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I just put a large Clearview on my RG. I was freezing my a$$ off today and now that the buffeting is gone at the eyes I realized that most of the air is coming from below. I didn't like the lowers on my Ultra so I took them off but I think they are needed more on the RG. May have something to do with the different aerodynamics. If I lived in a colder climate I would put them on. Everything else about the RG is perfect for me. T.
I ride all year round with my Road Glide and added the taller windshield, lowers and have a heated jacket and gloves. Nice and toasty. I do not know what you would lose on trade in but for just under $800 you might be able to fix the problem.
I also ride with the lowers onall year long and I live in Oklahoma where temps will be in excess of 95 degrees. There is a lot of turbulence that comes from underneath the fairing, the lowers takes that away. As a cheaper alternative, you could try the canvas lowers that HD sells for around $50 and see if that makes a difference. I did it that way and it convinced me to get the hard lowers.
The ridgid lowers that are made for the RG are different then the ones for the Ultra or Classic. The tops of them go up under the edge of the ridgid fairing and then go forward. Seems like it would make a seal similar to a GW.
Yeah Old Man, I see what you mean And with the airdam installed it makes for a comfy cabin.
I've only ridden a Road Glide once for an extended test ride on a very windy day. I thought it handled great and the 13" shocks made if feel much more plush, but I couldn't say for a minute that the fixed fairing was an improvement over wind managment from the Batwing. In fact, it felt like there was more turbulence. I WILL say that lower fairings may very well fix your problem on your RG. I had them on my 06 SG and loved them year round for looks and comfort. My new ones are due in next week after a 6 week back order for the denim pewter on my new SG and I can't wait. They are the single best modification for rider comfort I have found. They cut back on a significant amount of wind on the legs and from coming under the fairing IMO. Only problem with RG lowers is that they don't come vented
Either way you go you'll have a nice bike. I started (finally) liking the looks of the roadie around the time you bought yours but I love my classic and couldn't take the financial hit of another bike purchase. I hope things work out for you.
How are lowers going to give upper body protection??? I thought they just protected your legs.
i used to ride a sportster. on long trips i would put on a windshield. would get horrible helmet buffeting above 65 mph. i thought it was the windshield, but i found out if i put my left arm across my chest, the buffeting would stop. it turned out to be wind coming up from underneath.
so to answer your question, same principle. easy to test it out, get out on the highway and put your arm across your chest. if the wind seems to dissipate some, then it is coming from under and lowers would help to deflect that.
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