Interesting, I don't notice that on mine. I'll have to try again when I get back home.


It's gotta be height. And possibly helmet factoring in. Half helmet, no helmet, full face

I run a long ride shield, stingray I think? I don't recall the height
My issue wasn't buffeting so much as the wind was literally pulling my sunglasses off of my face at hwy speeds. One point while cruising down I10 I had to catch them as they came off. Weirdest thing. Never had that on my street glide or either of softails (no shields or fairing). But the LRS fixed that right up

 

Triple Tree deflector by Kuryakyn. Stopped the wind from coming up from under the tank

 

Edit to add all of my bikes had recurve shields.

 

'23 ST, added a 12" LRS shield and GADS deflectors, no more wind problems. I tried a Clearview shield prior and didn't like it, had some helmet buffeting. The LRS is more upright and has a more pronounced recurve.

 

So I'm the one he's talking about. I started with a KW 14" pro touring windshield and that still had the wind hitting my head, I'm about 5' 11"-6'. With just that windshield, one hour into a three hour ride home with a helmet on the buffeting was so bad I had a smashing headache and seeing double vision (I normally don't wear a helmet but was a cold ride home). Also on the ride home after I took the helmet off it was the problem of the wind coming up from the tank so bad hitting me in the chin and whistling in my ears. I did end up trying a 15" KW and it wasn't bad but so tall I really couldn't see over it. So coming home I put on my bad boyz cycles seat(sits me lower and back), put the tripple tree deflector on(the half dish between the forks) and got the GADS, helped a lot but after changing the KW for a 10" Memphis shades it cleared the air well over my head but reintroduced the air from around the tank problem. I tried an 8.5" memphis shades and it's too short again, even with the 10" it's the wind from the center vent that hits me in the eyes and dries them out, but I can't close the vent because it causes more buffeting. I've seen a lot explaining pre rushmore era bikes have less of this problem, and a lot of the fixes suggested can't be done. Like lowers and harleys deflectors, my bike comes with the small engine guard and the fairing mount, I believe, stops me from being able to change them out and lack of the guard I can't put harleys deflectors on. I saw DK customs deflectors and thought about trying them but I i fear those won't work either. A guy I work with warned me that you feel more air on a RG then an SG but I still expected clean air, I knew what fixed it on my SGs, a 6.5" KW and fork fangs and life was good. I hear it all the time people saying how great RGs are compared to SGs and only met two people that feel like I do. Before even making my first payment on this bike and I'm already looking forward to trading it in to go back to a SG.

 

So if all that wasn't bad enough I had 14" dominator bars on my SG and loved them so naturally thought 14" dominators would be great on my RG and the angles are so weird they don't feel natural. So I'm taking them back and getting 14" factory 47s.

 

Just curious: When you ride at buffeting speeds do you ever use your hand(s) to find/feel air patterns and flow toward your body and head? Identifying exactly where the air is coming from is a first step to eliminating it.

Buffeting is caused by irregular jets or gusts of air that happen when deflected air doesn't pass smoothly around the rider. Sometimes multiple airstreams collide and cause it. Finding those airstreams is really important. I ride a Road Glide Limited which definitely is not an ST...different in many ways. The air is very smooth around my body, shoulders, and head. Don't overlook the importance of windshield width. A somewhat wider shield with pronounced 'corners' will deflect air away laterally from your head and shoulders. I run a 13" Freedom Touring shield. Madstad shields are often favored by RG riders too...though often rejected for looks. Also...as bar height and width increases, hands and arms enter into airflow patterns. They can contribute to buffeting for some people. I'm 6-0 and running 12" F47 bars while sitting on a (low) Le Pera seat. 14s would not suit me at all.

 

You’re saying you are 5’ and 11 & 1/2”??

 

Yea I move my hand around to find where the wind is coming from. The worst is putting my hand on the side of the tank just in front of my knee. Also by my head I find the problem spot and move it to find where it's coming from, that's how I know I get so much wind from the center vent but can't close it at high speeds because it causes more buffeting.

 

Yea something like that, lol. I actually notice a difference on my ride to work vs ride home from work. I get more wind on the ride in, spine is decompressed from laying down. Spine compressed throughout the day so shorter on the way home.