Well I can't say much about the new 8.6 recurve shield, as just after I bought it and dragged it 40 miles home, I realized the box was empty and the dealership closed...... well I guess I'll let you know this week sometime.

Oh, and Boggie, what i typically say to people is I'm 5 foot 15 so all the "hey 5'8" is normal for a guy" people don't feel intimidated. although nothing stands out like a 6'4" guy in China at rush hour..............

 

'08 EGC, just went with a 12" recurve, didn't help. It did move the wind a bit higher, but I still get the drumming in the ears. I wear a full face and molded earplugs. I really think the earplugs make it worse because you don't hear the noise of the wind and engine. When I wear a half helmet, it's somewhat better.

I'm thinking a much lower shield will allow a steadier wind and for a long ride that would be much better than this constant drumming in the ears. As long as you're in that low pressure bubble behind the windshield, I think you'll get the irregular pressure.

I also have a Buell Ulysses, and it's shield is raised up from the fairing. It definitely has a very smooth airflow. A lower shield with a Laminar Lip might be the ultimate solution on the Glide.

 

I wonder if the Clearview W/S with the vent would eliminate the drumming? Does anyone who rides an Electra Glide had any experience with this particular windshield? Would be nice to know.

 

Greetings, I ride at 06 Ultra with a 8" shield. I have found that buffeting comes and goes with no rhyme or reason. I think a crosswind has more to do with it then not. One thing I have found wearing a full face helmet is to wear a bandana under my chin strap. This seams to help a lot. Thanks

 

I think there are different levels of buffeting, which makes it hard to analyze, let alone respond to, some of the posts on the subject, since you have no idea how bad someone's complaint really is.

I ride an 03 RKC, and am 6'1"

With no shield and no helmet, wind is pretty smooth and doesn't bug my head/ears much.

W/ no shield but wearing a good half helmet, get a little more noise, but w/ a bad helmet, more noise and struggle w/ it some, more disturbance in the wind caused by size/shape of helmet and straps.

W/ shield and no helmet, some inconsistent buffeting but not anything to complain about, w/ a helmet it's more noticeable, but still nothing to complain about.


Riding an 08 Ultra, w/ fairing and bigger shield, I think I got more buffeting since the fairing and big shield created a bigger vacuum than the smaller shield on the RKC would.

Riding an 06 or 09 Street Glide w/ short shield, I knew then what some complain of buffeting, at 6'1" w/ whatever my torso height is, on those street glides w/ the stock shield, the buffeting was horrible for me. Just a short test ride and my head and ears were hurting, the vibration was so bad, the helmet vibrated, the glasses vibrated, I think my eyeballs were vibrating. I really liked the street glide, but that experience was the sole reason I did not rent one when in Vegas, coz I knew it'd be a stock bike, and I'd probably have that experience. For me to ride that bike, I'd have to get a different shield, and/or those air deflectors that mount to the bottom of the batwing.


I can only think of one other experience similar to this, on certain vehicles, if you leave all the windows closed and open the sunroof, or only open 1 rear window or something, sometimes you can create a similar effect, the air coming into the vehicle, replacing the air leaving the vehicle isn't able to transfer the air smoothly so it creates this on/off gust of air coming through the sunroof or window, causing what feels like pressure changes in your ears, which is significantly louder than just a normal window being down, it's a loud pulsating burst that can vibrate your ears, eyes, head, etc., may be an odd sensation at first but becomes very annoying pretty fast.

So some may complain of mild buffeting, some irregular wind pattern based on air transfer behind a fairing/shield that has varying degrees of annoyance, but some may complain of buffeting that is very significant, enough to make them not even want to ride the bike, unless they find the right modification to make which smooths the air out.

 

There is absolutely no motorcycling "wind buffeting" available to anyone in Canada, Pro Bush, or not.

 

Demo'ed a SG with factory low standard black windshield...Man, I truly hated the wind buffeting as my non-DOT approved helmet and sunglasses jerked my head all over when going 35 MPH and above. Tried out an Ultra with factory standard tall windshield and loved every moment of riding that bike. No interference or annoying wind buffeting felt by me.

Thorey

 

What he said! It's a low frequency, high amplitude vibration of the helmet and it quickly becomes physically painful if you ever experience it. Distorted vision, rattled teeth, headache. It is NOT, repeat NOT the same as the clean airflow you get with non-faired bikes.

 

I only ride with the wind, at the same speed it's blowing so I don't have to worry about the Dreaded buffeting!

 

Man, that would be more complicated than trying to drive a sailboat for the first time.