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I don't love how wind deflectors look but as far as I know, they work.
Are the fairing mounted ones better than the fork mounted? Or vice versa?
thank you
On a hot day the faring mounted deflectors can be used to redirect the air flow to cool you down.
So the DK tank mount deflectors didn't work well? I was just looking at those on the website.
I put the DK deflectors on mainly to pass more airflow over the front jug and surprisingly helped with buffeting. The angle in which they are mounted can be adjusted to force more or less air over the motor, so you may want to take a look at that. I also added their 1.5" tank lift kit, which also helps with cooling and subsequently cleaning the top of the motor. Just my .02
I put the DK deflectors on mainly to pass more airflow over the front jug and surprisingly helped with buffeting. The angle in which they are mounted can be adjusted to force more or less air over the motor, so you may want to take a look at that. I also added their 1.5" tank lift kit, which also helps with cooling and subsequently cleaning the top of the motor. Just my .02
This was my experience as well. I don't have the tank lift, however
you might want to check into that a little more. some folks have found that the hard lowers actually lower engine temps by funneling air directly over the cylinders. myself, i don't worry about it one way or the other, i have hard lowers and i like the wind management and i don't stress over the engine temps. don't know if it raised or lowered mine.
This seems to be the case on my bike. Using the HF infrared heat thermometer in did tests on my sporty and my touring bike and recorded the temperature at different places, rocker arm covers, headers, heat shield, middle front jug and middle back jug, left and right mufflers. Then I added my HD fangs for buffetting. I’d had them on my previous bike. Idle or immediately after a long hot ride, temps at those points I measured did not vary by more that +/- 5F. Some cooler, front jug, some hotter, front of right side muffler.
I felt cooler. But I added HD frame heat deflectors at the same time, so that probably was the reason I felt less heat. Now I do not have hard lowers, I use soft lowers and those are only on in shitting wet weather, so no effect for my setup. I concur with the poster who said every bike, person, seating condition is different. That said, every bagger Harley from 1988 needed fangs to stop buffeting even when windscreen was cut down or changed. It just made riding totally comfortable. Therefore, on a touring bike, they have always looked right to me.
And I understand why.
While I hate this phrase, “its been a no brainer “ for me.
PS: Added: Since I started using fangs, helmet choice or no helmet makes no difference. No buffetting. I have hot weather helmets, cold weather helmets, wet weather helmets, and I live in a free helmet state. One issue that does not effect me is helmet choice as I get zero buffetting with or without my helmets. The only thing I have more of that helmets, are gloves. Okay, some of these are for the sporty and the vintage bikes, but I do have 5 specific bagger helmets depending on the weather, temperature, length of the ride and number of bugs I estimate I’ll kill with my head.
Last edited by son of the hounds; Jan 8, 2024 at 09:10 AM.
On a hot day the faring mounted deflectors can be used to redirect the air flow to cool you down.
I remember reading somewhere on HD's site that this is the purpose of the "deflectors". I say "deflectors" because they are more or a redirector than a deflector. Much more effective to redirect air to the rider(s) than it is pushing air around the rider(s).
This seems to be the case on my bike. Using the HF infrared heat thermometer in did tests on my sporty and my touring bike and recorded the temperature at different places, rocker arm covers, headers, heat shield, middle front jug and middle back jug, left and right mufflers. Then I added my HD fangs for buffetting. Id had them on my previous bike. Idle or immediately after a long hot ride, temps at those points I measured did not vary by more that +/- 5F. Some cooler, front jug, some hotter, front of right side muffler.
I felt cooler. But I added HD frame heat deflectors at the same time, so that probably was the reason I felt less heat. Now I do not have hard lowers, I use soft lowers and those are only on in shitting wet weather, so no effect for my setup. I concur with the poster who said every bike, person, seating condition is different. That said, every bagger Harley from 1988 needed fangs to stop buffeting even when windscreen was cut down or changed. It just made riding totally comfortable. Therefore, on a touring bike, they have always looked right to me.
And I understand why.
While I hate this phrase, its been a no brainer for me.
PS: Added: Since I started using fangs, helmet choice or no helmet makes no difference. No buffetting. I have hot weather helmets, cold weather helmets, wet weather helmets, and I live in a free helmet state. One issue that does not effect me is helmet choice as I get zero buffetting with or without my helmets. The only thing I have more of that helmets, are gloves. Okay, some of these are for the sporty and the vintage bikes, but I do have 5 specific bagger helmets depending on the weather, temperature, length of the ride and number of bugs I estimate Ill kill with my head.
That's a perfect illustration of how the air envelope moves in your favour with the fangs. I first found out about the concept after looking on YT for some solutions to the buffeting on my '98 Dynaglide, where I have the top of my windscreen just below the horizon to my line of sight. I then designed a one piece to mount on the fork tubes, buying a 2 ft.˛ piece of 1/8" plexiglass from the local glass shop. I fabricated the saddles from aluminum 1-1/2" x 3" square channel, and then turned the curves over some large 3 inch exhaust tubing with a heat gun. The difference was significant, and was calmer than being in a convertible! It's important to curl the outer edges to impart necessary rigidity to the unit, otherwise it flutters too much with the vibration. I even had to cut off the lower legs of it as it was too unstable with them on.
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