Road King Windshield
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 270
Likes: 59
From: Akron ohio
Road King Windshield
A few years ago I got an 01 RK and started looking for a removable windshield. I bought a used frame and started to research as to what size windshield. I wanted to look over the top so after measuring it seemed 18 will do. I first bought a Memphis Shade and installed it. After my first ride above 50mph I learned about helmet buffeting, it was like my head was in a paint mixer. I never had a bike with a windshield before and I knew nothing about helmet buffeting until I did some research online.
After about a year I learned about Long Ride Shield and the recurve windshield so I decided to give that a try. It did better but it was still pretty bad at 60mph.
Hear is my question, is this something I just have to live with if I want to look over the shield? Is there a better windshield I should try? Under 50mph its a nice ride behind the windshield but over that its not. I hardly use the windshield anymore. I even thought of going to the next size to a 20 hoping I could look over the top of that. I e-mailed LRS to see if they had any input but I havent had any response..
After about a year I learned about Long Ride Shield and the recurve windshield so I decided to give that a try. It did better but it was still pretty bad at 60mph.
Hear is my question, is this something I just have to live with if I want to look over the shield? Is there a better windshield I should try? Under 50mph its a nice ride behind the windshield but over that its not. I hardly use the windshield anymore. I even thought of going to the next size to a 20 hoping I could look over the top of that. I e-mailed LRS to see if they had any input but I havent had any response..
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 172
Likes: 34
From: Aiken, SC
I find that the addition of fork fangs works well to reduce and almost eliminate helmet buffeting. I tried many different windshields to no avail, the fork fangs with a stock windshield and I no longer have buffeting.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 172
Likes: 34
From: Aiken, SC
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 273
Likes: 23
At 6 feet tall my first try on my Road King was a Memphis shade 17 inch. It is a bit short and I did get buffeting it side winds. My current shield is a Clearview 18 inch extra wide with vent. For me that does the trick. I look over the top and get a bit of breeze but no buffeting. It may be a combination of the height, width, re-curve and vent. Being in the desert of Las Vegas fangs would not be a choice for me due to the added heat.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 10,833
Likes: 6,485
From: Canada Flats
I'm a huge believer in the " Fangs " . I wasn't a fan of the looks but after I put them on it sure helped me with the buffeting .. The next time you head out for a ride , doing 50 or 60 mph , place your hand beside your tank and feel how much wind/air is rushing up towards your helmet . They took away at least 80 % of the buffeting for me , with a 16" windshield from clearview , no recurve .
Cruiser
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 187
Likes: 10
From: Minneapolis
When I ordered mine from Clearview they told me to place an item 50 ft in front of my bike. Measure from the bar clamp up to where the item intersects your vision when sitting on the bike normally. Order the recurve, all done. Mine ende dup being 27". I didn't like how it looked so I switched to a full face helmet, ashtray deflector and no windshield. 0 buffeting and I like how it looks way better. Side note.. I have a 26" and 27" clearview shield if anyone is looking...
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
Personally, I'm willing to look through the windshield. That lets the shield be tall enough to curtail the buffeting.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 329
Likes: 108
From: North Alabama
The buffeting is coming from beneath the shield and up the sides of the tank. Mine was pretty bad on my 2019 Road King with the 20" screen. Making sure my thighs were tight against the tank helps, but that's not comfortable for extended riding.
I bought the H-D fork wind deflectors (fangs). They're quality pieces, and I don't think they look bad on the bike at all. $105, although I got a 20% discount.
Those got rid of 85% of the buffeting.
Then I got the Kuryakyn lower triple tree wind deflector (ashtray) https://www.kuryakyn.com/products/17...wind-deflector
That got rid of another 10%
The remaining is likely just because I'm on a police seat, 6'5", and I need a taller screen. If I scrunch down a bit, nice and calm. If I raise up off the seat, it's noisier, because my helmets in full wind (full face helmet), but still no buffeting. So, I decided to get the 22" screen that comes on the police bikes standard. A shorter screen would probably also work as well.
Get the air deflectors, that will fix most of your problem.
I bought the H-D fork wind deflectors (fangs). They're quality pieces, and I don't think they look bad on the bike at all. $105, although I got a 20% discount.
Those got rid of 85% of the buffeting.
Then I got the Kuryakyn lower triple tree wind deflector (ashtray) https://www.kuryakyn.com/products/17...wind-deflector
That got rid of another 10%
The remaining is likely just because I'm on a police seat, 6'5", and I need a taller screen. If I scrunch down a bit, nice and calm. If I raise up off the seat, it's noisier, because my helmets in full wind (full face helmet), but still no buffeting. So, I decided to get the 22" screen that comes on the police bikes standard. A shorter screen would probably also work as well.
Get the air deflectors, that will fix most of your problem.