Road Glide Question
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,528
Likes: 606
From: Raleigh NC
Guys, quit busting my *****.
When I mean by buffeting, I rode a Triumph Tiger. It shook my head all over the place. The placement of the small fairing and wind screen was worse than not having any wind screen at all.
A little wind is not going to kill me, but misplaced wind sucks
When I mean by buffeting, I rode a Triumph Tiger. It shook my head all over the place. The placement of the small fairing and wind screen was worse than not having any wind screen at all.
A little wind is not going to kill me, but misplaced wind sucks
I have a 2005 FLTR, with REACH seat, and Clearview +1 shield.
I'm 5 ft 8 in, with a 30" inseam, so I'm long in the torso, short legs.
I know you don't care.... but...... how YOU sit on the bike, will determine whether you are in the dirty air, or the clean air.
Ride the bike, and see how it feels to you..... you can adjust/replace everything, it's just finding what works best for YOU.... replace the seat first, because that will effect everything else.... then the shield. Lowers are reported to have the most effect.
I ride about 20k a year, in all kinds of weather, I have had no problems with protection, I'm as warm/dry, and my buddy with his ultra.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
I have a 2011 Road Glide Ultra and have no buffeting issues. I'm 5' 10" with 32" inseam and my line of sight is right at the top of the windshield if I'm sitting up straight. My last bike was a Road King and had no issues with that stock either but I get a tad more wind all around on the Road Glide, likely due to the distance of the fairing, but it is not buffeting wind. This bike is outstanding in comfort, handling, power.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,475
Likes: 3
From: Southeast Wisconsin
Guys, quit busting my *****.
When I mean by buffeting, I rode a Triumph Tiger. It shook my head all over the place. The placement of the small fairing and wind screen was worse than not having any wind screen at all.
A little wind is not going to kill me, but misplaced wind sucks
When I mean by buffeting, I rode a Triumph Tiger. It shook my head all over the place. The placement of the small fairing and wind screen was worse than not having any wind screen at all.
A little wind is not going to kill me, but misplaced wind sucks
No ball busting from me, I understand your complaint completely! Wind is fine, but buffeting wind is mind numbing, unsafe, and proof of a poor design.
I bought my 2009 Road Glide last summer with full knowledge of the potential for buffeting but also thought I could dial the bike in with some after market parts. Riding around town was fine, but out on the highway was awful. There were many times when my glasses were nearly pulled from my face. I tried lowers but they didn't really help. The best I could tell the buffeting was being caused by air flowing around / under the fairing, so I set about trying to come up with a fix. By the time I had a design in mind, Harley came out with their new deflectors, which I'm told were created after some wind tunnel time. I have them and I think they make a HUGE difference. I also added a Clearview 'large' windshield and now the bike is everything I always wanted it to be, even without the lowers on the bike.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
........................................ The best I could tell the buffeting was being caused by air flowing around / under the fairing, so I set about trying to come up with a fix. By the time I had a design in mind, Harley came out with their new deflectors, which I'm told were created after some wind tunnel time. I have them and I think they make a HUGE difference............................
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
I've ridden many different motorcycles with fairings and windshields and all have some degree of buffeting. It's virtually impossible to stop buffeting on a scoot. As already stated, buffeting is a result of the aerodynamic deign of the front-end of a motorcycle. Some are going to experience more buffeting that others.
Wind direction and speed of the wind are some of the factors that has an affect on how much buffeting you get. Your height, how high you are above the windshield, whether you are riding against the wind or in the same direction, all play a part.
Some people that wear helmets, wear the helmet to loose and the wind makes the helmet bounce around on their head which makes for an uncomfortable ride in some cases.
For the most part, people that have been riding for any length of time have learned to get use to or ignore the buffeting and don't let it bother them.
I rode Golding for 32 years. The GL1500's had a much better design with minimum buffeting. When I got my first GL1800, it was the worst bike I had ever experienced for buffeting until I got my Ultra Classic.
Wind direction and speed of the wind are some of the factors that has an affect on how much buffeting you get. Your height, how high you are above the windshield, whether you are riding against the wind or in the same direction, all play a part.
Some people that wear helmets, wear the helmet to loose and the wind makes the helmet bounce around on their head which makes for an uncomfortable ride in some cases.
For the most part, people that have been riding for any length of time have learned to get use to or ignore the buffeting and don't let it bother them.
I rode Golding for 32 years. The GL1500's had a much better design with minimum buffeting. When I got my first GL1800, it was the worst bike I had ever experienced for buffeting until I got my Ultra Classic.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 7
From: tomball tx
have had a rg since 09 and gone thru a small fortune with windshields, lowers, etc. after much effort i have found nirvana on my bike. get a v-stream shield (much better than clearview imho and the klockwerks, etc. are junk), hogg chopps, and a seat that works for you. not sure the hogg chopps did a lot towards reducing the buffeting but the v stream windshield is the best i have found. ride safe
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 841
From: The High Plains, USA
I've got a 2010 RGC with a 15" Cee Bailey's shield, vented lowers, and fork baffle and get no buffeting at all. It is very comfortable behind the fairing for me.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,352
Likes: 7
From: Keene, CA
2) They snap onto the engine guard between the frame and the fairing brackets, and snap onto the tank mount bolts on the frame. No tools needed, takes seconds to mount them, and they are very secure at speed.
3) No pictures - they are black and sit between the tank and the inner fairing, and are not noticable when installed.
Check them out at the dealer - $30 MSRP.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 19
From: Cypress, TX
The only problem with telling you to test ride them is that stock either a RG custom or a SG windshield stink. I would try to find a friend that has made the mods (windshield, wind deflectors, seat) and see if they might let you ride theirs. Everybody's perception of buffeting is different so even that may not work. I have never experienced the head slap buffetting on either bike with any windshield. I did get the glasses blowing off my face on both with the stock windshields.