes: 109
From: Sioux Center IA
Default

I went with the clearview recurve and love it
 
Old Mar 14, 2017 | 07:56 PM
  #18  
BrandonSmith's Avatar
BrandonSmith
Thread Starter
|
HDF Community Team
5 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 7,821
Likes: 4,381
From: Texas
Community Team
Default

JES Custom Fork Deflectors installed! Man, what a difference! In order of most impactful first, it would be the fork deflectors, fairing deflectors, then the lower triple tree deflector - a new windshield will top it all off. I get a little bit of a wind to my ears and forehead, but if I lower my head an inch or two, it's calm. And I like the fact that the wind is off my knees! That's pretty darn cold in the mornings.

I'm pretty certain that my windshield testing was flawed by the enormous amount of wind coming around the sides of the bike and up to my head. Now that I've got all the deflectors on, I can test out a new shield and see how it does.

The fairing is odd colored in the photo do to the sky behind the camera. The wrinkle black looks good with the denim black.
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 15, 2017 | 07:51 AM
  #19  
BrandonSmith's Avatar
BrandonSmith
Thread Starter
|
HDF Community Team
5 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 7,821
Likes: 4,381
From: Texas
Community Team
Default

Alright, guys. I've ridden over 500 miles in the past 7 days and one thing I am not thrilled about is the fuel economy. I am consistently getting 35 miles per gallon. I have SE slip-ons and heavy breather, and I shift at 3k RPM for every gear. Now, I have goosed it a time or two to pass cars, but my consistency with low RPM would outweigh the amount I've revved it high. It may also be worth noting that we have 20+ mph winds here at this time of year, and I rarely am riding slower than 65 mph.

How is your fuel economy? Is there anything I can do to make mine improve?
 
Old Mar 15, 2017 | 07:51 AM
  #20  
Prot's Avatar
Prot
Club Member
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,839
Likes: 17,865
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Riders Club Member
Default

Still shaking my head since I found the Street Glide very car like without all those added in deflectors etc.

Long Ride Shields is a forum sponsor and as a result forum members get a discount.

http://www.longrideshields.com/category_s/1850.htm
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:17 PM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE