SG wind buffeting?????
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 198
From: Ill Annoy
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,399
Likes: 8,509
From: Spartan Country, Michigan
Before you spend a shitpot of money, try this. Go for a ride...when you get the buffeting, place your arm across your chest. If this stops it, or changes it, the dirty air is coming from below the fairing.
I'm 5'7"" and had buffeting until I installed fangs on the forks. Ugly as sin, but no buffeting.
This could save you from buying several new shields.
I'm 5'7"" and had buffeting until I installed fangs on the forks. Ugly as sin, but no buffeting.
This could save you from buying several new shields.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 84
From: Southern Maine / Seacoast NH
You made a good choice. I had to get rid of the stock shield on my new to me ultra (I'm 5'8" and was looking through rather than over it). Went with 7" LRS ultra, couldn't be happier.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 218
Likes: 9
From: South Dakota
I just bought a 2014 Street Glide Special. Came with an 8" WindVest and I get bad helmet (full face) buffeting (I'm about 5' 10"). Stopped by my local shop today to demo some windshields and found the 4 1/2" Harley Wind Splitter cut the buffeting down to almost nothing. They had to order it and as an experiment I rode home with no windshield at all. It was better than with the WindVest.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 310
From: coastal sc
Before you spend a shitpot of money, try this. Go for a ride...when you get the buffeting, place your arm across your chest. If this stops it, or changes it, the dirty air is coming from below the fairing.
I'm 5'7"" and had buffeting until I installed fangs on the forks. Ugly as sin, but no buffeting.
This could save you from buying several new shields.
I'm 5'7"" and had buffeting until I installed fangs on the forks. Ugly as sin, but no buffeting.
This could save you from buying several new shields.
Here's what I did:
Fairing Air Deflector Kit 58156-08A
Front Wheel Air Baffle 58520-79TC
LRS 9" Ultra Flip Windshield DT9Ultra (would suggest the 8" for you)
Works great for me.
Last edited by FXDXTSport; May 2, 2017 at 10:59 PM.
I've had my SG going on seven years and this is what I've tried:
Air baffle: Did nothing noticeable
Fairing wind deflectors: Did nothing noticeable but sure are great for directing wind to you on those slow rides (traffic) on hot days.
Lower vented Fairings: Did nothing noticeable but nice having the extra storage.
Windshields: tried stock, LRS, a few others and settled on the 10" HD Wind splitter. It's an awesome shield but does have some cons: sucks riding in the rain and really sucks riding in the rain at night. And really really sucks riding in the rain at night on a back country road.
Seat: Stock, Sundowner then settled on a HD Hammock which is an awesome seat but none of them did anything for buffeting.
Fangs: These work but are ugly. I don't use them in the summer but do in the winter. They block the updraft coming up on the sides of the fuel tank.
I think what contributes most to the buffeting is the climate. I can be on the interstate at 0630 going 80mph and it's a smooth ride. Same ride at noon, feels like my helmet is going to fly of my head.
On this forum a lot of SG owners complain about buffeting. I know some outside this forum that don't know what it is. I don't complain about it anymore because I've accepted it because I like my SG and plan on keeping it for many more years to come.
Air baffle: Did nothing noticeable
Fairing wind deflectors: Did nothing noticeable but sure are great for directing wind to you on those slow rides (traffic) on hot days.
Lower vented Fairings: Did nothing noticeable but nice having the extra storage.
Windshields: tried stock, LRS, a few others and settled on the 10" HD Wind splitter. It's an awesome shield but does have some cons: sucks riding in the rain and really sucks riding in the rain at night. And really really sucks riding in the rain at night on a back country road.
Seat: Stock, Sundowner then settled on a HD Hammock which is an awesome seat but none of them did anything for buffeting.
Fangs: These work but are ugly. I don't use them in the summer but do in the winter. They block the updraft coming up on the sides of the fuel tank.
I think what contributes most to the buffeting is the climate. I can be on the interstate at 0630 going 80mph and it's a smooth ride. Same ride at noon, feels like my helmet is going to fly of my head.
On this forum a lot of SG owners complain about buffeting. I know some outside this forum that don't know what it is. I don't complain about it anymore because I've accepted it because I like my SG and plan on keeping it for many more years to come.
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Advanced
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 56
Likes: 4
From: Wurtsboro, NY
Was all set to get a Street Glide until I test rode road it. Dealer set me up with a few different windshields and still went home with a head ache. Ended up with my Road Glide and couldn't be happier.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 378
Likes: 100
From: PA
I'm 5'8'' and also had trouble with buffeting. The fork fangs and the 8'' LRS recurve cured it. At first I disliked the look of the fangs, but they've grown on me.
Another thing to look at is the shape of your helmet. My half helmet would catch the updraft much worse than my modular.
Another thing to look at is the shape of your helmet. My half helmet would catch the updraft much worse than my modular.