I agree with Fasthoss. I had the dealer put a taller wind screen (medium height) and it made all the difference. Of coure it depends on how tall you are. You're going to get a lot of mixed reviews because those with Ultras love them and those with SG's love them.

 

Going in sideways - My '08 SG is my *first* bike with a fairing - And the first bike that ever gave me a mild concussion (and yes, I have the doctor's note somewhere) from buffeting. Had a shield for my RK (rarely ever used it, but it came in handy once or twice in the winter) and undoubtedly, there's a *HUGE* difference between "a lot of wind" and "mild concussion" (which included several days of slight queasiness, headaches and blurred vision).

Seven shields later (and the 8th, a 9.5" Clearview recurve on the way), I'm still fighting it - a little. Got the dragonfly wings and the fork baffle - All big helpers. Hoping the CV shield is the 'last straw' in getting long-term comfort. Even a 12" touring shield leaves me dizzy after a couple hundred miles. It's frustrating - But don't write it off as being a "whiner" -- In some cases (at least in my case and a few others I've talked to with similar issues) it's dangerous and debilitating - and angering. I'll admit - After years of riding in the wind & weather, I bought the SG in the hopes that it'd offer a certain amount of protection from the wind & weather.

One thing for sure - The buffeting problem is a gigantic thing when I'm wearing a helmet (I left one on the side of the road on a 400 mile ride last year because I couldn't see anymore). Absolutely no problem whatsoever without it. Sure, you get some "puffing" air on your head and face. But for whatever reason, the helmet amplifies it rather impressively. 1/2, 3/4, full-face - Really didn't make a difference.

That said, I tend to wear a helmet most of the time. And I ride through enough areas where you want one / states that require one that I don't have a choice some of the time. If you're not a helmet-wearer typically, the buffeting is little more than a minor inconvenience.

It also seems to be different from bike to bike - Haven't figured that out yet. Switched (nearly identically set-up) SG's on a ride once - Didn't really have any issues on my buddy's bike. On the other hand, he gets off my bike and says "How the f**k do you ride this thing with that f**king jackhammer on your head?!?"

Of course, I ordered the same shield he had in the hopes that it would help. It didn't.



Anyway - Sorry for the rant. There's no doubt, I love my SG unlike any bike I've owned. And I'll fix the buffeting thing (dammit!!!). Don't let it steer you away from an otherwise wonderful ride - But be ready to throw a few parts on - if you need them (again, some seem not to for whatever reason).

 

Well changed my windshield to a Clearview 8" with the recurve. It has done nothing to fix the wind buffeting issue. I rode for 50 miles and 2 hours later I still have a pounding headache.

I ride with a full face helmet, so I decided to ride without and it is so much better, however my sunglasses dance around on my face. So I believe I may be having an issue with "up drafts" causing the buffeting.

I will be going to the dealer this week and getting those Fork Baffles and Dragonfly Wing things and "again" I hope I can fix this buffeting.

Feel free to call me a whiner....

 

Fork Baffles, I just picked mine up.

Here is few things to know. There is a black baffle for about $12 if you want to stay with black on your Vivid Black bikes. I'm kind of picky of the chrome I want to pop. Just ask the parts guy look in the Road Glide parts book. The parts guy at my dealership didn't know they had black until I walked him over to the RG.

Also, if you go with black, be sure and order the screws and washers because my parts guy thought they came with the baffle just like the chrome baffle kit. They do not. And screws that come on the RG are not black, just plan non-shinny metal color (RGs get no respect), AND they are self tapping. Turns out after looking for 20 minutes that my dealership doesn't have the self tapping RG screws, so I bought the chrome screws in frustration.

I learned when I got home that there is a reason for the self-tapping screws. The holes have to be tapped first to remove the power coating paint so the screws fit. Sheesh! I didn't really want chrome shrews anyways as I'm trying to keep that part of my bike BLACK. I guess I will look for black screws somewhere else and buy one self tapping screw for remove the paint. Anyone know where I can get black painted screws?

So I have not installed my baffle yet. I would have liked too because I rode south on I-35 yesterday in a 40mph Oklahoma Headwind while going 70 mph. Talk about buffeting. However, it was nicely calm riding north.

I'm actually liking my SG even with the buffeting. Something about the bat wing. Still, if I had saw the big purple flake on a RKC, I might have..... No, I needed to own a SG at least once.

Beary

 

If I was you, I would compare you and your buddy's bike side by side very carefully...there has got to be some small difference if what you say is true. Another thing to try is to hold your hand level at about chest height as your cruisin down the road. If the wind tries to push your hand upwards, then the problem is air coming off the front of the gas tank. The fast upward moving air is trying to push your helmet upwards, that's where some folks get the blurred vision from. That is easliy solved with lower fork defectors (the kind that attaches to the forks, not the engine bar). Had that happen on my last bike, buffeting was so bad I didn't enjoy riding it. Put the lower deflectors on and it was great. Some people here don't know the difference between "Wind" & "Buffeting". There is a cure, I'm sure. I rode a SG on the demo, and yup that windshield woulda had to go too.

 

For what its worth, I installed a new 9.5 Clearveiw on my EGS and was somewhat disapointed. Yes the wind did clear my helment but the sheild created such a vacume, it pulled a strong stream up and around the gas tank. I put on the chrome air deflector between the forks and now I have the perfect setup. I am happy, wife on back happy now we just enjoy our rides!!!!

 

"I didn't really want chrome shrews anyways as I'm trying to keep that part of my bike BLACK. I guess I will look for black screws somewhere else and buy one self tapping screw for remove the paint. Anyone know where I can get black painted screws?"


Why Don't you Paint Em, like I did my Hot Toppers? See pic...BLACK ON!!

 

Went to the dealer to pick up a fork baffle for my brother's Street Glide. The parts guy says that you should not use the baffle on a twin cam engine, and it was designed for older EVOs. He said it reduces cooling ability by deflecting wind away from the engine.

What to do???

 

First thing I changed on my 09 s/g was a taller winshield. It helped the head buffeting but did nothing for the wind coming from under the fairing. If I hold my arm at my chest while riding the wind (eyeglass shake) goes away. I will try the between the fork deflector next and watch the temps.
Oh, another thing that helped the head was to remove the visor from the helmet. It acted like 383 mopar hood scoop.

 

I guess my wife is right, I'm insensitive.

I read all the comments about buffeting from the Street Glide fairing and decided to order an 8" CV recurve before I even rode my new SG. Well, everyone is right, the 4" OE windshield in combination with the deck of the slick batwing "deflector" send all the oncoming wind right into your face - Duh.

(Looks way cool though)

So I added the fairing wings from HD and mounted the taller windshield - sunovab!tch - no more wind in the face. So today I wound it up to 85 and rode for a while waiting for the "buffeting" to do it's damnedest. Nada; sorta disappointed that I slayed that dragon so easily. Guess I'm just insensitive.