Wind relief.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 488
From: Central California
Just gotta be careful. Puttin' freshly painted pieces back together is much more tedious than taking it apart. Gotta be careful not to scratch it!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,174
Likes: 1,960
From: Great State of Canada
I fought with the same issue for several months. I loved riding the bike without the windshield, but the wind pressure was enormous.
I tried various windshield heights, from the "barn door" sized stocker, to a 16" recurve. The helmet buffeting was so severe with the 16" that I couldn't use it.
With nothing to lose, I cut it down. First, down to 11" straight off the top. Big improvement, but still some buffeting. So, I cut 2" off each side and tapered it in on top.
Oh, a buddy with a milling machine modified the SS mount to lay the windshield in closer to the bars. That was a really simple mod. He just cut the top frame channel deeper and trimmed the excess (****) to get them out of the way.
Result - takes the wind-pressure off the mid section, and puts my helmet in clean air. Perfect. Looks good too. Not so overpowering. A clear cut case of "Less is More" and a little less than that is just about right!
I tried various windshield heights, from the "barn door" sized stocker, to a 16" recurve. The helmet buffeting was so severe with the 16" that I couldn't use it.
With nothing to lose, I cut it down. First, down to 11" straight off the top. Big improvement, but still some buffeting. So, I cut 2" off each side and tapered it in on top.
Oh, a buddy with a milling machine modified the SS mount to lay the windshield in closer to the bars. That was a really simple mod. He just cut the top frame channel deeper and trimmed the excess (****) to get them out of the way.
Result - takes the wind-pressure off the mid section, and puts my helmet in clean air. Perfect. Looks good too. Not so overpowering. A clear cut case of "Less is More" and a little less than that is just about right!
to do a decent job I took my windshield to an arts/crafts/modeling place, traced out what I basically wanted and let them take it from there. $60 bux but they did a good job IMHO. You can't see from the pic but I needed the headlight opening cut taller and tapered too,, all in the price.
Last edited by HKMark23; Jan 11, 2016 at 12:45 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 488
From: Central California
Yep. Cut it myself. I do a lot of fab work, so my garage is well equipped. Taped it completely up with blue painters tape and drew the line on one side. Traced that onto some newsprint paper and transferred the shape to the other side so they'd be the same. I used a thin cut-off wheel in my right angle grinder and cut it about 1/8" away from my drawn line, then finished the edge with a flapper sanding wheel.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 536
Likes: 36
flapper sanding wheel
I was wondering how to trim the shield as well.
Flapper sanding wheel...
Like this?
Would this work better, angle grinder flapper wheel:
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detai...280454599.html
Flapper sanding wheel...
Like this?
Would this work better, angle grinder flapper wheel:
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detai...280454599.html
Last edited by Jetfever; Jan 11, 2016 at 01:17 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 536
Likes: 36
Fang performance/ Running lights and light bar...
BTW, I was wondering why the Fangs work so well on my bike.
I notice a Significant reduction in helmet buffeting and noise.
This MAY be due to the fact I do not have a pair of running lights/ signals next to my headlight. I think it is possible air is directed by the fangs unimpeded up and behind the windshield reducing the low pressure area. I wonder if having a light bar, lights and signals reduce this airflow. I can feel this airflow at the top of the fangs with my hand when at speed.
Many modern bikes have a large relief at the base of the shield for this same reason.
I notice a Significant reduction in helmet buffeting and noise.
This MAY be due to the fact I do not have a pair of running lights/ signals next to my headlight. I think it is possible air is directed by the fangs unimpeded up and behind the windshield reducing the low pressure area. I wonder if having a light bar, lights and signals reduce this airflow. I can feel this airflow at the top of the fangs with my hand when at speed.
Many modern bikes have a large relief at the base of the shield for this same reason.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 68,021
Likes: 3,276
From:
Just thought that I would throw out a different idea. My Springer is set up in a way to give it an old school look. I have apes on my bike and I didn't really feel like putting a windshield on it because it took away from the look that I was trying to achieve. My solution was a back rest. After I got my back rest, I was around 60 or so, I just lean back on my back rest and my back has thanked me ever since.. 
just something different to think about.
just something different to think about.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 488
From: Central California
I was wondering how to trim the shield as well.
Flapper sanding wheel...
Like this?
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detai...280454599.html
Flapper sanding wheel...
Like this?
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detai...280454599.html
Jet, aerodynamics are a funny thing. So many things can be different based on riding position, rider height, fore and back lean, etc. It seems there is no "one size fits all" solution to helmet buffeting. I've seen some pretty crazy solutions while looking for fixes. Even HD has a wind splitter windshield to allow wind through, then deflecting it upward. All you can do is try stuff till you hit on something that works.
Springer. Agreed. The back rest is a BIG help too!
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 809
Likes: 4
From: Oregon / AZ
Windvest
Update....Just got off the Phone with Doug from Windvest..seems like my windshield I got is to low,I sent him pictures with me on the bike,he is sending me out a taller one...#1 in customer service,a real stand up Company.can't say enough..TY
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
Better to listen to Mike Lawless.