Buffeting
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 553
Likes: 21
From: Placer County, CA
I switched from a Street Glide to a Road Glide and the buffeting is gone!
However before I made the switch the only that helped even a little was the lower fork "fugly" fangs.
Good luck getting it solved! Buffeting is the one thing that can make riding utterly miserable.
However before I made the switch the only that helped even a little was the lower fork "fugly" fangs.
Good luck getting it solved! Buffeting is the one thing that can make riding utterly miserable.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 143
Likes: 58
From: Tucson, Arizona
I had great success with eliminating the wind buffeting on my 2011 CVO Electra Glide Ultra Classic when I went to a LRS Flat Top Elite Re-Curve windshield (dark tint since I look over the top of the windshield). I replaced my stock 11 inch windshield with the same height on the LRS windshield (11 inch). I went with a 11 inch because I am a tall person. I got my LRS windshield when they happened to be having a sale (65 bucks). The shape is a little different (with top rounded square corners), but the wind buffeting is completely gone. With my stock windshield I would get bugs on the top of my face shield and helmet during a motorcycle ride. Not any more. Can’t remember the last time I had to clean my face shied or top of my helmet. Have had my LRS windshield for 18 months and love I it. I also did a Touring Model Gas Tank Lift Kit four months ago. The 1 1/2 inch gas tank lift kit is the height I chose. Lifts the gas tank off the top of the motorcycle and gets a little more air over the top of the engine. No I have not noticed the motorcycle being any more top heavy with raising the gas tank. This really helped with any wind buffeting that I was getting from underside of the motorcycle. I have been able to have a very nice motorcycle ride with very, very little wind buffeting. Also raising the gas tank took some of the heat off the motor from the inside of my thighs. Also a little more air moving across the top of the motorcycle engine can’t hurt with cooling the engine a little bit. RIDE ON.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
I put one of these on my 08 Road King and it made a big difference. Cheap for a HD part.
https://www.harley-davidson.com/stor...ork-air-baffle
If you go this route, run a thread tap into the mounting holes that should already be on your bike before you install. I think it's 1/4-20 but don't quote me. It was 11 years ago. The triple tree should already threaded for this but after 11 years, the holes are still full of paint and crap from the road. It will make installation much easier. It is my understanding the baffle used to come standard.
As others have mentioned, your helmet choice might be involved as well.
https://www.harley-davidson.com/stor...ork-air-baffle
If you go this route, run a thread tap into the mounting holes that should already be on your bike before you install. I think it's 1/4-20 but don't quote me. It was 11 years ago. The triple tree should already threaded for this but after 11 years, the holes are still full of paint and crap from the road. It will make installation much easier. It is my understanding the baffle used to come standard.
As others have mentioned, your helmet choice might be involved as well.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 956
Likes: 144
From: Old Bridge, NJ
So I know there is a zillion posts on this but there are so many different views and most the ones I saw are guys over 60 asking.. well Im only 56 and I have an 08 SG.. currently I have a 6 windshield with the indents on the sides. Its right at the height where I can see over it but at 70mph the buffeting is insane! I thought of maybe going to a 7 but I feel the top edge will be right at my eye level and if I went to an 8 Id always be looking through the windshield which I really dont want..
any short folks offer up some suggestions?
any short folks offer up some suggestions?
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 42
Likes: 4
From: Detroit
what size did you go with on the LRS? Looks like they start at 7
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
Wind Direction
If the wind (buffeting) is coming up from the bottom, you need lower leg fairings.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 7,857
Likes: 4,417
From: Texas
I always felt like the buffeting was coming over the top until I put my hands horizontally on the side of the tank (along the tank badge) and it stopped the buffeting immediately. Fork fangs helped tremendously but didn't stop it.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 143
Likes: 58
From: Tucson, Arizona
Hello WoodButcher66..........Yes I did the DK Custom, Duluxe option for Tank Lift Kit. I chose to do the 1 1/2 inch lift. Felt the 2 inch would be a little to high for me. The lift kit allows me to easily clean the top of the valve covers. It was a very, very simple conversion. After installing my LRS windshield I noticed no buffering on my helmet, but still felt some wind around my waist line. Also felt the heat at times on the inside of my thighs from the engine occasionally. I lifted the gas tank to allow more air over the top of the engine to help cool the engine some. Lifting the gas tank accomplish two things, air circulation around the top of the engine, and that wind the use to hit me at the waist goes down over the top of the engine. Really noticed the difference. DKCustoms suggest to remove left side louvre but I chose not to do that. Idea for removing louvre was to allow air on the right side of engine and then across the back of the rear cylinder. I did not in any way feel the bike was top heavy with a full tank of gas after raising the gas tank. I noticed no difference in handling of the motorcycle. I have lowers on my Ultra Classic which also helps with wind control. I feel almost no wind buffering at all now. The LRS was a very wise idea.
