Wind Deflectors
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 18
Likes: 12
From: South Carolina
Wind Deflectors
Does anyone have a Road King with the fork mounted wind deflectors on it? How do they work for you? Are they worth the $120? I have a Biltwell Lane Splitter helmet that nearly shakes my head of on the interstate. I don’t have that problem with any other helmets. But I’m hoping the deflectors can fix that.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
I have them but only use them when it's in the 40s and below. They definitely create a still pocket of air do keep the wind off of your upper chest and face. I only use them when it's cooler because while I haven't done any scientific testing the engine has to be running a little hotter just because of that pocket of still air that was previously flowing around the motor. Is it actually hotter or im I feeling the engine heat just because of the still air or is actually running hotter? Don't know but I do know they will help your situation because I definitely feel a difference with them on...keeps that cold morning air out of my lovely face lol. Look around here and the other usual places for a used set. I scored mine for 50 bucks.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 574
Likes: 156
From: Big Sky Country
I have the HD fork deflectors and they work very well for me, but I do feel more heat off motor. And as I recall oil temps tended to be a little lower before I installed them--though I don't have an oil cooler, which I suppose might negate much of the difference. I have a 16" recurve windshield I look over and with fork fangs it makes for a very comfortable ride, but I never experienced much buffeting so can't comment as to whether they might alleviate that.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 18
Likes: 12
From: South Carolina
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 18
Likes: 12
From: South Carolina
I have the HD fork deflectors and they work very well for me, but I do feel more heat off motor. And as I recall oil temps tended to be a little lower before I installed them--though I don't have an oil cooler, which I suppose might negate much of the difference. I have a 16" recurve windshield I look over and with fork fangs it makes for a very comfortable ride, but I never experienced much buffeting so can't comment as to whether they might alleviate that.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,128
Likes: 5,364
OP, you are probably aware of this, but if you leave the visor in the up position, it will act like a sail and catch wind going over the top of the helmet causing extreme buffeting. Just an FYI.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 1,195
From: Maryland
Lots of factors involved here. The helmet was already mentioned - different helmets perform differently behind a windshield.
Based on my experience on a '18 Heritage, fangs work, but almost too well. Fangs greatly reduce the air coming up from below around the tank. However, fangs have a downside. They greatly increase the heat in the rider pocket (all that cooling air for the rider is lost). The right leg and crotch area also get quite toasty. Riding with them installed on a hot summer's day is a no-go in my book. Do fangs impact engine temps? I haven't seen anything conclusive on this issue. My rudimentary testing suggested they might. That's another reason that I uninstalled them.
One thing that made a significant difference for me was the vent.
https://www.clearviewshields.com/abo...hield-venting/
The idea of the vent is to relieve the pressure differential that develops behind the windshield. Venting theoretically smooths the airflow over the windshield and reduce turbulence created by the air abruptly trying to fill in behind the screen. The one I have on my ClearVeiw shield has multiple opening positions. Setting it to the right one is key (for me position 2 from fully closed). Setting the vent to any other position and I'll experience a huge difference when wearing my full-face.
The vent works well with my full-face. However, I still get just a tinge of buffeting if speed gets high enough (60mph+). The buffeting is ever so slight. Removing my face shield tends to eliminate that remaining tid-bit of buffeting. If I was planning on doing a lot of highway miles, I might remove the face shield and a put on the riding glasses. I have no problem with my half helmet - at least from buffeting (again with the vent in position 2). Wind noise from the helmet straps is another matter.
Anyway... my 2 cents.
Based on my experience on a '18 Heritage, fangs work, but almost too well. Fangs greatly reduce the air coming up from below around the tank. However, fangs have a downside. They greatly increase the heat in the rider pocket (all that cooling air for the rider is lost). The right leg and crotch area also get quite toasty. Riding with them installed on a hot summer's day is a no-go in my book. Do fangs impact engine temps? I haven't seen anything conclusive on this issue. My rudimentary testing suggested they might. That's another reason that I uninstalled them.
One thing that made a significant difference for me was the vent.
https://www.clearviewshields.com/abo...hield-venting/
The idea of the vent is to relieve the pressure differential that develops behind the windshield. Venting theoretically smooths the airflow over the windshield and reduce turbulence created by the air abruptly trying to fill in behind the screen. The one I have on my ClearVeiw shield has multiple opening positions. Setting it to the right one is key (for me position 2 from fully closed). Setting the vent to any other position and I'll experience a huge difference when wearing my full-face.
The vent works well with my full-face. However, I still get just a tinge of buffeting if speed gets high enough (60mph+). The buffeting is ever so slight. Removing my face shield tends to eliminate that remaining tid-bit of buffeting. If I was planning on doing a lot of highway miles, I might remove the face shield and a put on the riding glasses. I have no problem with my half helmet - at least from buffeting (again with the vent in position 2). Wind noise from the helmet straps is another matter.
Anyway... my 2 cents.
Last edited by T^2; Oct 2, 2023 at 08:35 AM.
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Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 18
Likes: 12
From: South Carolina
Yeah I never ride with the shield in the up position. It so weird that it’s just this helmet. I have two other full face helmets. A Bell Bullitt and a Biltwell Gringo plus my main helmet which is one of those super light and small half helmets and none of them do this.
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 18
Likes: 12
From: South Carolina
Lots of factors involved here. The helmet was already mentioned - different helmets perform differently behind a windshield.
Based on my experience on a '18 Heritage, fangs work, but almost too well. Fangs greatly reduce the air coming up from below around the tank. However, fangs have a downside. They greatly increase the heat in the rider pocket (all that cooling air for the rider is lost). The right leg and crotch area also get quite toasty. Riding with them installed on a hot summer's day is a no-go in my book. Do fangs impact engine temps? I haven't seen anything conclusive on this issue. My rudimentary testing suggested they might. That's another reason that I uninstalled them.
One thing that made a significant difference for me was the vent.
https://www.clearviewshields.com/abo...hield-venting/
The idea of the vent is to relieve the pressure differential that develops behind the windshield. Venting theoretically smooths the airflow over the windshield and reduce turbulence created by the air abruptly trying to fill in behind the screen. The one I have on my ClearVeiw shield has multiple opening positions. Setting it to the right one is key (for me position 2 from fully closed). Setting the vent to any other position and I'll experience a huge difference when wearing my full-face.
The vent works well with my full-face. However, I still get just a tinge of buffeting if speed gets high enough (60mph+). The buffeting is ever so slight. Removing my face shield tends to eliminate that remaining tid-bit of buffeting. If I was planning on doing a lot of highway miles, I might remove the face shield and a put on the riding glasses. I have no problem with my half helmet - at least from buffeting (again with the vent in position 2). Wind noise from the helmet straps is another matter.
Anyway... my 2 cents.
Based on my experience on a '18 Heritage, fangs work, but almost too well. Fangs greatly reduce the air coming up from below around the tank. However, fangs have a downside. They greatly increase the heat in the rider pocket (all that cooling air for the rider is lost). The right leg and crotch area also get quite toasty. Riding with them installed on a hot summer's day is a no-go in my book. Do fangs impact engine temps? I haven't seen anything conclusive on this issue. My rudimentary testing suggested they might. That's another reason that I uninstalled them.
One thing that made a significant difference for me was the vent.
https://www.clearviewshields.com/abo...hield-venting/
The idea of the vent is to relieve the pressure differential that develops behind the windshield. Venting theoretically smooths the airflow over the windshield and reduce turbulence created by the air abruptly trying to fill in behind the screen. The one I have on my ClearVeiw shield has multiple opening positions. Setting it to the right one is key (for me position 2 from fully closed). Setting the vent to any other position and I'll experience a huge difference when wearing my full-face.
The vent works well with my full-face. However, I still get just a tinge of buffeting if speed gets high enough (60mph+). The buffeting is ever so slight. Removing my face shield tends to eliminate that remaining tid-bit of buffeting. If I was planning on doing a lot of highway miles, I might remove the face shield and a put on the riding glasses. I have no problem with my half helmet - at least from buffeting (again with the vent in position 2). Wind noise from the helmet straps is another matter.
Anyway... my 2 cents.