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I've tried several windscreens on my 18 RG and not all provide the same benefits of protection. The Windvest with recurve has been the best so far. I like the looks of the KW, but not how it blocked the wind.
Where the seat places you can also have an effect. So you might try moving a little forward or back and see if it makes any difference. It may take a combination of windscreens and seat to significantly improve things.
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.
I hate to say it but a good test ride on a RG first would have saved you a lot of trouble and probably cash.
Coming off my Dyna, I really wanted a roadglide bad. Love the looks, all my buddies that have them just love em. I test road several at a demo days and no effing way. I test rode a SG just out of curiosity and wow it was so much better for wind protection, comfort behind the fairing, all of it. Granted it was stock machines I was riding, but still. It just fit me better.
I went SG and never looked back. Ill never own a RG. Like you I got the Klockwerks and fangs and it is perfect.
Hope you get it figured out. My BIL bought a Fast Johnnie Road Glide and loves it, you got an amazing looking bike. Itll just take some experimentation to get it set up right unfortunately.
Last edited by LonestarXL; Jun 30, 2023 at 08:51 AM.
The aggressively recurved shields look sporty but I do not like them for the turbulence they create. The Freedom Shield has enough curvature to deflect air without producing turbulence. The center vent on a RG is supposed to produce air flow deliberately to help fill the vacuum behind the windshield and reduce turbulence. It works for me....I can feel the air coming from it with my hand but that stream of air doesn't make contact with my body or helmet.
Air coming from the tank area is difficult for some. I have lowers which helps solve that issue. I use the oem-supplied plastic clip-in deflectors which sit in front of the tank and extend down to the engine guard. Additionally, my vent openings at the headlight area are both occupied by led lighted vent screens which likely cut down on air flow some.
I hate to say it but a good test ride on a RG first would have saved you a lot of trouble and probably cash.
Coming off my Dyna, I really wanted a roadglide bad. Love the looks, all my buddies that have them just love em. I test road several at a demo days and no effing way. I test rode a SG just out of curiosity and wow it was so much better for wind protection, comfort behind the fairing, all of it. Granted it was stock machines I was riding, but still. It just fit me better.
I went SG and never looked back. Ill never own a RG. Like you I got the Klockwerks and fangs and it is perfect.
Hope you get it figured out. My BIL bought a Fast Johnnie Road Glide and loves it, you got an amazing looking bike. Itll just take some experimentation to get it set up right unfortunately.
Yup, love the look of the bike but hate the feel. I test road a few and just figured an aftermarket windshield would fix the problem. This will be the only RG I own, I'll try to figure it out and deal with it for now but look to trade it in in a year or two. I heard someone say it and couldn't agree more, "Street Glide or no ride" lol.
My suggestion is to try a different windshield. I have a 2020 RGS. I am 6'1" and use a 15" Freedom sport windshield. I am also wearing a Schuberth C3 Pro helmet. No buffeting at all. I do feel some air flow coming up thru the tank but no where near enough to cause any buffeting. While the Klockwerks windshield looks cool, IMO they are not the best as far as solving a buffeting problem.
I wear the same helmet, with the same shield. I'm 6' w/ 34" inseam and switch between the stock RG seat and a Mustang Supertour Deluxe, which sits an inch higher than the stock seat. I get some wind, but zero turbulence
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'm already looking forward to trading it in to go back to a SG.
it isn't a big issue to change out the chopped engine guard for the fullsize if you wanted to run lowers. you could probably find any number of people who would trade you the parts straight up.
once you get this puzzle solved, you won't be feeling like you want to go back to a street glide.
I’ve owned several roadglides, Street glides, ultra’s over the years. Riding comfort is very important to me as I go on long distance trips. I ride a 2022 RGL that is setup for me at 6’1” with long arms and a 32” inseam. I have no wind issues with a stock screen and a heated hammock seat. The last RGS I owned was a 2019 and had a klockwerks screen with 14” apes that had my hands about the same level as the top of the screen. No issues with turbulence and traded it in for the bike I have now. You can set up any bike for looks or comfort, sg or rg. Overall I like both but my preference is to ride roadglides.
There's a HUGE difference between buffeting and just feeling air.
For reasons that I can't explain there are some riders that have never experienced buffeting so they tend to think we're just talking about wind. I've had bikes with and without windshields and with and without fairings and I can tolerate the wind just fine. Buffeting on the other hand can be so severe that it causes headaches and blurred vision from the rapid head shaking it causes.
Buffeting is typically caused by the air flowing under the fairing and traveling up the sides of the tank into the low pressure area created behind the windshield. The airflow rushing in creates turbulence right in front of the rider which leads to the buffeting. It seems to take just the right combination of height, helmet, windshield, etc. to get buffeting because two people can ride the same model bike and get different results.
In my experience a taller windshield does little to eliminate the buffeting. However, a shorter windshield can sometimes help if it puts the entire head into the clean airflow above the windshield. Lower fork deflectors can be very effective but for some reason H-D doesn't make them for my bike. (2021 Ultra-Limited) I tried the GADS deflectors but they didn't seem to help even though lots of other riders reported good results with them. (I don't know if they make them for the RG)
You are right on with the lower shield. I run the short Klock flare and it solved my buffering issues. Had one on my 15, and moved it to my 23.
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